Fifty Years Ago 196 4

The First Lady of the United States was born on January 17 th.

The famous roast beef sandwich sold for only 64 cents.

And …

Miss Ella Mockridge, a town historian, was the guest of honor. She arrived in a 1922 Rolls Royce. Miss Mockridge donated much of the historical material on display. In a heartfelt statement, she said. “To me, you are the answer to prayer-a dream I had of putting relics of colonial Mendham in a museum in the neighborhood.”

Flail-a tool used for beating flax for linen making Hatchel-block of wood with spikes protruding,used for carding flax

The only complaint from the visitors at the Ralston General Store Museum, particularly from the children, was that no penny candy was for sale.

Although John Ralston was not an original settler of this section of Mendham Township, we now refer to as Ralston, there was a man by the name of John Brain who in 1707 built a sod or log cabin about a mile south of the Ralston Center. Another man named John (Logan) later built at the crossing of the Old Minisink Indian Trail, (William Penn Highway) and now known as Route 24, a General Store, Manor House, and stone Grist Mill. John Logan supplied George Washington’s army at Jockey Hollow with flour and other foods, but he came close to bankruptcy when the Continental Army could not pay the bill.

What we know today as a supermarket, in “the good old days” may have been referred to as the General Store. Men of the 19 th century would visit the General Store and sit around a log stove and cracker barrel to play checkers. Their wives would shop for goods to feed their families economically and might buy materials such as muslin or gingham for a new dress.

John Ralston owned and operated the Ralston General Store from It continued to operate as a store under different owners through the 1920’s

Another outstanding accomplishment of John Ralston was the establishment of a factory in Ralston. It was called “The Mendham Cotton and Wool Manufacturing Company”. It was the first of its kind in New Jersey. This was a very daring business venture at this time since the textile industry was very new in this country and the British wanted to keep a monopoly on this industry. John operated the mill from

The store contained the Ralston Post Office. It is the oldest existing structure in the United States ever used as a U.S. Post Office

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A Shingle Bee Residents of Ralston pitched in to recondition the dilapidated post office.

John H.N. Potter and Mary Langford pass shingles up to Mrs. Margaretta Potter (left) and Mrs. Florence C. Page, who fix new roof. Residents have organized Ralston Historical Association to restore the post office as a landmark.

1947 A gift was given to the Ralston Historical Association, a 300 year old Red Oak tree. It is 5 feet in diameter and 75 feet tall. It is located about one-half mile south of the store. Visitors may also visit this site to see the tree that stood in this area over 100 years before the settlement of Ralston.

Come join us at the Ralston General Store Museum and you might see such artifacts as…

John Ralston’s Trunk Spinning Wheel Dod Survey Instrument (Mendham)

Ceramic Foot Warmer Cheese Drainer Wax Jack

Coffee Grinder Rush Light Broad Axe

John Ralston’s Desk Old Pictures and Documents from the Ralston Area

Antique Toys in a Display Case Early Kitchen Antiques

And soon a quilted wall hanging of your special commemorative stamp designs

Join us on June 15, 2014 for the reopening and dedication of the Ralston General Store Museum. Visit our website at museum.org