My grandfather, Harry Kroh, was one of those old-fashioned newsmen who had a 'feeling' about where to be at the right time to get the big story. That was especially true on May 6, 1937, when he left his home in Brielle to cover the landing of the Hindenberg at Lakehurst Naval Air Station. He had a particular interest in the huge airship. On Oct. 9th 1936, he was selected to take a VIP flight from Lakehurst to Boston and back. On this flight , he mingled with such celebrities as Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, Nelson Rockefeller, financier Winthrop W. Aldrich, famed Hearst reporter James Kilgallen, actor Pat O'Brien. He talked about the flight as one of the highlights of his career. I once brought a piece of the Hindenberg to show and tell in Grammar School.

For as long as I can remember, there was a teletype machine in the alcove off the living room of my grandparent's house. Notable catches and the boats that were bringing them in would be reported to Harry Kroh. I would run across the street to the docks at Ziemba's Brielle Marina or Hoffman's Anchorage and witness the amazing catch of the day that my grandfather would then write about and send on to the Star Ledger for inclusion in Nelson Benedict's column. His passion was writing and fishing and a Harry Kroh fishing pole was something to own back in the day. I would sit for hours watching him wind the colored threads, sometimes to a customer's exact specifications, on the dining room table. And every winter would drive down to Islamorada, his inventory packed in a huge box that set on top of the station wagon. Grandma and "Bot" spent the cold weather months in the Keys, on the beach, fishing and selling his fishing poles.

 

KROH FAMILY HISTORY

Simon Kroh (Groh) came from Germany about 1759. Married Catherine Cudner in Berks Co.

Their son, Henry Kroh, b-Nov. 12, 1764, Berks Co., PA; d-Sep. 4, 1823 Married in Berks County, Pa on May 16, 1787, Anna Barbara Richards, b-Dec. 15, 1764; d-Sep. 2, 1823. Children were: John KROH, Rebecca KROH, Catherine KROH, Jacob KROH, Esther KROH, Rev. Henry KROH, Simon KROH, Jonathon KROH

Their son, Simon Kroh, b-Oct. 11, 1801, Berks Co., PA; d-1876 Married 1825 at Mercersberg, PA. Elizabeth Kieffer, b-1809, Franklin CO., PA; d-1880, Belle Plains, Iowa.

Their son, Harry Jeremiah Kroh, b-Dec. 18, 1829, Franklin Co., PA; d-Nov. 1861 Wash. DC. Married 1858, Fayetteville, PA Florence Catherine Horner, b-1840, Fayetteville, PA; d-May 10, 1896 Gettysburg

Their son, Harry (Henry) Kieffer Kroh, b-Sep. 22, 1860, McConnellsburg, PA; d-1927 Brielle buried in Gettysburg, PA Married May 17, 1887 Lucinda Horner, b-Nov. 3, 1860; d-April 6, 1908 in Conshohocken, PA. Their children Hubert Ruthven, b-Aug. 3, 1888; d-? Ananette Love, b-Sept. 11, 1889; d-Jan, 1963 buried at Brielle and Harry Horner Kroh, b-June 19, 1892, Conshohocken, PA; d-Sept. 19, 1963

Harry Horner Kroh, Married August 9, 1912 at St. Uriel's Church in Sea Girt, NJ. Mary Melvina Pearce, b-June 6, 1892 Brielle, NJ d-Dec. 12, 1972 Buried at Brielle. Their daughters, Melvina Lucinda, b-July 10, 1913 at Brielle, d-2002; Barbara Elaine, b-Sept. 7, 1916 at Brielle; d-Aug. 1992 Mary Patricia, b-Mar. 14, 1924; d-Aug. 21, 1994.