William B. J. Reitze and his wife Ethel were fixtures on the Warren scene for many years, beginning in the Twenties. Mr. Reitze served on the Board of Education for over 20 years, including several terms as president. Here is their story, written by their daughter, Charlotte de Haan: William Bernard John Reitze, the first son of Bernard John Reitze and Katherine Charlotte (Maurer) Reitze, was born in Jersey City on September 10, 1896, and died May 11,1964, in North Plainfield, N.J. As a young man he studied animal husbandry at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, going to Vineland to specialize in chicken farming. He owned and operated the Lilac Poultry Farm on Mt. Bethel Road (later the site of Haydu's) from 1921 until the Depression came, forcing him to sell the business. We then moved to Reinmann Road. In 1932 my father became Hudson County Sales Representative for the Jacob Ruppert Brewery, a position he held until the 1950s. At that time he became Manager of the Sears Roebuck Garden Department in P1ainfield. It was after retired that the store moved to North Plainfield. Early in his life on the farm my father was active in politics in the Democratic Party. He then became interested in the educational system of Warren Township. Seeing the need for better opportunities for the children and the advantages of consolidating the six one-room schools, Mr. Reitze focused all his energies on making this change come about. As with many ideas that cost tax payers money, there was much opposition to this concept. However he fought hard (as did many others) and on February 22, 1934, the eight room Central School was dedicated. This was a day of great joy for my father. Over the years he was at first District Clerk and then President of the School Board. Mr. Reitze was also a leader in the Mt. Bethel Grange No. 201, going through the chairs and then serving as Master. My mother, Ethel A.Wiemeyer Reitze (September 10, 1894 to May 29,1982) and father were married on June 23, 1921, at a 7pm. candlelight service in St. John's Lutheran Church in West New York, N.J. They moved to the Lilac Poultry Farm and my mother immediately embraced life in the country. She, too, worked hard, learning many things about life in the area from both Tillie and Bertha Kirch who lived nearby (their house is now owned by the Township).Mom cared for a large garden, cooked for the hired hands, sewed for herself and for my brother and I. Later, after we moved to the Reinmann Road house, she and my Dad were active in the Garden Club, winning many ribbons and prizes. My mother was President of the Garden Club at one time. She also entered sewing contests sponsored by the National Grange and came away a blue ribbon winner many times. Both Mom and Dad were delighted when Pastor Bergquist of the Augustana Swedish Lutheran Synod started a church on Reinmann Road. They both helped in every way and encouraged my brother and I to do the same. I was married there and both our children were baptized there. Ascension Lutheran Church later became Epiphany Lutheran on the Plainfield-Stirling Road. After the nest became empty my mother worked in the office of Teppers Department Store in Plainfield. Following her retirement from Teppers she returned to homemaking. |