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History Features Index > World War II Ends
Metuchen Recorder
Thursday, August 16, 1945
Metuchen Celebrates Victory
Never has Metuchen or New York or any other city seen such jubilant celebration
as Tuesday night. The day of peace for the whole world had at last come.
When President Harry S. Truman announced a press and radio conference at 7
o'clock, Metuchenites got out the cow bells, tied up the tin cans, and started
to tear up newspapers. At 7:05, the bedlam broke loose with the sounding of the
fire and air raid alarms, and lasted until far into the night. Metuchen awoke
from the lethargy brought on by the heat and rain, and Main Street was alive--
more alive than it has been in years.
All up and down the streets of the town, people poured from their homes to join
the celebration. Cars lined what there was left of the business district after
about forty bicycles had appeared. One group of bicyclists tried to organize a
parade, and the rest followed, and troupe traveled the streets with a beaten
collection of Ha'lowe'en noisemakers.
Some energetic little boys strung the cans from the back of their bikes, and
later the same cans were seen trailing from a coupe which also covered the town
pretty well.
The telephone exchange had its hands full trying to take care of the deluge of
calls as Metuchenites attempted to phone all their friends to compare notes on
the wonderful news. Everybody had a radio or two tuned in to the broadcasts
from the major cities in this country and abroad, and the car horns were
deafening. One woman with her hands over her ears spent about ten minutes
leaning on the horn, adding to the swelling din of the Metuchen party. One mile
from town the voices could be heard. The effect was similar to what might be
heard if our Brainy Borough were chosen as the site of the next World Series.
A sagging car, loaded past capacity, boasted a bugler in the back seat; and
another dark red car with nine occupants was seen and heard sporting about
decorated with orange and purple streamers from the Junior- Senior Prom given
by the class of '45 of Metuchen High. The fire engines toured the town for
about a half an hour with their red lights, bells and sirens going full blast.
At 7:20, after fifteen minutes of continuous blow, the fire sirens were turned
off but the engine sirens still brought a crowd to the fire house.
Some were content to simply stand and take in all the sights that paraded
the streets, while others sought a release of their pent-up emotions in such
activities as tossing newspapers from the third floor of the National Bank.
Confusion reigned supreme for quite a while, but the main part of the
excitement ceased rather suddenly about ten o'clock, and left many of our
citizens talking over the news in small groups.
The commuters traffic jam at 6 o'clock in the evening is mild compared to
that which resulted when most of Metuchen climbed into cars and hit the roads
on Tuesday night.
Policemen and Police Reserves were called out for patrol duty, and were seen
about town long after our population had crawled into bed. They reported
absolutely no trouble and were well pleased at the lack of malicious mischief
which they had feared might keep them on the run.
All places serving or selling alcoholic beverages were ordered closed on
receipt of a State order shortly before ten o'clock, and Police Chief Enos
Fouratt reported that the closing was carried out admirably, and quickly.
Although it evidently was not early enough to prevent a sleepy hang-over
observed just off Main street on Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after eight o'clock a train pulled into the station and the last
car was filled with soldiers. This caused more pandemonium and a rush to
the station.
Tuesday brought the end of the years of suffering and strife all over the
world and gave promise that soon Metuchen boys, scattered on many continents,
will return. They fought a long, hard and terrible fight.