Seventy-five years ago Grover’s Mill was a sleepy hamlet within West Windsor. It changed completely on the evening of October 30, 1938, shortly after 8 p.m. and now October, Halloween, Grover’s Mill, and Martians all seem to go together.
Orson Welles presented “The War of the Worlds,” a pseudo drama by the Mercury Theater on October 30, 1938. Directed by Welles and written by Howard Koch, the 60-minute broadcast was an adaptation of H. G. Wells’ 1898 novel, “The War of the Worlds.” Koch, who wanted the landing site of his story to be in New Jersey, pointed at a map with a pencil — and landed on Grover’s Mill.
The hamlet was soon loaded with traffic, people with guns shooting at the imaginary Martians, and chaos. The barely visible water tower next to Grover’s Mill at the intersection of Cranbury, Clarksville, and Grover’s Mill roads can rarely be seen through the trees but it is still there — see picture, page 37.
Franc Gambatese and Mickey DeFranco, co-owners of Grover’s Mill Coffee House, a shop dedicated to the memory of the 1938 broadcast and the lasting impression it made on American history and society, want to continue the celebration. “I want to see October 30 as a mini equivalent of Ground Hog Day, a local celebration that we can build on every year,” he says. “People often visit the area to take photos.”
Residents point out the historical area while driving by it, and real estate agents often take their future buyers on a tour of the area. The barn on the corner is almost restored to the way it looked in the past. (The News, August 10, 2012).
There are many events associated with War of the Worlds this year. West Windsor Township is hosting a family-friendly event at West Windsor Community Park on Saturday, October 26, beginning at 4 p.m. with a Halloween parade. There is no admission charge.
A “trunk or treat” sponsored by Princeton Meadows Church will give participants a chance to fill their goodie bags. Crafts, rides, contests, and music will be available after the parade. There will also be a “War of the Worlds” historical display sponsored by the West Windsor Historical Society. The event will conclude with a screening of the original 1953 “War of the Worlds” at 6:30 p.m. Bring your own chair.
Raconteur Radio presents “The War of the Worlds,” at Hickory Corner, Princeton Public, and West Windsor libraries, on Monday, October 28; Wednesday, October 30; and Thursday, October 31, respectively. They recreate the radio play onstage with costumes, lighting, and sound effects.
“We are the keepers of the flame and invite everyone to come and celebrate the 75th Anniversary at Grover’s Mill Coffeehouse,” say Franc Gambatese and Mickey DeFranco.
“The coffee house has been updated to bring all of the memorabilia front and center,” says Gambatese. It is a family business, and Franc and Mickey’s children all work at the coffee house. They are Joey and Jaedi, both graduates of High School South; and John Paul (JP), a student in a WW-P elementary school. Mickey’s father, Franco DeFranco, known as Pops, also works at the coffee house.
Limited edition 75th anniversary commemorative prints, posters, and T-shirts were created by Joey Gambatese, now a student at Fashion Institute of Technology. “I really wanted to design something that both reflected the contagious enthusiasm of the 75th anniversary and also illustrate the story of War of the Worlds,” she says.
Grover’s Mill coffee house will celebrate the community’s history by hosting recreations of the broadcast on Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26. The production includes the 1938 broadcast as well as appearances by area musicians.
Michael Jarmus will be hosting the event for the fifth consecutive year. His stage roles include Carl Phillips and other characters in McCarter Theater’s 50th anniversary recreation of Orson Welles’ broadcast. A radio air personality and talk show host for more than 45 years, he has also appeared in films, and appeared at Lincoln Center in a tribute to Boris Karloff.
The coffee house also presents “Mars Madness” with Frank O’Brien, a West Windsor resident and author of “The Apollo Guidance Computer” on Friday, October 25.
Radio Once More broadcasts live from the coffee shop on Wednesday, October 30, at 8 p.m. The event features an internet broadcast by the people who own the rights to the actual broadcast. A few scholars present a roundtable discussion about how the event helped shape American broadcasting.
Artist Robert Hummel unveils his new “The Battle at Grover’s Mill II” painting depicting the scene after the invasion by Martians. Hummel, a Plainsboro resident, created the mural size painting at the Grover Mill Coffee house in 2008 for the 70th anniversary of the infamous 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast that frightened the nation on Halloween eve. He will be at the coffee house with free postcards depicting the 2008 mural beginning at 7 p.m.
Visit www.battleatgroversmill.com to see a video featuring the painting called “The Battle At Grovers Mill.” “The special Martian music is symbolic of those you would find in early sci-fi tv shows and movies. Kip Rosser provided his music performed on the theramin, a magical musical instrument; the producer, Lynne Elson, made our vision a reality; and Sheila Cohill created her graphic arts magic and the Grovers Mill post card design,” says Hummel. “Now turn up the volume and enjoy.”
Hummel’s new painting depicts what Grover’s Mill looked like several hours after the Martian invasion. Fire, destruction, and colorful drama ensue.
The new large painting is framed in pre-World War II wood planks from the Grover’s Mill barn. The wood was given to Hummel during the recent renovations of the barn. “It was a painstaking effort to remove Grover’s Mill grime to reveal this beautiful 7 or 8-inch wide wood plank from the interior of the barn that was in place during the broadcast,” says Hummel. “It now has a new life as a frame. As an advocate of upcycling anyway I’m so glad it was saved. No bullet holes have been discovered but I am leaving the nail holes visible for character.”
“The Battle At Grovers Mill II” reveals the escalation of the War the Worlds. “It is 9:30 p.m. and the Martians are not happy, to say the least,” says Hummel. “The 1938 truck in the first scene is being squeezed in flight by the Martian with headlights shooting toward the stars above, the barn and mill are ablaze including the wooded area beyond the lake. A 1938 police car shows up on the scene as he gets vaporized and there are many other tripods crossing the lake this time reaping more havoc on this innocent farming town.”
There are other surprises including Jack O’ Lanterns standing in the foreground with a sign selling carved pumpkins by the Wilmuth Farm (mentioned in the radio broadcast as the landing location where Professor Carl Pierson from the Princeton Observatory shows up to inspect the creature).
Excerpts from a letter to Hummel by Spencer Bruno follow:
“My family lived in the 18th century farmhouse in Grover’s Mill for 25 years beginning in 1963,” says Bruno. “Our one-acre property featured a well topped by a 50 foot high water tower with a large wooden barrel near the top, beneath the metal blades that turned with the wind drawing water up into the barrel. This tower is depicted in your beautiful and visually exciting picture that you created and is shown at the front of our property facing the pond.”
“During the tumult caused by the Orson Wells 1938 radio broadcast — the War of the Worlds — local farmers not realizing the program was a dramatic reenactment of the book, took it as breaking news and raced around in cars or on foot intending to flee the area,” says Bruno. “Some, it was said, fired their shotguns in the direction of the tower thinking it was one of the alien space ships.”
“In the 1970s, one of my sons climbed the small ladder attached to the tower and examined the wooden barrel. He reported finding several small pellet holes,” says Bruno. “The climb was too high for any of the rest of the family to verify.”
“Although it was a non-event there were survivors who still have or had a vivid memory of that evening,” says Gambatese.
Mary Schenck, who lived at the corner of Meadow Road and Route 1 in 1938, did not learn about the broadcast until the next day. Although her family often listened to the radio in the evening, the house was quiet on that date.
Possibly the most-repeated story came from Lolly Dey. A 16-year-old Plainsboro resident, she was at the First Presbyterian Church playing the piano for the youth group that evening. The group was singing when someone came in to tell them that the Martians had landed at Grovers Mill. Dey ran home to tell her mother. When they turned on the radio, they discovered that it was not real news.
Edith Perrine Sprague, who lived in Dutch Neck and was known later for her travels with Elsie the Cow, also recalled the night. She and her younger sister, Anna, were listening to the show on the radio, and became very frightened. They told their father, who was in the bathroom at the time. Soon the whole family — four children and two adults — got into the car and drove to Grover’s Mill. “It was all roped off and we could not get close,” she said. “We wanted to be part of it. It was quite an experience.”
War of the Worlds 75th Anniversary Events
Grover’s Mill Coffee House, 335 Princeton Hightstown Road, West Windsor. 609-716-8771 or www.groversmillcoffee.com. The following events will be held at the coffee house:
Friday, October 25, 8 p.m. “Mars Madness” presented by Frank O’Brien, a New Jersey solar system ambassador and author of “The Apollo Guidance Computer.” In conjunction with the annual Martian invasion at the coffee house.
Saturday, October 26, 8 p.m. Annual Martian invasion at the coffee house features a live re-creation dedicated to the memory of the Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast of “War of the Worlds.” Michael Jarmus, a radio personality and actor on stage and film, hosts the event. He has appeared at Lincoln Center as the voice of Boris Karloff in a tribute to the legendary actor. He was on McCarter Theater’s stage to celebrate “War of the Worlds” 50th anniversary. The production includes the 1938 radio broadcast and music by area performers John and JJ.
Sunday, October 27, 8 p.m. A second live re-creation of “War of the Worlds.” Hosted by Michael Jarmus with music by CJ Barna and Dennis Nobile.
Wednesday, October 30, 7 p.m. Radio Once More broadcasts live from the coffee shop. Discussion of WOW with WOW historians follows. Artist Robert Hummel unveils his new “The Battle at Grover’s Mill II” painting depicting the scene after the invasion by Martians. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m.
War of the Worlds 75th Anniversary, West Windsor Township, West Windsor Community Park, 193 Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor. Saturday, October 26, 4 p.m. The festivities will kick off at with a Halloween parade within the park. A “trunk or treat”, sponsored by Princeton Meadow Church, will give participants a chance to fill their goodie bags. Crafts, rides, contests, and music begin after the parade. There will also be a “War of the Worlds” historical display sponsored by the West Windsor Historical Society. Screening of the original 1953 version of the movie “War of the Worlds” begins at 6:30 p.m. Bring a chair. Free. 609-799-2400 or www.westwindsornj.org.
The War of the Worlds, a staged radio play presented by Raconteur Radio at area libraries. All performances are free admission. Registration is advised.
Hickory Corner Library, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor. Monday, October 28, 7 p.m. 609-448-1330 or www.mcl.org.
Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Wednesday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. 609-924-9529 or www.princetonlibrary.org.
West Windsor Library, 333 North Post Road. Thursday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. 609-799-0462 or www.mcl.org.
