on Mischief Night, Cabbage Night, Goosey Night, or whatever you call it – October 30th – RE-LIVE the WAR OF THE WORLDS. GO LISTEN WITH YOUR FAMILY
The date was October 30, 1938, and Jerseyans tuned in to a radio broadcast stating that Martians had landed in Jersey and were on the march to invade. The War of the Worlds had begun. On that now famous evening, radio listeners may have tuned in to the Columbia Broadcasting System’s “Mercury Theater on the Air.” If they missed the disclaimers or tuned in late, they would have believed Martians had landed in Grovers Mill (West Windsor Township).
First, a little history clip from back in 1998 at the 60th anniversary of the War of the Worlds broadcast:
Produced by 23-year-old Orson Welles, this fictional broadcast claimed that alien invaders killed 7,000 soldiers and marched through the Watchung Mountains and into the swamps of northern New Jersey toward New York City. Panic among listeners and phone lines at the NJ State Police lit up. In the end, there were no Martians, no destruction, and the small Village of Grovers Mill remained fairly quiet except for a few bullet holes in the wooden water tower. Carve out time today and listen with family and friends – runs for about 55 minutes.
Grovers Mill is an unincorporated community in West Windsor, New Jersey, located at Clarksville Road and Cranbury Road. It’s about 4 miles southeast of Princeton, 6 miles northwest of Hightstown, and 12 miles northeast of Trenton. On October 30, 1938, Grovers Mill, NJ, became famous due to Orson Welles’ radio broadcast of “The War of the Worlds.” This broadcast, presented as a series of realistic news bulletins, depicted Grovers Mill as the initial landing site of a Martian invasion. The broadcast caused a significant stir, with some listeners believing it was a real event, leading to pockets of panic, especially in New Jersey and New York.
The event was a fascinating example of the media’s power and the impact of realistic storytelling. Today, Grovers Mill commemorates this unique piece of history with a monument and annual celebrations.
Visit Van Nest Park at 218 Cranbury Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550, aka Grover’s Mills. Bring your phone and play the recording while at the site. Lots of great historical fun!
The celebration takes place near the last weekend of October, alongside the West Windsor Arts Center in West Windsor, New Jersey. The Broadcast Bash and a Martian Bike Ride commemorate the anniversary of Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds radio play. Tickets and more information on the event may be found at the West Windsor Arts website.
In addition, the Historical Society of West Windsor has organized a Martian Bike Ride that explores Grovers Mill and the sites mentioned in the War of the Worlds broadcast. The nine-mile guided tour begins at the Grovers Mill Coffee House.
“This includes visiting the infamous water tower that. According to legend, a drunken farmer shot at thinking it was an alien,” said Paul Ligeti, president of the historical society. The ride is free, but reservations are required. More information, including a route map, can be found at westwindsorhistory.com/mars.html
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I remember my Mom told me about this. She was a teenager when this broadcast happened. She remembered sitting around the radio with her parents and siblings listening to it. They were so scared because they thought it was real