Name/Title
Fire Department: Millburn Fire Department Knot Hole Gang, 1957Entry/Object ID
1999.043.043Description
Photograph of members of the Millburn Fire Department in front of the bus taking the annual Knot Hole Gang Field trip to Yankee Stadium. In the photograph are John Smith, Captain Bill White, Chief J. David Hayes, Commissioner Joseph Ward and Jake Aronin.
For decades, boys in town looked forward to the summer field trips to attend baseball games as part of the Knot Hole Gang. Named for the tradition of giving free tickets to kids to promote the growing interest in baseball--and alleviating the need for them to peek through knotholes to view the game, Millburn formed its own version in June 1934. To participate, a boy must be under age 16 and a member of the Millburn Recreation Department's softball and baseball knot-hole leagues. The outings were opened to all boys under 16 during the 1940s. Hundreds of boys participated in outings, which were sponsored, by the Rotary Club, Junior Service Club, Kiwanis Club and Millburn Fire Department, and enjoyed watching the Newark Bears and the New York Yankees over the years. Knot hole gang trips stopped in the early 1970s, at which time they were sponsored by the Millburn Recreation Department.
In 1952, girls were offered the opportunity to go on excursions to the Bronx Zoo with the Recreation Department, to "counteract" the opportunities offered to boys through the knot hole gang trips. Girls were also included in the knot hole gang trips in the 1950s and 60s.Collection
Mrs. Sydney WyckoffAcquisition
Accession
1999.043Source or Donor
Mrs. Sydney WyckoffDimensions
Dimension Description
4 5/8 x 6 5/8" print
