A New Mayor and a New School

“I’ll apply as fast as humanly possible” to convert the old Stockton Hotel property into a subdivision of 24 residential building lots. “I want out. I don’t care who buys the damned lots”. This ended the 12-year saga of Frank Palmieri and the Stockton Hotel. Palmieri was mired in Essex County politics as the Chairman of the County Welfare Board, and he fought with the Newark Welfare department. Palmieri made claims of widespread welfare fraud. Program costs had gone from $16 million in 1960 to $66 million in 1968. Charges were fired back, and Palmieri found himself the subject of a campaign to discredit him for unethical dealing on another matter.

The Sea Girt Council and the community were saddened by the end of the historic hotel, but many who had fought in the Sea Girt Real Estate Owners Group felt vindicated after all this time. Morven Terrace was approved as the street name in a nod to Commodore Stockton’s family home, and the home sites took shape. The easternmost homes would have no boardwalk in front.

As the project died, John Rogers ended his mayoralty, which started over the fight for the Stockton. His major accomplishment was the building of the elementary school.

He was replaced by the well-loved President of the Borough Council, Thomas Black III.

“Blackie”, a Morro Castle Lifeguard knew just about everyone in town and he recommended the appointment of William MacInnes, a former Air Gurad Officer who now worked for Eastern Airlines at Newark to take his position on Council.

Mayor Black had a relatively smooth 18 years as mayor because with his election, Helen B. Brash was reinstated as municipal treasurer, tax searcher, borough clerk, and Council Secretary. Mrs. Brash stepped into borough service after her kids were grown and her husband served on the council. She had been in the job since 1958. Mayor Black kept her at his right hand throughout his tenure as Mayor. He was also efficient. He holds the record for finishing a Council meeting in seven minutes flat.

The new Sea Girt Elementary School opened. Parents were encouraged to find a safe way for children to get to the school on Bell Place. There would be no need for busses, many Moms did not drive, and children were expected to walk or bike to school. Town officials looked to homeowners to fix any broken sidewalks and keep yards trimmed so as not to block anyone heading to school. They hired crossing guards for the busier roads.

One of the Crossing Guards was “Mrs. C.”, Marguerite Ciallella, 711 Philadelphia Blvd. She had just lost her son John in Vietnam. John graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 1967 and loved football. He was co-captain of the football team and president of his homeroom class. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in October 1967.

A tribute to a Crossing Guard Gold Star Mom

A Lance Corporal, John had received the Purple Heart for a wound he received a month after arriving in Vietnam. He received a fragmentation wound in the right chest and spent a month in the military hospital near Hue. A month after he was returned to duty, he contracted malaria and was confined to the hospital ship, USS Sanctuary. Three weeks after he returned to duty, he was wounded again and sent to Guam to recuperate.

On November 17, 1968, at the age of 19, Ciallella was killed in action in South Vietnam. According to reports, John was killed when the vehicle he was riding in went off an embankment during action in Quang Tri Province near the demilitarized zone.

Mrs. C had another son, Stephen, a Radar expert in the US Navy. He survived the war but was stationed far from home.

When the school opened in 1970, she took on the students of SGES as her own kids. For 40 years, she helped them cross the street. A small monument is dedicated to her at the corner of Washington and the Plaza.

Joseph Kearns, 311 Boston Blvd, a navigator, went down in his B57 night bomber three days before he was set to come home in 1967. The Lieutenant Colonel from the 13th bomber squadron and the rest of his crew were still missing in action in 1970. It would not be until 1978 that he would be declared Killed in Action.