mynewjerseypictures

MY NEW JERSEY PICTURES

Click here for a map of the Ellis Island - Statue of Liberty area

Above: The entrance to the Edison National Historic site in West Orange New Jersey. Below: The gate through which, Mr. Thomas Alva Edison, who invented the light bulb and many other useful devices, went to work each morning. I was hoping some of his fantastic knowledge would rub off on me during our trip there. NO SUCH LUCK!! ;-(

Left: "Thomas Edison examines a Home Projecting Kinetoscope in the West Orange New Jersey laboratory circa 1912.The early home projector was one of many Edison inventions produced in West Orange from 1887 to 1931."
(From a postcard I purchased during our trip to Edison Labs.)

Above: I stand on an observation deck at the Statue of Liberty, with New York City in the background. Emilie refused to be in many pictures. She was stubborn but I managed to get my way sometimes. You can barely see the World Trade Center if you look carefully. Another ghostly image.

Above: is a I picture I took on the ferry ride between Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It was taken in August 2001. I recall it was only two weeks and four days before 9/11/01. Notice the ghostly appearance of the twin towers. I didn't know it then, but I had just cut myself into a piece of history by taking these pictures of the World Trade Center.

I took the above picture of New York City from a Window at Ellis Island. This is an awesome sight to a country person. It is the best I have of the World Trade Center.

Left: Emilie and I dining out at a local restaurant one night during my February 2002 visit. The picture of us on the front page, was made at Off the Hook Restaurant and Bar. It is my favorite of all the places we dined. I LOVED taking Emilie out. She rarely got out, and in fact had not been anywhere for a long time before my second visit in August 2001. Emilie had been confined to her bed for two years, during the week of my first visit in September 2000. She had a bedsore problem, which is common with people who are quadriplegics. I stayed by her bedside. We talked and watched movies. We got to know each other a lot better than online. I would have not traded places with anyone. I made Emilie feel better. Being there was a blessing.

We did not go to as many places during my final visit in February 2002. Emilie was, once again, not well enough to get out much. But we did go to President Woodrow Wilson’s house, which is now the administration building at a local college. I have NEVER been in a bigger house. This house makes the White House in Washington look like a shack in comparison. Right: Emilie in a 100 year old elevator at the Woodrow Wilson house. I can see the light of the Lord on her sweet face in this picture.

The Statue of Liberty is a very interesting place, Being there was an emotional experience and made me very proud to be an American. The picture above was taken in the museum, which is in the base of the statue. Emilie was clowning around, and had just put her head in the nose of the replica of the statue's face. She was pretending to be the stuff one blows out when they sneeze.

Emilie was unable to drive her specially equipped van, so I was asked to drive whenever we went anywhere. I am still amazed I driven on the famous New Jersey Turnpike. We traveled to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty by way of the Turnpike. I am a country person and had never driven in such a situation. There are five lanes of traffic going each way. I recall arriving at a place on the Turnpike, where these five lanes merged into one! Talk about nerve racking!! But Emilie believed in my ability. The picture above was taken as I flew over the turnpike on my way home.

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Above, Emilie maneuvers herself into her van for our trip to the Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.We went there on the last day of my August 2001 visit. It was only around a 40 mile trip from Emilie's home.

Emilie was injured in a 1972 swimming accident at age 16. She was diving in an above ground swimming pool and broke her neck. She never walked again. There were some in Emilie's circle of friends, who called her a paraplegic. But Emilie considered herself to be a quadriplegic. She had a small amount of motion in her arms and none at all in her fingers and legs. I wish people would be more careful with everything they do, after seeing the physical condition Emilie lived with.

Emilie had a hard life, but she let NOTHING stop her. She graduated on time with her 1974 class of Henry Hudson High School. She went on to college, to receive a degree in Social Phychology. Knowing Emilie has strengthened my Christian faith and has given me the courage and determination to succeed in life.
Young people can learn more about life through her example than through my own. She was an extraordinary woman. I am convinced God placed this beautiful New Jersey soul into my life. I am blessed to have known her.

Ellis Island was a thrill. Seeing the place where so many people started a new life in America. I do not think any of my family came to America through here. All of my ancestors were here a long time before Ellis Island was established. Below is a picture of Emilie and I sitting on one of the original benches inside of Ellis Island. This is where all arriving immigrants waited to be processed as they entered the United States. Ellis Island stopped operations around 1955.