Website Updated:   Apr 26, 2007

New Jersey Division History The following is a timeline of the New Jersey Division. Listed are important events and the names of those who have volunteered over the years. This information was originally compiled for the Division's 30th Anniversary. Note: The years are listed in a September of the first year through August of second year format. If you have any updates, corrections or additions to this timeline, please let us know!    1967 - 1968 Sep. - Intent to form a new Division is discussed Dec. 2 - At Cherry Hill meeting, petition is signed to form an MER Division Jan. 20 - Joint Meet held in Camden with the Garden State Division Feb. 25 - At MER Board meeting, 1st Division (NJ) is formally chartered Apr. 27 - Final organization meeting held in Somers Point May 18 - Charter presented to Gene Colborn, MER Convention, Hampton, VA    1968 - 1969 Gene Colburn - Superintendent Penn Central Railroad formed from PRR & NYC    1969 1970 William Birchall, Jr. - Superintendent    1970 - 1971 John Johnson - Superintendent Sep. - Predeccessor to "Clinkers", a postcard, is mailed giving notice of a Meet in Wildwood    1971 - 1972 John Johnson - Superintendent First live Clinics given, not films from NMRA library First Door Prizes awarded from local hobby shops Gene Colborn now NMRA President Amtrak created    1972 - 1973 Martin Evoy - Superintendent First Clinic given containing prototype information First contest and judging organized Established a "4 Meets per year" format    1973 - 1974 Martin Evoy - Superintendent First use of membership cards 100 members in the Division Car pooling utilized for layout tours due to oil crisis in the Middle East Formalization of clinic presentations is established    1974 - 1975 Bud Bonello - Superintendent 'Addressograph' plates purchased PATCO Control Center is toured during Division Meet The first morning start for a Division Meet    1975 - 1976 Ron Baile - Superintendent First contest with cash prizes Division Board decides to spend $15 for sandwiches at the Greater Wildwood Model R.R. Club Division immediately experiences budget deficit! First photo board set up for a Photo Contest Apr. - Conrail created    1976 - 1977 Ron Baile - Superintendent Freedom Train tours South Jersey    1977 - 1978 Ron Baile - Superintendent    1978 - 1979 Ron Baile - Superintendent 10th Anniversary of the Division celebrated in Oaklyn    1979 - 1980 Bob Kip - Superintendent 75 Division members    1980 - 1981 Bob Kip - Superintendent Joint Meet with the Philadelphia Division Annual dues for the Division are voted down Maine Central RR purchased by Guilford Transportation    1981 - 1982 Bob Kip - Superintendent At the door fee raised from $1 to $2 HO and N scale modules start to be set up at Meets Union Pacific purchases Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific    1982 - 1983 Pete Suhman - Superintendent The "Clinkers" masthead is established Boston & Maine RR purchased by Guilford Transportation    1983 - 1984 Pete Suhman - Superintendent Door prizes supplied by the Division MER Fall Convention sponsored by the NJ Division Delaware & Hudson RR purchased by Guilford Transportation    1984- 1985 Jim Cope - Superintendent Sep. - MER Fall Convention held at Cherry Hill Hyatt    1985 - 1986 Jim Cope - Superintendent First clinics are videotaped, featuring Ron Gaines and Bob Hubbard May - "Ton Of Bricks" donated to NMRA HQ building fund    1986- 1987 Jim Cope - Superintendent Sep. - Wilmington & Western rail excursion Nelson Davidson continues with videotaping of clinics Dec. - Table set up at Greenburg Show with Phila. Division Jun. - Division is a "Building Benefactor" for NMRA HQ    1987 - 1988 Jim Cope - Superintendent 500 Division members Division table set up at Greenburg Show May - 20th Anniversary of Division celebrated at Camp Haluwasa    1988- 1989 Konrad Richter - Superintendent Oct. - First draft of Division Bylaws created Oct. - Certificate of Incorporation filed May. - Membership approves the bylaws and incorporation status May. - Now recognized as New Jersey Division, MER, NMRA, Inc. Guilford places D&H in bankruptcy Union Pacific purchases Missouri-Kansas-Texas RR (Katy)    1989- 1990 Mert Gardner - Superintendent Sep. - New style and format established for "Clinkers" "Clinkers" now at 4 pages Sep. - MER Fall Convention at Cherry Hill Sep. - Bob McHugh takes on printing duties for the Division PA system donated to Division by Jack Taylor Jul. - Member discounts at hobby shops initiated NYS&W appointed "designated operator" of D&H    1990 - 1991 Mert Gardner - Superintendent Division recruiting posters displayed in hobby shops First North to South layout tour of whole Division New Member packets reestablished    1991 - 1992 Mert Gardner - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: John Cessorsmo Frank Sedio retires from the Board New annual dues structure introduced Membership year now from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 300 Division members Dan Medio takes over videotaping duties Canadian Pacific acquires D&H    1992 - 1993 Mert Gardner - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: Dr. Charles Patti Jim Cope retires from the Board First (and only) Division calendar Jan. - Friday Night layout tour established for January Meet Jan. - First Model Railroader of the Year awarded to Bill Peyreferry First auction at a Division Meet held outside (we were locked out of church!) Aug. - NMRA 1993 National Convention comes to Valley Forge Aug. - Division builds the Model Railroader Valley Forge Express at convention    1993- 1994 Mert Gardner - Superintendent Video Projector acquired for the Division IRS Tax-Exempt status received Model Railroader of the Year awarded to Eleanor Sattler Video Projector acquired for the Division    1994 - 1995 Frank Sedio - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: Frank Sedio Konrad Richter retires from the Board after 12 years Carl Haslett takes over videotape library Model Railroader of the Year awarded to Charlie Walker Burlington Northern purchases Santa Fe    1995 - 1996 Frank Sedio - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: Sam Natal Bob McHugh retires from the Board Southern RR of NJ rail excursion Model Railroader of the Year awarded to Ron Baile Jan. - Mert Gardner resumes as Superintendent Jan. - Konrad Richter rejoins Board May - "Clinkers" redesigned Jun. - First Outdoor Layout Tour Union Pacific purchases Chicago, Northwestern & Western RR    1996 - 1997 Mert Gardner - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: Carl Haslett, Mike McNamara John Cessorsmo retires from the Board after 5 years of service Bob Laity retires from the Board Sep. - "Clinkers" expanded to 6 pages Oct. - MER Fall Convention, Jersey Limited '96 Web page established on the Internet New Division ID Badges issued Jan. - First convention style Meet Union Pacific purchases Southern Pacific    1997 - 1998 Mert Gardner - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: Bob Liberman Konrad Richter retires from the Board, again! At the door fee still at $2!!! Mar. - 30th Anniversary Banquet held in Oak Valley    1998 - 1999 Mike McNamara - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: Carl Corsi, Bill Emmons, Ken O'Brien Mert Gardner retires from the Board after 10 years of service Dick Kitz retires from the Board after 26 years of service Dr. Charles Patti retires from the Board after 6 years of service Sep. - "Clinkers" expanded to 8 pages Division purchases new slide projector Mar. - First Division Meet in Tom's River Jun. - CSX and NS take over Conrail    1999 - 2000 Mike McNamara - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: John Swift Sam Natal retires from the Board after 6 years of service Meets in Trenton, Swedesboro, Oaklyn, Toms River, Deptford BNSF and CN announce plans to merge, doesn't happen    2000 - 2001 Mike McNamara - Superintendent Meets in Mt. Laurel, Somers Point., Haddon Twp., Toms River, Trenton Apr. - Railfan Trip aboard the Cape May seashore Lines Amtrak launches Acela service    2001 - 2002 Mike McNamara - Superintendent Meets in Deptford, Bordentown, Haddon Twp., Delran, Vineland Nov. - Railfan Trip to Grain Elevator    2002 - 2003 Mike McNamara - Superintendent Meets in Tuckahoe, Haddon Twp., Hamilton Twp., Toms River NJ Division Hats and Shirts offered for sale Oct. - Host MER Fall Convention, Cherry Hill Depot Jan. - Joint Meet with Philadelphia Division at Haddon Twp. Bangor & Aroostook fallen flag, becomes Maine, Montreal & Atlantic South Jersey Light Rail expected to start up 2003 Monmouth County added to NJ Division    2003 - 2004 Mike McNamara - Superintendent Meets in Deptford, Hamilton Twp., Haddon Twp., Delanco and Monmouth County New to the Board Of Directors: Bob Clegg and Chris Widmaier Carl Haslett retires from the Board after 7 years of service Bill Emmons retires from the Board after 5 years of service    2004 - 2005 Mike McNamara - Superintendent Meets in Fairview (PA), Vineland, Haddon Twp., Hamilton Twp. and Tuckahoe Sep. - Joint Meet with Philadelphia Division in Fairview, PA    2005 - 2006 Mike McNamara - Superintendent New to the Board Of Directors: John Dunn John Swift retires from the Board after 6 years of service Meets in Deptford, Delanco, Haddon Twp., Hamilton Twp. and Monmouth County Jan. - Joint Meet with Philadelphia Division at Haddon Twp.    2006 - 2007 Mike McNamara - Superintendent Meets in Richland, Wilmington DE, Haddon Twp., Hamilton Twp. and Deptford Jan. - Joint Meet with Philadelphia Division at Wilmington DE Web page written and maintained by: Mike McNamara Copyright ©1997-2007 New Jersey Division. 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