Vince Lombardi Hackettstown?
I was recently reading "When Pride Still Mattered," a biography on the great Vince Lombardi. In one of the early chapters, it was mentioned that, "(Lombardi) took his (players) out to Hackettstown, New Jersey, for a two-week training camp and installed a new offense, merging the Notre Dame box with a version of the T formation."
I tried to do a Google search and got no hits. Does anyone know about this? Or has anyone been told a story about the time Vince Lombardi came to town for a football camp? This seems like a pretty big deal, especially the fact he installed his infamous offense while supposedly in Hackettstown!
BaseballFan15 The only famous person I remember was when Jackie Kennedy used the toilet at the Gulf station at High and Main streets. The town museum or the library might help you find out about Vince Lombardi
Robert Famous in their own way:
"The Semonski Sisters are a family musical act that appeared on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1975 to 1977.
The sextet consisted of sisters Diane (born August 31, 1956), Donna (born April 20, 1958), Joanne (born July 23, 1960), Valerie (March 1, 1962 - May 22, 2022), Audrey (born March 28, 1963) and Michelle (born August 16, 1967). They were born and raised in Hackettstown, New Jersey to parents Joe and Roberta "Rusty" Semonski
OnTheEdge Hey Robert !
I remember that. I worked there at the time. Jackie and her people were heading to Panther Valley !!
Bob Kunkel Vince Lombardi and "Chot" Morrison (HHS coach) were good friends and, yes, their teams (St. Cecilia and the Tigers) worked out together in Hackettstown. Offenses were indeed created jointly.
Mr. Bill Dougherty Sr. of the old Central House bar (corner of Main and Plane) used to talk of them visiting his bar to "chew the fat" and Bill would bring two glasses off a shelf and say this was Vince's glass and this was Chot's glass etc. etc. Very interesting.......
Yes. Real history.
the judgeHeard about Lombardi in Hackettstown - for reason think they trained somewhere on Mission Rd. off Rt. 46 going up Hackettstown Mountain towards Washington Twp.
Babe Ruth was fishing at the old Island Park Bar near the corner of Rt. 46 & Rt. 31. There was a large picture of him fishing in the river there - would love to know what happened to it - it was poster size.
de Some notables were overlooked:
In his "History of Hackettstown" serialized in the Hackettstown Gazette 1953-1965, Dr. Ernest Dalton stated "The Gazette in 1923 mentioned that the automobile was bringing many tourists "to the hostelries of the village". Jack Dempsey, Henry Ford, and "Lou" Gehrig stopped here for meals. Ford dined at the American House - not sure if all three visited the same establishment.
In September 1928 Carl Unger, who had an ice cream parlor at 151 Main Street, had the honor of serving the famous Jack Dempsey and three companions with sandwiches, coffee and ice cream.
In November 1929 The Hackettstown Inn (aka The Clarendon Hotel) entertained Sam Jones and Lou Gehrig, members of the Yankee baseball team.
In May 1938 Babe Ruth, distinguished baseball player, visited Hackettstown and vicinity as the guest of Harry M. Armstrong, of' Jersey City, the vice president of the State Fish and Game Commission. They arrived at the local hatchery around noontime, just to say "hello" to Superintendent Charles Hayford. Babe Ruth enjoyed fishing and did so along the Musconetcong River more than once.
WC guy I'm pretty sure George Washington stayed overnight at the house that was where the old Bank now Daycare place is across from the old Strand Theatre. There is a plaque there...i think.
Jack Dempsey visited a pool hall in Hackettstown in the late 60's early 70's.(The Golden Cue) The Hackettstown Gazette had a picture of him standing with a gang of local boys.
Tom There is a sign that says George Washington marched his troops down Asbury Anderson road.
Colonel Mark Thomson lived at the time just off a side road...so assuredly they probably stopped there.
Maybe even drank at the old hotel Marley Jr's is at now?
Was it open then...?
I heard rumor GW went up to Point Mountain ( then called Squires Point)- as a look out.
Would be interested in heaing any historian's thoughts.....
Josh My friend Bill and his wife bought a home behind Buds Lake. On their deed it stated that the home was once owned by George Ruth. Buds lake was once a hub of the big band era.
I remember the Semonski Sisters on the Lawrence Welk Show. What ever happened to them, are they still in Hackettstown (or in the music business?)
Hackresident I got in touch with the Green Bay Packers historian. I referenced a post from "The Judge" above with his reference to Chot Morrison and the Central House bar. Here's what the Packers historian had to say:
"Before the 1946 season, Lombardi's last as head coach at St. Cecilia, he took his team of 44 players to St. Joseph's Villa in or near Hackettstown for at least five days of two-a-days. Prior to the 1943 and '44 seasons, Lombardi's St. Cecilia teams held preseason camps at Culver Lake, near Newton, N.J.
I found that information in the Newark Star-Ledger and the Hackensack Record from those years. In 1943, Pope Pius High School in Passaic, N.J., accompanied St. Cecilia to Culver Lake. I didn't find any mention of Lombardi's team practicing against Hackettstown, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did.
And whether it did or didn't, I'd bet you a Central House beer that Lombardi and Morrison found time "to chew the fat" together there. Morrison was about 10 years older than Lombardi and started coaching about a decade earlier. He wound up coaching at Hackettstown, as you may well know, from 1929-62 and was credited with a 231-48-13 record and 13 undefeated seasons.
Throughout his coaching life, Lombardi showed tremendous respect for older, successful coaches. His relationship with George Halas was a prime example."
Leave a Reply
To comment on this topic, fill out the form below. If you would like to comment directly to one person, you may click on the envelope next to the posters name if they provided their email.