War of the Worlds Bike Ride

Growing up in Paramus, NJ I had heard about Orson Welles's famous 1938 broadcast called "The War of The Worlds." In this radio drama he pretended the Martians were landing in Grover's Mill. I never imagined the town was real, or that I would someday live closer to it.

A few years ago I sat in the Sarnoff Building at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the former Roscoe L. West Library from when I was a college student at Trenton State College (TSC) and listened to the broadcast through an old RCA radio. I'm surprised I didn't blog about it, but I am not finding a post. I'm pretty sure it was pre-pandemic, but not by a lot of years.

Back to 1938. There are mixed versions of the story. Yes, he presented it as a breaking news story, but did people really believe it? Was there really mass hysteria? Why are we still talking about it 87 years later? West Windsor Township historian Paul Ligeti is researching these questions and more. In the meantime, he took our group of 30 cyclists on a tour through the Grover's Mill section of West Windsor.

We began the journey at the adorable Grover's Mill Coffee Co located in the McCaffarey's shopping center. This shop deserves to be on a quaint main street, but this strip mall is the best option since West Windsor does not have a charming downtown. The coffee shop embraces the historical broadcast. As a sponsor they gave us a coupon for a free coffee or tea. Don and I hope to return when we can sit inside and savor it all.

On a stunningly autumn day, Paul time traveled us back to 1938. The nation was still in the Great Depression. Most families had a radio, and the radio was where you got your news and entertainment. Televisions and the internet were still in the future. There were few channels. Most of your neighbors heard the same program at the same time. 

Orson Welles based his radio program on of a 1898 British story. He changed the location to Central New Jersey -- close to New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC. One story goes they dropped a pin in the area and it landed on the sleepy town of Grover's Mills. The other bonus to setting it here is its proximity to experts located at Princeton University's observatory.

Folklore has it people shot at the water tower now located in someone's backyard. The owner invited us past the fence to take pictures of it. Others grabbed all their belongings and tried to run away. I learned from Don that his dad was about ten at the time. He remembered the broadcast. As a kid he didn't pack it all up and run away, though. 

Memories are a funny thing. Even newspaper accounts from a few days later were likely exaggerated or under-exaggerated.

Paul took us on a gentle group ride. The lead cyclist was the owner of a mobile bike repair shop. The tail was our friend Sylvie sporting her UFO cycling shirt. Paul and at least one other rider were in the middle watching out for us. Don and I rode our tandem, which generated a lot of questions. Some saying they tried that once and it was a terrible experience. Don let me answer that it is a lesson in communicating. I'm glad the tandem came with toe clips -- something I was not a fan of before, and do not have on my regular bike -- because it helps me keep my feet on the pedals when Don changes gears.

Our first stop was about the 4 mile mark when we saw a Martian sculpture outside the West Windsor Arts building. At different points Paul played us digitized snippets from the hour-long broadcast. 

We rode a small distance to the restored mill of Grover's Mill. Paul pointed to the new iron historic marker. He reminded us the historical society is an all-volunteer board. They are separate from the town and are dependent on donations. The ride was free. We should probably send them a donation. 

Around the corner is the yard with the original water tower featured in the broadcast. The owner even set out water and Halloween candy for us to help fortify us for the second half of the ride.

Across the street is Van Nest with a 1988
monument to the non-event. There were ham radio operators showing off their talents using the call letters WHISKY-ZULU-WHISKEY (WZW) in a combination of past skills and the internet. 

We pressed on to the finish.

When possible, we rode on the path under the utility lines, on sidewalks, or in neighborhoods. I was nervous watching some of the riders forgetting about the cars and traveling in the middle of the street. I was glad Don and I have the tandem. It makes it easier for me to keep up with him and the rest of the group, and take pictures as he steers. I was also glad when we moved towards the front of the group with the confident cyclists.

I would recommend the event, but will likely not participate in it again.