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Health & Fitness

Voting RIghts, a Murder in Mountainside, Railroads and Radio

Today in New Jersey history:

February 22, 1797: The New Jersey Assembly passed “An Act to regulate the Election of Members of the Legislative-Council and the General Assembly, Sheriffs and Coroners, in this State,” which formally allowed women to vote in these elections. This right was subsequently rescinded.

February 22, 1831: Baltus Roll, a prosperous Mountainside resident, was the victim of ...a home invasion, apparently by Peter Davis, an alcoholic Camptown (today’s Irvington) tavern owner and an unnamed accomplice. Roll was dragged out of his home, badly beaten and left to die in a puddle of water. Davis was later arrested, but his accomplice had committed suicide, making his confession to a third party "hearsay" evidence. The only other witness against Roll was an elderly blind man who "seemed to believe in witches." The tavern keeper was acquitted of Roll’s murder, but later convicted of forgery.

February 22, 1838: Jersey City was officially incorporated. Dudley S. Gregory became the first mayor.

February 22, 1870: The New Jersey Railroad (a division of the Pennsylvania Railroad) opened a new bridge over the Passaic River, cutting the distance and time of travel between Newark and Harrison to Jersey City.

February 22, 1922: WOR Radio began broadcasting from Bamberger’s department store in Newark, with 500 watts of power sending out Al Jolson’s recording of “April Showers” over the airways. The station was the first in the eastern United States to schedule fifteen minute news broadcasts.

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