The Rose King Steps Down

In 1961 we decided to sell everything: land, greenhouses and all. We saved five acres and the old Colonial home. We had already separated five acres many years before, so we were keeping ten acres. Now came the really hard work, selling the plants, any equipment we could get rid of, the chickens and pheasants. The rose bushes were sold at a very reasonable price. The greenhouses were torn down. A contractor built about 100 houses on the land we sold.

We had a large flat board with wheels, called a trolley. My husband took the small greenhouse apart. He carried all the glass, iron bars, and sundry to one acre of land across the street. Two years later we paid a greenhouse company to assemble two small greenhouses. They also set up some of the smaller sheds and chicken coops. We put chickens and rabbits in them. In one of the sheds we put all the tools.

We sold 32 acres of land at a much better price per acre then we did for the first 14 acres years ago. Our son John had quit a few years before we sold. Tony stayed until we sold. He took movies of everything that went on to dismantle the place. The chimney for the boilers was enormous; to watch that go down was a sight to see. Later, Tony played the movies for our grandchildren. They were amazed that their grandparents owned all that business. The older grandchildren were young but they could remember everything. My husband and sons worked themselves very hard to readjust our lives.

Thank God we sold, because prices on flowers really went down. At least we didn't lose out. The sale put us on “easy street.” We paid all our bills, our home and the ten acres were ours clear and free. We bought a new car, paid for it, and we also put money in the bank. So, in reality, it was smart we sold. Life was much easier for my husband and me and daughter Phyl.

When my husband was 60 years old I gave him a surprise party, on our lawn. The date was August 5, 1961. He did not look his age. I had the party catered. It would have been hard for me to cook the foods and keep it a surprise. I invited his family, my family and all our friends we made in Closter. We had one of Tony's friends take him for a long ride and stop someplace for a drink. When they came home and my husband saw all those people on the lawn, he was surely surprised. I bought him a color television with a remote control. He also received many beautiful gifts. Tony enjoyed the television very much. He had fun working the remote control.

The doctor told my husband he had worked too hard, and he needed a vacation. My husband and I went to Wildwood, N.J., for a week's vacation. We enjoyed our vacation very much. My husband loved to swim. I didn't swim; I only walked around in the surf, and I loved it. We got nice and tan. While we were on vacation the big red barn burned to the ground. Our sons and daughter Carmela were there to see the fire. Carmela kept screaming, “Please, don't let the house burn. Our parents are away.” She was frantic. The firemen were good; they kept our home from burning. The children were glad their father wasn't there to see all the excitement. They figured it would not have been good for him.

One side of our property had the brook, was full of trees, and had a lot of nature in it. Our son Tony bought 14 acres of land in Norwood adjoining our land. We gave him a mortgage to buy it. The opposite side of our property faces all the new houses that went up.