Franklin's Neighborhood House fondly remembered

By Mark J. Yablonsky
FRANKLIN — The "Model Mining Town of the East" was all that and more, not only because of the legendary Franklin mines underneath, but also because of some of the amenities above ground - such as the beloved Neighborhood House.

Known affectionately as the 'Nabe, the large, long white building looked like a regular big house on the outside, but people didn't go there just to look at it from the outside. They went simply for some good, clean, lively recreation, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. And yes, the fond memories today of the 'Nabe live on in the hearts and minds of those who were fortunate enough to have lived in the era(s) when such recreation was available.

"Fond memories?" responded Betty Allen, the former president of the Franklin Historical Society. "I have lots of fond memories. My husband can tell you that's where we met. We were so lucky we had that. It was just a hub of everything. And it was just a big loss."

"That's where we met," added Bob Allen, the proud husband of Betty's since June 22, 1952. "Right in front of the jukebox in 1949. That's where all the activity was."

Indeed, the 'Nabe, which was located on Main St. in the spot now occupied by the former Hungarian Church, was simply the place to go, where recreation and social activities were fun and relatively inexpensive, at least when compared to today's standards.

Originally built in 1876, the 'Nabe was once a store from 1902 until 1913 - the year Franklin became a borough on its own. In fact, it was used as the New Jersey Zinc Co. store for miners and residents alike. But after some outside renovation, it reopened in November 1913 as the "Community House of Franklin" by the zinc company instead. And the 'Nabe "was a community clubhouse with a professional staff," explains author John Park in his recently-released book, "Franklin-Ogdensburg Mining Heritage Guide."

Beginning in the early 1900s, the staff on hand there consisted of a director, a visiting nurse and teachers who were authorized with "providing for the sociological needs of the community and clean recreation," according to Park's book. In 1913, the company store was moved across Main St. to a large brick building that is now a deli. But in that building also once existed Herzenberg's Drug Store.

In the Neighborhood House, there was a library on the first floor and in back of the library there was a recreation room, replete with pool and ping-pong tables. In the basement were bowling alleys where regular bowling and even tournaments could be held. There was also a dance room with a jukebox. In fact, you can say there was something for just about anyone back in the day when automobiles were somewhat less conspicuous because most people lived within walking distance of the Main St. corridor, where grocery stores and other mom-and-pop business establishments could be easily found.

The 'Nabe was open to borough residents for a dime, and to out-of-towners for a quarter. Bob Allen fondly remembers the night when one of the 'Nabe's patrons wandered outside for a cigarette, only to be confronted by Herbert C. Irons, the borough's legendary police chief, who made certain that Franklin remained virtually crime-free from 1915 until retiring in 1957. The chief, who viewed strangers suspiciously at all times, quickly convinced the man to go back inside, which he quickly did.

Still, however, the 'Nabe had other purposes in times of need; during the Great Flu Epidemic of 1918, it served as additional hospital space, and in more recent times, it housed the Samaritan Inn, a non-profit agency entrusted with providing help for the homeless.

And in the days following the end of the Second World War, a junior canteen opened in November 1945 for borough youth to hold dances and other activities; and many a New Year's parties took place at the Neighborhood House, too. But wait: in 1920, when space in the regular borough schoolhouse was tight, a first-class grade class was held there, too, as well as separate sewing classes. And if all that didn't suit everyone, there were also baby contests and health clinics that took place at the Neighborhood House.

The old, proud building was on valuable ground, and its days became numbered when the borough itself decided the land underneath the 'Nabe would be better suited for a new municipal building. And one day in the spring of 1994, people began crying when the building was demolished. The space, however, remained vacant because the borough soon decided to renovate the former bank up further on Main St. for a borough hall instead. The Neighborhood House land remained vacant until September 2007, when the former Hungarian Church was moved from another location and relocated on the old 'Nabe site, where it is today.

Understandably, some people today remain upset with the loss of the Neighborhood House.

"They figured it was so bad, they had to tear it down," says Bob Allen, "but about two years before that, they'd had new siding put on it. And then they decided they weren't putting a new building up; they were going to fix up an old building instead."

While the Neighborhood House has been gone for nearly two decades, it will remain dear in the hearts of many who miss it.