In the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, women’s roles were changing, largely because of their work experiences during two world wars. Rigid Victorian morality rules became a thing of the past.
Instead of women’s beauty and talents being hidden, their attributes were admired and appreciated. Beauty pageants became popular and were held at family fairs, carnivals and festivals, sometimes to promote tourism and community spirit.
Winners of the contests sold war bonds, won college scholarships and were awarded a variety of prizes.
As early as 1854, American showman P.T. Barnum tried to organize a beauty contest where women were to appear on stage and be judged for their physical beauty. It was a while before this idea could blossom because people in the Victorian age judged others for their modesty and condemned anyone entertaining the thought of entering a beauty contest.
Eventually with changing times and attitudes, beauty contests became part of working-class entertainment with physical display acceptable. Barnum’s contest was a failure because Victorians, especially the ladies, thought that only women of questionable reputation entered such a contest.
Barnum thought more and came up with the requirement that women submit a photograph to enter a beauty contest. Participation then was considered acceptable because the winner was chosen from the photos. The oldest pageant still in operation is the Miss America pageant, organized in 1921 by a businessman.
In Passaic and Morris counties, where there are many lakes, most swim/picnic park owners belonged to a group known as the Lakeland Waters Association. People went on day trips to swim, picnic and rest during the summer.
About 1953, each lake owner belonging to the association had an opportunity to enter a representative in a contest for Lakeland Waters Association Queen. First, competitions were held at the privately owned lakes, then their winners participated in the lake association contest.
In 1964, West Milford Mayor Warren Brogan of Lake Lookover greeted Susan Krasnomowitz, 19, who was touring the state as Miss New Jersey.
A resident of Fair Lawn, she said in later years that winning the pageant gave her opportunities that few women had at that time. She traveled the state, spoke at events and gained a wealth of confidence.
She held the title of Miss Paterson when she entered the Miss New Jersey competition. By winning the crown, she received a scholarship that paid for her education.
After going on to compete in the Miss America contest, she returned home and finished studies at the Hackensack School of Nursing, earning a degree in psychology with a minor in art.
In 1966, she married Dr. John Garra, an obstetrician-gynecologist. She traveled with him while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force for two years. They have four children. Susan now is a Realtor and home stager in the Haddenfield area.
Private lake owners
Ernest Nees, owner of a bakery based in Butler, also operated a summer swim park location. His lake in Riverdale off Route 23 on Mathews Avenue was named Valley Spring Lake.
It later was drained and housing units now fill the space.
John Sisco had Cold Spring Lake on Macopin Road in Bloomingdale; it now is owned by a private organization.
Walter Walsh, auditor for West Milford and other towns, had Lake Melody in West Milford, later owned by Dick and Connie Nobis.
Hinchman’s Beach was on Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne.
Mayor Wilbur Fredericks of West Milford with his wife, Florence, owned and operated Miami Park on Van Orden Road in West Milford. It became a summer camp for children with special needs and now is privately owned.
Green Valley Park in West Milford was owned by West Milford sanitary inspector Jack Greene and his wife, Virginia. A thick cover of trees and brush now cover the once-popular destination.
Bubbling Spring Lake, on Macopin Road in West Milford, was owned and operated by Howard Butell. It now is part of the West Milford recreation facilities.
Forest Hill Park, a lake community off Germantown Road in West Milford created by Henry Inwald, had lake swimming and picnic tables open to the public. In the 1940s and ’50s, traffic lined Route 23 North before the Germantown Road exit with the cars waiting to get into Forest Hill Park.
Just down the road from there, Colin and Martha Harris had Paradise Lake with swimming facilities open to the public. John’s Lake was also in that area.
Verina and Arthur Genader (my parents) had White Birch Park on Macopin Road open for public swimming and picnicking.
Nellie Weaver’s Happy Hollow Park (with her big ice cream stand) was on Weaver Road.
Bruster Burns had Lazy Acres for public swimming off Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Hewitt.
Many beauty contests
Many of the private lake owners held beauty contests, and many of their winners went on to compete in the Lakeland Waters Association and other contests.
At White Birch Park, for example, Marge Koch was a contest winner. Others in that competition there were Gerta Freund, Carol Gustafson, Barbara Miller, Beverly Rhinesmith and Diane Sprattler.
In 1963, Miss Democrat was chosen at a fundraising picnic at Bubbling Spring Lake. The contestants included Sandra Organ of Macopin Road, Barbara Pintak of Shady Lake, Kathy Simpson of High Crest Lake, sisters Cheryl and Kathy Ladika of Mt. Glen Lakes, and Kathy Sherman, Gould Road and Kathy Collinge, all of Apshawa.
Organ, daughter of Lillian and William Organ, was the Miss Democrat contest winner.
Carol Salem, daughter of Township Committeeman Charles Salem and his wife, Ceil, was chosen Junior Miss Democrat.
Township Committee candidate William Dunnigan shared honors with Freeholders Samuel Biber, David Krugman and Joseph Lazarra, a candidate for sheriff. Passaic County Clerk Floyd Struble, township Committeemen Charles Salem and Warren Brogan, and local Democratic committee members were guests.
A contest for youths provided an opportunity for contestants to stuff themselves with pie and watermelon to determine who could consume the largest quantities. Swimming meets were held for boys and girls in three age groups. A newspaper announcement said the organization was introducing a “knick-knack table, where hand-made articles, bric-a-brac, and useful odds and ends could be purchased.” Cakes were sold, both whole and by the portion. There were food stands where roast beef, sausage and pepper sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn, clam chowder, French Fries, soda, ice cream and watermelon were sold.
The West Milford Republican Party held its annual picnic at Green Valley Park in 1963. Miss GOP was chosen from nine contestants. Jane Tundermane was the winner and Mary Payne of West Milford was the runner-up.
There was also a Miss Princess of the Lakes competition The judges chose Lee Redhammer of Verona for that honor. Barbara Byrnes of Lake Lookover was the runner-up. Other contestants were Kathleen Fogell, Nancy Katherine Allen, Barbara Faher, Suzanne Papini and Madalana Schlenk.
West Milford Councilwoman Mollie McFarland presented Tundermane with her crown and Beatrice Little, wife of Mayor Robert Little, crowned Byrnes. Miss GOP received a savings bond and gifts from merchants. All contestants were given GOP elephant stuffed animals.
Chairwoman Barbara McFarland was assisted by Gabe Meinhardt of Pinecliff Lake. Meinhardt was a member of the Mariners Quartet of the Arthur Godfrey television show.
During the afternoon of the contest, there was a baby parade with Lynn Susan Phillips chosen as Queen, Christopher Errico as King, Christine Ann Morgan as Princess and John Birdsal as Prince. Other participants were Renee Lenahan, Sharon Jera, Cathy Ann Birdsal, Linda Marie Birdsal, Kim Certismo, Roberta Vogel, Joanne Redd, Billy Zester and Gary Stonacker. They also received stuffed elephants.
The Ladika sisters, Karen, 17, and Cheryl, 18, and Barbara Pinkak, 18, of Mt. Glen Lake were West Milford residents who joined contestants from other towns to compete for the title of Miss County PBA in August 1963. The event was at Valley Spring Lake in Riverdale.
At the August 1965 Police Benevolent Association family picnic, pulchritude reigned when the chapter selected a queen. PBA president Bob Sutter presented trophies to contest winner Barbara Pintak, first runner-up Pat Davis and second runner-up Ann Hall.
In April 1969, 15 William Paterson coeds competed for the title of Miss Paterson State in the annual scholarship pageant on the campus in Wayne. The prize was a $300 scholarship and an opportunity to go on to the Miss New Jersey competition in Cherry Hill.
The format of the competition, sponsored by the Student Government Association, was identical to that in the Miss America pageant. The girls were judged based on talent, informal interviews, and competition in evening gowns and swimsuits.
The pageant was in the Marion E. Shea Center for Performing Arts and was moderated by Steven Helliker, a junior at the college. Judges were Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Zauber, directors of the Miss New Jersey pageant; Annabelle McCormack, official chaperone for Miss New Jersey at the Miss America pageant; Harris Berrman, a lawyer; and Dr. Howard Hanes.
The contestants were Sheila Simmons of Paterson, Patricia Angiono of Wayne, Bonnie Lee Rude of Vernon, Yvonne Ann Allen of Newark, Mary Englehardt of Wayne, Patricia Griffin of Passaic, Toni Saveriano of Wayne, Linda Petzold of Wanaque, Rhoda Mae Huber of Ringwood, Kathleen Elizabeth Menegus of Ridgewood, Diane Lyn Fisher of East Orange, Marilyn Rose Kohnke of Wayne, Patricia Ann Pries of Pompton Plains, Christine Cleary of Riverdale and Gail Marie Capizzi of Lodi.
Clarification
William Standish of Pinecliff Lake, uncle of Frank Pompo, submitted some clarification about the Pombo purchase of Bingler’s Motel.
Charles Pombo, Frank’s brother, bought the business after Gus Bingler died of injuries suffered in a fall while he was repairing a light fixture in front of the building.
Standish said the Pombo brothers were partners but had a parting of the ways when their restaurant Casino De Charles in Totowa was destroyed by fire.
Frank Pombo opened Bethwood Restaurant in Totowa. It is named for his sister Betty.
Charles Pombo moved next door to the Standish family in Awosting and bought the Bingler business.
To contact Ann Genader, send email to anngenader@gmail.com