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- THE TRUTH ABOUT REPLACEMENT WINDOWSPosted on: 2010-03-19If you live in Riverton or Palmyra, you are probably well acquainted with the old windows in many of the older homes that line our streets. These windows are the hand-crafted product of skilled workmen and are a vital part of the architecture of your old home and the aesthetic grace of the neighborhood it is a part of. After a long cold winter, salesmen selling replacement windows will have you believing many other things and it’s important to disseminate the facts from the fiction of the salesman pitch. I would like to thank Keith Haberern, chairman of the Collingswood, New Jersey Historic District Commission for providing me with the following energy analysis of “old” wood windows versus replacement windows. Even if it’s just plain dollars and cents that matter to you, you will want to read the following facts those home improvement advertisements won’t tell you.
- U VALUE OF AN OLD SINGLE PANE WINDOW 1.10
- U VALUE OF AN OLD SINGLE PANE WINDOW with a storm window 0.50
- U VALUE OF A NEW DOUBLE PANE REPLACEMENT WINDOW 0.58
With the Lower value being more energy efficient, the old window combined with an effective storm window is actually more energy efficient than the new replacement windows. Those “new” windows will cost you money, not save you money. The TRUTH is,it is more affordable to maintain your beautiful old wood windows, than to “replace” them with a window that will take longer to pay back its cost than it will last. Think about that. Experts agree, you would do better INSULATING the roof of your house since this is where, statistically, most heat loss occurs. A well maintained older window with a good STORM WINDOW is all the investment here you need to start saving money. Not only do you get to keep those beautiful old antique windows with the wavy glass, but also the storm window will help protect them from the elements. The storm needn’t be an aluminum triple track either- just a good wood storm with removable sashes for screens will save you money, and the energy savings from it’s installment has a simple payback cost of approximately 5 years. Simply put, the savings of a replacement window, over a good storm windowed, old window is on the average, only $2.03 savings PER WINDOW. Assuming the average replacement window installed would cost $450 per window, your $2.03 savings your replacement window provides will take 222 years to repay the cost of your replacement window. Remembering that most thermal replacement windows have a lifespan of 15 -20 years, your “replacement’ windows will never last long enough to pay themselves off. In fact, its likely YOU and YOUR HOUSE won’t last the 222 years it would take to fully payback the costs of your replacement windows. You will need to “replace” the “replacement windows” long before then. . On top of all this, KEEPING AND MAINTAINING THOSE BEAUTIFUL OLD WINDOWS IS “RECYCLING” IN ITS MOST ENERGY SAVING , ECONOMICAL, AND EARTH FRIENDLY FORM.
Do the SMART thing and keep those old windows and admire the craftsmanship of those “old Windows for having lasted as long as your house has- something a ‘replacement’ window can never do.
If you would like to receive the complete informational flyer distributed by Collingswood Historic District commission, call me @ 856 303 0758 and leave your address and The Palmyra Historical Society will mail you a courtesy copy of this informative handout to give to your neighbors and friends, as a service to our community.
Website:www.boroughofpalmyra.com -
BREAKING NEWS...ROGERS IS FOR SALE by Will Valentino of the Palmyra Historical Society`Posted on: 2009-08-05L. G. Rogers started out delivering newspapers in 1924 in Palmyra and Riverton and established ROGERS NEWS AGENCY in Palmyra in 1926. The original store was a UNITED CIGAR store located at 5 East Broad Street. By 1936 the business moved down the block to its present location at 15 East Broad Street in the heart of downtown Palmyra. Today, over 85 years after it first opened, its current owners, Ed and Marion Morton, have continued the tradition faithfully. “ Ed and Marian have operated ROGERS for the past 18 years and are the stores third owners but all that is about to change. Ed recently called me to let me know that he and Marian will be retiring shortly and that the historic business is up for sale and ready for it’s fourth owner. The business has been a thriving staple on Broad Street for over 85 years and includes the building and the apartment above which is remarkably charming and still loaded with historic character. Many of the original built in cabinets in the store remain from the time when the Roger’s still owned the place.” It’s the kind of business where you get to know your customers by their first names” remarked Ed, as I spoke to him between customers paying for newspapers, cigarettes and lottery tickets. As it happens, in small towns like Palmyra, there was a lady in the store who went to school with the original owners wife. The store is a landmark in the town and it is my sincere hope that the ROGER’S legacy will continue in Palmyra and that the new owners will be sensitive to its remarkable history. You see, change is good, but some things you hope never change. ROGER’S is one of them. ROGERS and other businesses in Palmyra like Schwerings Hardware and Anthony’s Jewelers have collectively invested over 225 years in this town. Quality businesses reinvest in the community and merchants like Ed Morton, Anthony Fratto and Steve Schwering have given much to the communities they serve. This is why quality businesses like this are vital to the economic health of the town. While Ed and Marian are retiring, this is a grand opportunity for someone to step in and take ROGER’S into the 21st century. The photo shows the store as it appeared during the 1950’s and 60’s. ! Broad Street without ROGERS NEWS would leave a big hole right in the heart of this town. If you are interested, contact Ed at the store or call 609 346 4631. Ed and Marian, best of luck to you both, you will be missed on Broad Street!
- 'PALMYRA HONORS LENA BLACKBURNE WITH A BASEBALL DIAMONDPosted on: 2009-04-07The Inventor of baseball’s famed Rubbing mud is honored by the town he lived in for 68 years to help youngsters realize the dream of a local hero who started his career in their backyards
PALMYRA, NEW JERSEY, APRIL 4th, 2009.
In Cooperstown, New York, in the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, sits an old can filled with silty mud from a secret tributary of the Delaware River. The “mud” was discovered by Russell Aubrey “Lena” Blackburne, a man who lived in Palmyra, New Jersey for 68 years and dedicated 47 years of his life to the game of baseball. Acting on a proposal by the Palmyra Historical Society, On Saturday, April 4th, The Borough of Palmyra dedicated the baseball field in the Borough’s newly revitalized sports complex in honor of Russell “Lena” Blackburne,
Blackburne, a long time Palmyra resident, played for the Chicago White Sox during baseball’s golden years in the early 1900’s and over the years was a manager, coach and scout for the Philadelphia Athletics and a confidant to Connie Mack.
To Jim May, president of the Palmyra Historical Society and Will Valentino, a trustee with the Society, bringing Blackburne’s legacy back to the kids of Palmyra was long overdue; “It’s a small victory, but one that affords us the opportunity to share some of Blackburne’s legacy with the kid’s who will be playing baseball on that field” said Valentino, who initiated the idea to name the field after Blackburne. Blackburne died in 1968 and is buried a few blocks from his home in Morgan Cemetery on the outskirts of Palmyra.
Blackburne’s discovery of the perfect mixture to take the shine off new baseballs so the pitcher could control the ball more effectively transformed the game and ultimately made it safer for every professional ballplayer and child to play the game. The same children who will play on the newly revitalized athletic fields with the same dream Lena Blackburne had when he played for the Palmyra Field Club on these very grounds. “This is something worth celebrating, and we are thankful that Mayor Gural and Council started the party by naming the baseball field in honor of Blackburne”, added Valentino. “ Blackburne is a real hero who literally grew up in the backyards of the youngsters who will be playing on these fields”.
Jim May, president of the Historical Society, would like to encourage everyone to visit the groups Exhibit cases in the town’s Borough Hall. “We’re very proud of Blackburne’s legacy and we’ve created an informative display that includes some of the earliest known photos of Blackburne when he played with the Palmyra Field Club”, May added, “It’s something to encourage young people to follow their dreams”.
Lena Blackburne, in the words of Connie Mack, famed Philadelphia sports legend, Blackburne was a “real sportsman who played the game hard and square”. A player from the “old school of baseball” who’s “love of the game and the desire to win” you could hope to instill in every youngster. “We think it’s poetic justice that there’s now a field honoring him where he played as a youth before hitting the majors” Valentino said, after the dedication that coincided with an annual parade of Little Leaguers through the town’s business district.
Blackburne’s tradition is still carried on today by Delran resident Jim Bintliff,whose family inherinted the business from Blackburne's best friend John Haas. Lena Blackburne’s rubbing compound is exclusively used by Major League Baseball and little leagues across the world. Recently, some NFL teams have even begun to use it bringing it full circle with Lena’s beginnings with the Palmyra Field Club where Blackburne played baseball as well as football with the local team before breaking into the major leagues.
Blackburne’s story is literally a slice of American pie, yet as Palmyra’s Mayor Gural pointed out in his dedication speech, very few people in Palmyra today may have heard about Blackburne. All that is about to change.
While Blackburne’s contribution to the game is talked about amongst baseball aficionados, and mentioned during play-by-play intervals during World Series games, The Palmyra Historical Society hopes the dedicating of the baseball field in Blackburne’s name will spark renewed pride and conversation amongst the kids who will play baseball on the field. May it always shine brightly, illuminating the youngsters who will follow proudly in his footsteps.
The Palmyra Historical Society recently updated the Internet’s WIKIPEDIA entry on Blackburne for those who want to learn more about his contributions to the game.
For additional information , artifact or photo donations contact : Will Valentino, Palmyra Historical Society @ Box114 Palmyra NJ 08065 or call 856 303 0758 and leave a message
The Palmyra Historical & Cultural Society is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and conserving the local history of the town of Palmyra, New Jersey. For more information about the group go to BoroughOfPalmyra.com and click on “communities “ and scroll to “Historical Society.
PALMYRA MAYOR JOHN GURAL (CENTER)WITH PALMYRA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERS JOE WOJIE(right) and RICHARD HUDSON(LEFT)AT LEGION PARK
Website:www.boroughofpalmyra.com -
TEAM BINTLIFF CELEBRATES LENA BLACKBURNE”S LEGACY IN PALMYRAPosted on: 2009-05-03
Baseball’s famous Mud Man Jim Bintliff, of Delran, New Jersey joins members of the Palmyra Historical Society in celebrating the naming of the baseball field in Legion Park in honor of Russell “Lena” Blackburne, who discovered the magical mud near Palmyra in 1938.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2nd, 2009 PALMYRA, NEW JERSEY - This year on Broad Street in Palmyra, during the town’s annual Festival celebration if you stopped by the soggy little caravan tent in front of Anthony’s Jewelers, you would have found members of the Palmyra Historical Society huddled in their “Got History” baseball jerseys, handing out “Lena Blackburne Memorial Diamond “ buttons and trying not to step on the youngsters and parents who crammed the tent to try their luck sifting through mounds of sand at the groups 6th annual Gem Dig fundraiser.
Directly on the heels of the Borough’s acceptance of the group’s proposal to dedicate the baseball field in honor of Lena Blackburne on April 4th, the rain soaked group was treated when Jim Bintliff of Delran, New Jersey stopped by the table. Jim is president of the “LENA BLACKBURNE RUBBING MUD COMPANY” and carries on Blackburne’s legacy supplying Major League Baseball and Little Leagues around the world with mud he secretly harvests every year near Palmyra where Lena Blackburne first discovered it.
Blackburne was a 68 year resident of Palmyra who devoted 47 years of his life to baseball, watermarked by the discovery of the magic mud in a Delaware river tributary that changed the game of baseball
Seen in the photo with Jim Bintliff (3rd from left) is the Palmyra Historical Society’s starting lineup, (from L to R) Carol Reiner, Will Valentino, Jim Bintliff, Gen Lumia,Jim May and Joe Wojie. Jim is a true gentlemen of the diamond and afterwards was joined by Historical Society trustee Will Valentino in Palmyra’s Borough Hall to view the Lena Blackburne exhibit where Bintliff was pleased to discover his grandfather John Haas in a 1916 photo with Blackburne taken in Memorial Park at Cinnaminson and Parry in Palmyra. Jim loved the idea of the field being named in Blackburne’s honor and remarked that Blackburne himself would be very proud because he always worked with the kids and cared a lot about them.
Bintliff inherited the famous rubbing mud business from his father Burns Bintliff, who was the son in law of John Haas, a close childhood friend of Lena Blackburne, to whom he entrusted his muddy cottage industry to after his death in 1968.
Today, Bintliff carries on Blackburne’s tradition and exclusively supplies major league baseball with the Burlington County New Jersey mud.
The Palmyra Historical Society was originally founded in 1991 The group has been responsible for initiating the proposal of Palmyra Cove Nature Reserve and placing the Spring Garden school complex in Palmyra on the National Historic Register.
Website:www.boroughofpalmyra.com -
Success Story of the Month!Posted on: 2007-11-14Bridget has been selected
'THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE MONTH'
RiverLineNeighbors: Sucess Story of the Month
Connecting Neighbors selects Bridget's Site the Success Story of the Month
Bridget Elmes began sponsoring www.RiverLineNeighbors.com shortly after becoming an agent in December 2006. She describes Palmyra as a small borough nestled along the Delaware River. Bridget�s goal in sponsoring the Neighborhood Website was to bring everyone in the community closer together. Little did she realize she would not only accomplish that goal, but would change her own life as well!
Bridget began by working with her Marketing Coach to add relevant content to her site, including school information, local resources, events and pictures. Her first step to market the site was to approach the local school and offer the website as a means to provide information to parents. This small step had a large impact when the school gave her permission to promote www.RiverLineNeighbors.com through school literature. The exposure launched the site, driving traffic and content as PTA and school events were posted. Additionally, Bridget began attending PTA meetings and was soon nominated for PTA Membership Chairperson.
As website traffic and interest continued to grow, Bridget wanted to add local businesses to make the site more compelling. Her first call to a merchant resulted in selling an ad on the site, but more importantly, she learned about and joined the Palmyra Business & Community Alliance! Through continuous support of the site from the Boroughs Mayor, John Gural, Bridget joined and was recently elected Chairwoman of the Economic & Development Committee and holds a seat on the Brownfield Steering Committee. Her Merchants and Classifieds pages have grown to be the most visited areas of the website. Both the Business & Community Alliance and the Economic & Development Committee now use the website to communicate with residents.
If you ask Bridget if sponsoring www.RiverLineNeighbors.com has been a success, her answer is a resounding �yes!� Bridget has received emails from people across the country, letting her know the site has been useful to them in gathering information about Palmyra.
As Bridget explains, �I have brought something to the community that is truly used and appreciated by residents, and businesses love it as an advertising and communication tool! The branding and exposure for me has been tremendous. And if all of that wasn�t enough, I feel it has helped me find a passion to work for and improve my community. I have built relationships with schools, businesses, town leaders and hundreds of residents I had never had the opportunity to meet. I have also served on educational, business and community groups that have enriched my awareness and enjoyment of my community. Since creating this site, my life has changed.'
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