THE EISENHOWERS IN NUTLEY
BY ANN A. TROY
ON TUESDAY, July 31, 1928 Mrs. Rudolph Schaaf of 30 Shepard Place, entertained at dinner. Her guests arrived from Washington, D.C. and were to sail that day for Cherbourg, France, thence to Paris.
Extra preparations were being made by Mrs. Schaaf because her favorite nephew, by marriage, and his wife were to be her guests - Major Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mrs. Eisenhower now President and Mrs. Eisenhower, in 1960.
Also in the party were their son John, then six years old, and Mrs. John Sheldon Doud, Mamie Eisenhower’s mother whose husband was Mrs. Schaaf’s brother.
Reports from family records of Dr. Royal Schaaf of Newark say that the dinner was a huge success. Major Eisenhower insisted on the ladies of the house resting after the big meal while he took himself to the kitchen and “did the dishes.” (While George Washington may have slept in many houses no one ever reports that he ever washed the dishes.)
Dr. Schaaf is one of five children of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph George Schaaf and occupies a prominent place in medical circles in Newark. Others in the family who are cousins of Mrs. Eisenhower are: Eugenie Doud Schaaf, now Mrs. Alfred Christopher Intermann; Eli Louis Schaaf, D.D.S.; James Edward Schaaf and Rudolph George Schaaf, Jr., deceased, who married Helen Louise Pratt of Nutley, now also deceased.
Mr. Schaaf, Senior, served in Nutley as Commissioner during the years 1920-1924 and died July 7, 1943·
Major Eisenhower’s trip to Paris was an army assignment whereby he was placed in charge of the Battle Monuments Commission to prepare a revision of the guide book to the graves of veterans of World War I. He was recalled to the States in September 1929 and was assigned as assistant executive in the office of the Assistant Secretary of War. Following an assignment in the Philippines, he received his coveted promotion to Colonel.
World War II saw Colonel Eisenhower promoted to Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, thence to full General and finally to Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces.
Mrs. Schaaf followed her nephew’s career with great interest. His successful accomplishment as Supreme Commander for the invasion of France brought great excitement to the aging member of the Schaaf family.
On his return as General and his acceptance of the Presidency of Columbia University the Schaafs and Eisenhowers were again in close contact.
Many of the neighbors of her little cottage at 56 Hampton Place recall the Eisenhower chauffeur and car awaiting Mrs. Eisenhower on her visits to her aunt. Two school teachers, Grace Taylor and Marion Cortelyou, who lived next door, remember with great pleasure their being invited to tea with Mrs. Eisenhower on one of her visits.
This cottage is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schwarz.
Mrs. Schaaf, according to Dr. Schaaf, enjoyed a luncheon visit to Columbia University at the Eisenhower home on Morningside Heights. There she was enthralled with the General’s explanation of the many trophies and decorations which he had received.
It was on December 29, 1950, that the Eisenhowers paid their last visit to Mrs. Schaaf. Following a serious illness she passed away and was buried from Newark.
Near the day that the General and Mrs. Eisenhower were to leave for Paris to take up his command of NATO Forces, the Eisenhowers stopped in Newark for the funeral services of their favorite aunt.
The house at 30 Shepard Place is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hoedemaker. While washing her dishes, Mrs. Hoedemaker may have many interesting memories of the President of the United States who helped “do the dishes” in her kitchen.
