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No. 21 Vol. 1
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Randolph - A Look Back
By Henry M. Holden isitors to Randolph experience some surprises. First, Randolph is located within the Highlands of New Jesey. Randolph is at an altitude that is close to 1,200 feet above sea level and a 5-6 degree F different in the air temperature. That means that when there is moisture in Morristown (about six miles down the mountain) it is probably snowing in Randolph. What a resident or a visitor sees in Randolph is a aggregate of growth over three millennia. What we are missing are the creations of our forefathers. Much of the Randolph we see today is a 17th 18th and 19th century creation. Missing today is the Apothecary, the Blacksmith, the Slater, the Cooper, the iron miners, the Tinsmith, the toys and games the children played with, and “the Dig.” What residents (almost 26,000) and visitors to Randolph see are well maintained roads, a variety of home prices, taxes, an excellent school system, and for the most part neighbor helping neighbor, in a generally law-abiding community. What we don’t see are the opportunities and boundaries that faced the early pioneers who were challenged by active wildlife such as black bears, deer, coyotes, and fox. They were also challenged with unfamiliar weather, and unfamiliar with the culture of the native people. The blacksmith was a needed part of each new development. He came with iron to form tools for clearing the land, building homes and other structures, and providing items necessary for everyday living. He produced horseshoes and metal rings for the horse harnesses and bits need for the care of livestock. The blacksmith helped other craftsmen by making hammers and anvils, knives and hooks used by the miller, carpenters, and other craftsmen in the area. He made hinges, locks and chains as well as nails, weapons, and traps.
The blacksmith needed three basic tools; a forge where he built a fire, a chimney or hood to direct the smoke away from the workers, and a bellow to supply air, to raise or lower the temperature of the fire. The fire was used to soften the iron that could then be shaped. Charcoal was used as fuel for the forge until it was replaced with soft coal in the mid-1800s. The hot iron was hammered on an anvil with a flat surface. Tongs were used to hold the hot iron, and vises held the objects in place. Files shaped and smoothed the products. Blacksmith not only made new tools for other craftsmen, but he also made repairs on the tools as well. His business was where the needs were, often when the seasons. In the spring, he worked on tools for planting. In the summer, he forged tools for harvesting. In the fall, he made tools for ice harvesting, and then in winter he worked on items used year-round such as hooks, locks, horseshoes, and wagon hardware. The apothecary was the forerunner of the modern pharmacy. Because there was little regulation, the apothecary dispensed medicinal compounds. that were a lot more dangerous. They also performed surgery and other medical duties we associate with a doctor. The apothecaries prepared their medicines using a mortar and pestle. The pestle was a small tool used to crush the ingredients into a powder. Some of the remedies administered were calamine for skin irritations, chalk for heartburn or cinchona bark for fevers. The preparations were then stored in ceramic or glass containers. Ingredients might include animal and plant parts or minerals and chemicals, which were mixed into a liquid base or molded into pills. There was little concern over safety and medical alerts, heart monitors and smart watches were not even thoughts for the people. Fortunately, chicken soup gained a lot
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Checkers were fashioned from dried corn cobs and sliced into individual checkers. (Photo Henry M. Holden)
of attention then and even today, as a safe but limited alternative. Slaters came here as itinerant craftsmen carrying only their tools. Hammers and chisels were used to cut and trim, a “T” was used to square and measure, and a ripper was used to remove the nails. Early lamps and household items were made from iron. They were dark and heavy. Slate was used for roofing but also for flooring but slippery when wet. Because slate coverings are durable, lasting 60-200years with little maintenance, they were very wanted. Slate was imported from Wales until slate deposits were discovered in 1785, in Pennsylvania. Quarries opened and continued to grow, spurred by a 90 mile canal and then rail transportation. Settlers to Randolph began to utilize slate as the industry and merchants became prosperous. Community buildings such as churches where longevity of building materials was continued on page 4