Ben,
Unfortunately, the Clevengers were not the caretakers. The actual caretakers were Polish immigrants named Tomaszewski. And, yes they did die in a fire at the house.
The problem that I have with the "Mirror" story is that its credibility is dubious from the get-go. First, the article tells that some hunters have brought back a tale of murder. Next, it plays on a very real problem of racism in that particular area during that time. Finally, I never saw any other insurance claims made by either the Kelly estate, the Brooks Brae company, or the Adams clay mining company to recoup costs from a fire. The only claim filed was for the Tomascewskis.
Now, what the article does sound like is a bit of folk lore and rumor that was spread due to the predominance of Italian laborers working on the railroad, in the clay pits, and in the nearby Bullock cranberry bogs. The pediophilia is a touch added to further demonize the "vagrant" immigrant workers.
just some thoughts on the whole scenario.
Scott W.
Scott:
Opinions about dubious newspaper articles, racism, and demonizing someone with reports of pediophilia are NEVER an excuse for not conducting research with a proper level of due diligence. I first reported the
New Jersey Mirror article back in December 2006
(see
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=3306&), and accepted the report at face value. However, I always like a challenge, so I will pick up your thrown gaunlet.
Here are my findings:
Contrary to what you suggest, the 1910 federal census for Manchester Township, Ocean County, does record Gildo Plazzariano, living alone, as a resident of Pasadena with an occupation of "watchman brick factory." Born in Germany in 1864 of an Italian father and a German mother, Plazzariano arrived in the United States in 1906. The same census records a Samuel Chattin residing in Eaglewood Township, Ocean County on Main St. Chattin's household included Eva, his wife; Isaiah, a son, age 10; Harry, a son, age 4; and Samuel Jr., a son, age 2. I think the only error in the story is that the dead child was a girl named Harriet. Base on checking subsequent censuses, I think Samuel's son Harry, age 12, perished in the fire and either the hunters erred in understanding the story or the newspaper erred in what they heard. Or, perhaps the
Mirror's editor felt it too salacious to report Gildo's victim as a boy and changed it to a girl. Any or all of this educated speculation is possible. The 1920 and the 1930 census fail to record either Gildo Plazzariano or Harry Chattin, strongly suggesting they both died as reported. For more concrete evidence, I suggest someone should read through the microfilm of the
New Jersey Courier, once published in Toms River and considered the official organ for Ocean County news.
Generally, when a newspaper article mentions specific names (and the fact that article states the county had charged Plazzariano with dispensing liquor without a license three years previous), it lends much credence to the voracity of the reporting.
Check your facts before labeling any story "folklore." And remember, even folklore often has the roots of truth.
Best regards,
Jerseyman
