Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media
Vintage photos of June in NJ
I vividly remember what a magical time of year June was when I was a youngster. It wasn’t a question of liking or disliking school; it was about loving freedom.
A friend of mine who is an educator recently told me that schoolchildren have nothing on teachers when it comes to counting down the days until the start of summer vacation.
Sometimes, though, vacations can be “work” for adults with all the planning, scheduling and cramming as much as possible into a short time span. As kids, we had that wonderful ability to suspend thoughts of reality and see summer vacation as … endless.
June is a month with a multitude of good memories for many. For a long time, it was considered the wedding month. The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains: “The idea of June weddings comes from the Celtic calendar. On the Cross-Quarter Day of Beltane, or May Day (May 1), young couples would pair off to court for 3 months and then be wed on the next Cross-Quarter Day (Lammas Day, August 1). Youths became impatient, the waiting period was shortened to mid-June, and the popularity of June weddings was ensured.” But in modern times, it’s no longer the leader. A 2016 survey in The Knot Magazine showed that more couples chose to get married in October and September (each at 16 percent) with June in third place at 13 percent.
Here’s a gallery of a variety of June happenings in New Jersey. Scroll to the end of the gallery for links to similar galleries you might enjoy.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Childen enjoys summer on swings in Bridgeton in this photo taken in June 1942.
Courtesy of public.navy.mil
John Holland tested his first submarine design in the Passaic River on June 6, 1878. Although seaworthy, the US Navy rejected his proposal. His later ship, the USS Holland, was commissioned in 1900.
Courtesy of Barry Koopersmith
Great Adventure isn’t just for rides; music attracts fans from far and wide. This photo is from a Bow Wow Wow (“I Want Candy”) concert in June 1983.
Courtesy of James Stewart
Samara Mahan, 14, gives her sister, Tiffany, 3, a kiss in the cooling waters of Camden’s pool at 8th and Van Hook streets in June 1983.
Courtesy of Old New Jersey
Pupils of Washington School in Union City seemed just a little happy on the last day of school in June 1972.
Courtesy of Marcela Gross
Camp Wawayanda in Vernon Township is named in many sources as the first permanent YMCA summer camp in the United States. This June 1909 photo shows young men setting up for an extended stay.
Courtesy of Don Grant
Ella Harbeson is shown in June 1942 on her way to wed Robert Grant at the Montville Reformed Church.
Courtesy of njcu.edu
Mary Philbrook, the first woman licensed to practice law in New Jersey, was admitted to the bar on June 6, 1895, in Jersey City.
Courtesy of Vintage Bergen County
In this photo taken in June 1945, folks ride the Cyclone at Palisades Amusement Park.
Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives
There mustn’t have been too much to do on the last day of school at Belleville High School in 1987; these unidentified students were photographed just hanging around outside on the last day of class.
Courtesy of philadelphiaencyclopedia.org
The first drive-in movie theater in the world opened in Camden on June 6, 1935.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
On June 2, 1935, Amelia Earhart made the first public parachute jump at the Switlik Parachute Co. in Jackson. She jumped from a 115-ft. tower designed by her husband, publisher George Palmer Putnam.
Courtesy of Nick Novellino
From left, Nick Novellino, John Sweeney and Rich Rivituso graduating from St Thomas School in Old Bridge in June 1969.
Courtesy of West Essex High School
Joseph Charles John “Joe” Piscopo is shown as emcee at the West Essex High School prom. Piscopo was born in Passaic on June 17, 1951.
Courtesy of Elaine Ely
Don Ely and Elaine Mack before attending the Union High School senior prom in June 1956. The couple would later marry.
Courtesy of childmind.org
Zoe Yadira Saldana Nazario was born in Passaic on June 19, 1978. As Zoe Saldana, the actor and dancer has had major roles in “Star Trek” and “Avatar” (2009), “Colombiana” (2011), “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and “Guardians of the Galaxy II” (2017).
Courtesy of Rein Terpstra
Middlesex County residents lined the track as Robert Kennedy’s funeral train rolled through New Brunswick in this photo taken in June 1968.
Courtesy of Rick Fertig
Unidentified children are happy to be dismissed on the last day of school in Woodbridge in June 1963.
Courtesy of Vintage Bergen County
Delores Jacobus and Robert Karklin on their wedding day, June 6, 1947, at the Hasbrouck Heights First Reformed Church.
Courtesy of history.state.gov
Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin and President Lyndon Johnson are shown in discussion at the Glassboro Summit at Glassboro State College — now Rowan University — in June 1967.
Courtesy of nj.com
Peter Hayden Dinklage, shown here in 1986, was born in Morristown on June 11, 1969. He has won a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards for his roles, most notably as Tyrion Lannister on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”
Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives
“No running!” probably wouldn’t have done much good on the last day of school at the Milnes School in Fair Lawn; the photo is from June 1977.
Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media
Vintage photos of summer fun in NJ
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/vintage_photos_of_summer_fun_in_nj.html
Vintage photos of brides and grooms in NJ
https://www.nj.com/news/2015/06/vintage_photos_of_brides_and_grooms_in_nj.html
Vintage photos of NJ fun in the good ol’ summertime
https://www.nj.com/news/2016/06/vintage_photos_of_nj_fun_in_the_good_ol_summertime.html