Richard Napoliton

Wall Township Richard Napoliton

Author Richard Napoliton has created an engaging portrait of early life in Wall Township, New Jersey. Imagine how one lived at the turn of the century: there were no police, fire departments, or first-aid squads to call when a crisis arose. Residents relied on family and neighbors to solve any problems. Most babies were born at home, knowledgeable residents set bones, and the dead were laid out in the homestead instead of funeral homes. And, of course, there were no phones or electricity available. From the time Wall Township was founded in 1851, it has been constantly evolving. Towns have entered and left the township, businesses have changed hands, and buildings have been turned, abandoned, or razed. Napoliton has created this historical account of the township to share with residents the personal details that are so often forgotten, featuring scenes of little-known cemeteries, businesses, homes and farms, schools, churches, and Allaire. Imagine horses delivering gasoline for early cars, or Boy Scouts camping in the abandoned Allaire Village in the 1930s and 1940s. Within these pages, discover how the first auto races progressed from an amateur weekly event to a professional salaried affair.