October, Halloween, Grovers Mill, and Martians all seem to go together. The barely-visible water tower next to Grovers Mill Company at the intersection of Cranbury, Clarksville, and Grovers Mill roads can rarely be seen through the trees, yet how many area residents do not point out the historical area while driving by it? Real estate agents often take their future buyers on a tour of the area.
People are still talking about it: “The War of the Worlds” drama as presented by the Mercury Theater on October 30, 1938. Directed by Orson 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 Grovers Mill.
In 1998, during the 60th anniversary, there was a ball at the Hyatt. The interactive gala featured special effects including auditory, lighting, and pyro-techniques, to create a war zone in the ballroom. Dress was Martian-themed costumes or black tie. Tickets were $175.
While there are not many people still in town willing to talk about the 1938 event, there are some who have, and many stories in print.
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. They did not learn of the invasion until the next day.
Possibly the most-heard 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, also recalls 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 Grovers Mill. “It was all roped off and we could not get close,” she says. “We wanted to be part of it. It was quite an experience.”
They did not learn the truth until the next day. Sprague, best known for traveling with Elsie the Cow to sell war bonds, has donated all of her papers to a Chesterfield teacher who has agreed to share the information with his students.
Franc Gambatese, co-owner of Grovers Mill Coffee Company, a shop dedicated to the memory of the 1938 broadcast and the lasting impression it made on American history and society, wants 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 of the water tower.”
Gambatese, who has been fascinated by the story since he was a kid, has a large collection of comic books, albums, movies, movie posters, and memorabilia associated with the story. His senior thesis at William Patterson College was titled, “How the Broadcast Affected American Culture.” “The show was sly and adept — Welles did not just pull a stunt with the radio broadcast.”
Growing up in West Patterson, Gambatese knew that Grovers Mill was in central New Jersey but was never really sure about where it was — until 1997 when he and his wife were driving around the community and the barn loomed in front of them. “When we decided to start the coffee business the big red barn starred me in the face,” he says. “I could have filled the barn with WOW memorabilia but it did not work out.”
When the owners put the building up for sale, Gambatese and his wife, Mickey DeFranco, were in negotiations to purchase the property. Due to several circumstances it did not work out and the couple opened the store in Southfield Shopping Center.
The Martian Invitational is a two-day event at the coffee shop. Costumed people are invited on Friday, October 30, to compete for the title of the “Martian of the Year,” who will be adorned with a crown and have his or her Martian photograph featured on the label of the company’s new organic coffee blend, Martian’s Grog, for a year. The winner will also receive a $100 gift basket. Costumes will be judged upon originality, creativity, and entertainment by a panel of judges — all dressed in appropriate Martian apparel. Performers for the evening include Chris Jankowski, August, and Dan Zimmerman.
The Open Martian Variety Show on Saturday, October 31, features comedian Helene Angley of West Windsor and the band 3-26 with southern rock. There will also be excerpts from the radio broadcast performed by Michael Jarmus, a broadcaster, actor, and science fiction fan. He appeared in McCarter Theater’s 50th anniversary re-creation of the Orson Welles’ broadcast.
The weekend is also the release of the benefit CD, “The Very Best of Grover’s Mill Coffee House,” featuring the best of the monthly open mic sessions with some of the area’s talent. One hundred percent of the money collected from the CD ($8 each) will benefit Grounds for Health, a charitable organization that focuses on screening women in coffee-producing third world countries where cervical cancer is the No. 1 killer of women. The organization also issues vaccinations to women as a preventative measure. “It’s an awesome cause that focuses its energy on the women who pick the coffee that we enjoy every day but are too poor to afford good medical care,” says Mickey DeFranco.
Martian Invitational, Grover’s Mill Coffee House, 335 Princeton Hightstown Road, West Windsor. Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, 7:30 p.m. 609-716-8771. www.groversmillcoffee.com.
