Morgan Memories – Punks!
In addition to being the phrase used to describe the teenagers, primarily male, who used to hang outside of George’s Deli on South Pine Avenue pitching pennies and just looking tough, “punks” was also the name for another thing as I recall from Morgan in the 60’s and 70’s.
It is written that Typha, the only genus in the family Typhaceae, is composed of nearly 40 species and hybrids. Better known as Cattails, they came in very handy for lighting firecrackers, cherry bombs, M-80s, bottle rockets, and maybe even sparklers. They had a less than appealing odor when they slowly burned – especially to insects – but the fact that they slowly burned made punks the ideal tool for the adolescent fireworks maven. The good ones looked like a long thick cigar on a stick and it was never clear to me – even now – from where the neighborhood kids were able to acquire them. I always figured they came either from plants growing along Cheesequake Creek or one of its affluents, from the other side of the railroad tracks in one of the salt marshes, or perhaps from around one of the numerous ponds such as Applegates Pond, Crossways Pond or the Extraback in the woods.
I don’t recall ever actually having one or finding someone to get one from – not even for the coveted July 4 firecracker frenzy. Punks!
Originally posted on June 29, 2020.
Hi Verne. I just wanted to clear up one small technicality. It may seem insignificant, but trivial nevertheless. George’s Deli on South Pine was not a deli at all. It was called Geo – Mar Variety Store affectionately AKA “The Greek’s”. They had a great soda fountain with cherry coke and strawberry sundaes. As far as “The Gang” , they were really just a great bunch of guys (and girls). I really miss those days. I love the website and the great memories you bring up. Thanks and keep up the good work, I know this research is not easy.
Verne
Great article. You are right as these grew at the base of small slope/woods in the salt water marshes at the end of GORDON,HOFFMAN andDOLAN AVES. During the 50’s and 60’s summers, some of the dads would go and cut a bunch of them for us kids. The key to them burning was they had to be dried out , usually on top of someone’s picnic table or roof shed. Before those streets had asphalt , they were made of tar and small gravel. During the hot summer, the tar would get hot and create small tar bubbles. Our parents would then light the dried punk and we kids would run along the road and get tar on the punks. The smell and smoke from the punks (we were told) would keep the mosquitoes away. Also we would put the stem in our mouths and make believe we were smoking cigars. Both common and acceptable during that time period. The parents would usually watch us from the house porches to keep an eye on us and since no one had A/C it was cooler outside.
And Glen was right about the kids (punks) hanging around George’s store. My mother called them hoodlums (or HOODS) and to stay away from them. Especially the ones who wore leathers jacks. They were and acted just like the kids GREASE. I didn’t have to see the movie, I lived it. Thank you for the research you do.
I grew up across the street near the South River in The town of South River, NJ and every summer and fall we would go behind the VFW building on Reid Street into the salt marshes to collect the “Punks” that grew there. It is bringing back such fun memories and the experience of drying out the punks in our back yards so we could light them and smell the punks burning. We also thought it was cool to pretend to smoke them like a cigar and use them to light our sparklers and little black snake pellets that our parents bought for July 4 th celebration. To me the burning punk aroma and burning of leaves still reminds me of fall when the town also had bonfires to celebrate the beginning of football season. So many towns people showed up at Dailey’s pond which lit the bonfire around 7 pm. And the fire trucks and firemen were there to light and monitor the fire while the cheerleaders had the Pep Rally for the beginning of Football at Campbell School Football Stadium. I still associate these wonderful memories as part of a socially active community of friends and family who lived in my town of South River which I still cherish today. Joy Anne
Thanks, Joy Anne! I used to wonder why Washington Road in Sayreville, which runs from near the Sayreville/South Amboy border to the Sayreville/South River border, was named Washington Road. Certainly it was due to George Washington but I believe the real reason is because present day South River used to be named Washington! Early roads in New Jersey were typically named for the places they connect. Thanks for your comment!