SOMA Living May 2023

REAL ESTATE SOUTH ORANGE GASLIGHTS

South Orange’s gaslights may be the most enduring hallmark of our community. South Orange has over 1,400 gas lamps, more than any other township in the United States. Ray Kienzle has maintained South Orange’s gas lights for the past 35 years. Ray, who is now semi-retired from PSEG, talks about what it’s like to be a lamp lighter and the long-time friends he made working here. “There was a lady on Hillside that used to make me apple pies,” Ray

laughed. “I once swapped the clear, plexiglass globe of a gaslight with a frosted one to celebrate a couple’s 50th wedding Anniversary. The milk glass made it more romantic, they liked that.” Another time, Ray used the figurine of a baseball batter, taken from a baseball trophy and mounted it on top of a gaslight for a young little leaguer. Ray explained, “I told him, ‘that’s your lamp’. The kid must be thirty now but I think he must remember that.” It’s ironic that Edison invented the light bulb in nearby Menlo Park but South Orange decided to keep its old style gas lamps. Thanks to Ray, our historic gaslights continue to add charm and warmth to our South Orange neighborhood.

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