NJPH - New Jersey Postal History Society

HEZEKIAH B. SMITH’S INDUSTRIAL VILLAGE ~ Doug D’Avino
Fig. 8: An H. B. Smith Machine Company cover dated February 15, 1924, with a Smithville duplex
postmark canceling a 2¢ Harding Memorial stamp. The red ‘ADDRESS CHANGED OR
COMPLETED BY N.S.M.D. No. 8’ auxiliary marking was added in Chicago when someone
realized that South Braintree was in Massachusetts, not Michigan. The ‘N.S.M.D. No. 8’ marking
indicates that the change was made by the Nixie Section of the Mailing Division, which handles
undeliverable mail, with No. 8 identifying the clerk number (or tour number).
Then, on February 14, 1930, the Mount Holly Herald ran a related front page story:
Smithville Store Destroyed By Fire
A county landmark, the general store at Smithville, owned by the Estate of H. B.
Smith and operated the past few years by Alfred H. Johansen, of Mount Holly, was
practically destroyed by a fire of unknown origin late on Monday [Author’s note:
February 10] night, the blaze being discovered, by Elmer E. Hartman, district clerk of
the Eastampton Township Board of Education, about 10.15 o’clock.
Mount Holly firemen were called and the Relief and America companies answered,
but by the time: they arrived, the building which was of brick and frame construction,
and its contents were doomed.
Water was plentiful, the store being located along the creek, and the flames were
quickly subdued, but the building and stock represent practicall [sic] a total loss, which
is estimated at about $5,000, partially covered by insurance.
Left unsaid was that it was suspected that the fire was started by Johansen to cover up
any evidence of his crime(s). There appear to be no further reports by the newspaper on the
subject, and it seems that Johansen was never charged with a crime. It seems Vaughn had good
reason to remove secure post office materials every evening.
NJPH 204
Vol. 39/No. 4
Nov 2011 Whole No. 184