Scrapbook of Yesterday

The photos below are scanned from yellowed clippings of historical columns published in the Somerset Messenger Gazette of Somerville, New Jersey. To view the full clipping, click on the photo.

The Arrows track team, 1915-1916

The Arrows football team, 1916-1917

The Arrows basketball team, 1920-1921

In 1976, Sam Woldin (pictured below) began an autobiographical statement with the words, "As far back as I can remember I was interested in athletics," as these photos attest.

For recollections of a famous Somerville resident of this era, click here.

Track

Back in 1915 and 1916, the Arrow Athletic Club competed in track, baseball, basketball and hockey with teams from Bound Brook, New Brunswick, Plainfield, Whitehouse and Bernardsville.

There was no set schedule of events, or league competition, but the teams were seldom without a context. The Arrows' home gams were played at the old Fairgrounds, now Brooks Field.

The trackmen pictured here are (left to right) Joseph Hickey, Elmer Fritz, George Algair, Fred (Pop) Kugler, Joseph Sporinsky, Walter Jungman and Sam Woldin.

Published in "Scrapbook of Yesterday", Somerset Messenger Gazette, circa May or June 1976

Football

Scrapbook of Yesterday closes its gridiron session with the presentation of the Somerville High School football team for 1916.

They are: (seated on the ground in front, left to right) Sam Woldin and Louis Yellis; (first row) Arthur S. Meredith Sr., Frederick I. Pelovitz, Jacob Woldin, Herbert Richards, Clarence Van Fleet, James Harrington; (second row) William R. Holbert, high school principal, teacher and coach; William G. Hawley, -- Nicholson, -- Gray of Neshanic, Raymond P. Sutphen, manager, and Harold Cohen; (third row) Elmer Richards, Sol Burke, "Bunny" Porter and Chester Schomp.

The team was photographed on the old Cammann Field bleachers. Willy Hawley, lo-[clipping is ripped]

Published in "Scrapbook of Yesterday", Somerset Messenger Gazette, November 29, 1962, p. 16

Basketball

Here are the basketball stars of the Arrows, perhaps the greatest independent athletic aggregation that Somerville ever produced. Not only in basketball, but in track, baseball and even in gymnastics. The Arrows flourished from 1915 to about 1924.

Pictured today is the hot Arrow A.C. court combine. Standing, left to right, are Tony Yacka, Vince Metzler and Bert Munday; seated, Walt Jungman, Jim Johnson and Sam Woldin. This was a team that played all around the state.

The club's baseball nine was another fast aggregation, playing independents from High Bridge, Clinton, Belleville, Newark and Belmar and many others.

The Arrows came into being in a barn at 111 West Cliff street which the boys fitted up as a gym with trapeze, rings and other apparatus. It belonged to Walt Jungman's father.

Published in "Scrapbook of Yesterday", Somerset Messenger Gazette, date unknown

Photos scanned at the request of Justin Robert Eyet, intramural basketball player of Califon, NJ and great-grandson of Sam Woldin, and posted on the web by his uncle on January 23, 2000. Additional information on the Somerville Arrows, to be added to this page, is welcome and may be sent to Tom Rue.