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Community Corner

To Open a Business Is Easy, to Keep it Open Is an Art

Part one of a three-part column.

“To open a business is easy, to keep it open is an art.”--Chinese Proverb

Cranbury was officially created on March 7, 1872, previously having been a part of South Brunswick Township. Prior to this event, a small business had been created in Cranbury known as American Mills.

Exactly 37 years ago to the day I am writing this column, June 5 1974, a bookkeeper for this company later known as J.S. Silvers & Bro. Company, granted an interview to give the oral history of this company.

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I have stated here several times the importance of oral histories being recorded for future generations to learn and understand the history of people, places and things that no longer exist in our modern times.

This week Reba Thomas Davis will allow me to present the history of a company very few of the readers here would have ever known of. What I most love about her remembrances are the names and dates that Mrs. Davis (b. 1888 d. 1991) recalls, as well as her detailed descriptions, which allows us to walk back and grasp a feel for the early 1900’s because she lived to 103. Our story begins in 1906 as Mrs. Davis takes a position as secretary.

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