Martin's General Store hold secrets of Millburn's past
Most of the commuters rushing through downtown Millburn, take little notice of Martin's General Store.
Across the street from the Millburn Church of Christ, the 146-year-old, white-frame building sits unassumingly on the east side of Route 45.
Richard Pantall opened the store in 1862. And for $200 he got the building and nearly an acre of land. A kind of Super-Target of its day, the store sold everything from pants to penny candy. The school board met there. So did the cemetery board. It was also the Millburn Post Office too. Pantall was the postmaster.
These days, it's the museum for the Historic Millburn Community Association.
And as the traffic roars by, bits of Millburn's history rest quietly on the shelves inside.
Primitive farm implements, gas lamps, and a potbelly stove are displayed. Grinders, scales, stereoscopes and wedding dresses crowd the small store.
And near a wicker baby carriage and a wooden sled, hangs an old baseball jersey.
The maroon shirt with "Milburn" (yes, one L) sewn across the front, dates from the early 1880s.
Baseball was in its infancy then. The game once known as "Rounders" was just becoming legitimate.
It was the days when pitchers had handlebar mustaches and catchers didn't wear chest protectors. Fans were cheering the Louisville Grays, the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Hartford Dark Blues.
And who was No. 2? We can only guess.
News clippings from that era give us a glimpse of a couple of the slugfests.
"November, 1885. The Wadsworth baseball nine came over last Saturday to play the home nine and was defeated by a score of 17-12. Umpire, W.H. Rose said, "Never mind boys, if you were beaten. Come again."
"September, 1886. Lake Forest University plays Millburn home baseball team. Tie score 20-20. Game called after 10 innings due to darkness."
Did Milburn No. 2 play in one of those games? Did he slam a couple of homeruns while wearing the heavy wool pants and shirt?
Let's just say yes. That will make the visit to the museum that much better.