Comments on: New Jersey’s Lyons VA History and What’s Next For the Campus

By: New Jersey History Project

New Jersey History Project — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 16:17:34 +0000

In reply to ronald wozniak. Thanks for the offer and YES, we'd love to see it to update the piece.

By: ronald wozniak

ronald wozniak — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 21:33:47 +0000

Both my father-in -law and mother-in-law were attending physicians at Lyon VA hospital. They retired in the mid 1980s. My wife found a sepia tone pamphlet titled ” Fortieth Anniversary 1930 -1970 Veterans Administration Hospital, Lyons, New Jersey ” in their papers.

By: Walt Scaff

Walt Scaff — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:55:49 +0000

My first teenage summer jobs were in the Food Service division there in 1966 and 1967. We would feed the patients and do the scullery work afterwards using these huge dishwashers. The pay was only a couple of dollars an hour then and the kitchen work was hot and tiring. We wore white uniforms and had big steel rings full of keys, because every door had to be unlocked and then relocked. The windows were all secured. Most of the men I served were from WW2, Korea and a few from the Viet Nam conflict were beginning to appear. Most of the patients were quite safe to be around. I got to know some rather well and I learned a lot about them. There were some with catatonia who could be problematic to feed. It was an eye opener to this teen and I felt a great deal of empathy for their travails. I enjoyed the work and the discoveries I made about the complexities of the human mind. I will never forget them and appreciate everyone who cares for others medically. I went on to do ambulance work for a few years just prior and during my military service in the Marines.

By: Al Machiaverna

Al Machiaverna — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:11:40 +0000

My Aunt, Dorothy Macchiaverna volunteered there in the 1950’s to the 1980’s. I remember attending a Christmas party there for the veterans in the 1960’s. Every July 4th we would watch the fireworks on the golf course grounds.

By: S.Morgan

S.Morgan — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 00:17:27 +0000

According to Ancestry.com, my grandfather died at this hospital in 1933. He was at the battle of Chateau Thierry and Vasle River, and was gassed. My father was born (illegitimately) in 1929, never knew his father (big family secret). I can’t find grandfather’s death certificate on Ancestry and would love to know his cause of death. I have a copy of a Veteran’s Compensation application which stated his time and place of death; that’s how I know where he died. I’m especially curious now that I see this hospital admitted psych patients.

By: E. K. Schafhauser

E. K. Schafhauser — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:08:10 +0000

My Father was a patient at Lyons Hospital from 1964 to 1986. I bused him there for those years as a child and young adult..

By: Mary Parsons Black

Mary Parsons Black — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 21:09:08 +0000

I grew up on the grounds of the VA During those years, many of the staff lived in housing on the grounds. We went to parties in the Director’s home. Knollcroft. We moved to one of the farmhouses when I was in 4th grade. We loved to play in the beautiful old barn. My dad taught us to golf on that golf course! A green hospital bus carried us to school in Liberty Corner and later Basking Ridge. We were transferred to Pittsburgh in 1959! I have many fond memories of those years.

By: Duggan Collier

Duggan Collier — Wed, 26 May 2021 03:57:48 +0000

I grew up on Manor Drive in the 1970s-80s. The golf course did have sand bunkers back then. Also at one time the eastern portion of the property had an air strip. On at least two occasions I remember planes making emergency landings and the pilots noting they had used the strip when it was active at the facility.

By: Mr. Local History

Mr. Local History — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 13:24:30 +0000

In reply to Carl. Great find. We're now going to dig further to find out how cool it would have been to have a train station at Liberty Corner and Pluckemin. Thanks for the share.

By: Carl

Carl — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 13:16:18 +0000

An 1872 map of the area (link below) shows the NJ West Line was to run through the VA property towards Liberty Corner West of Millington. Lyons, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville was only a spur line to reconnect and Gladstone was only a proposed spur at the time.

By: Gretchen DeCoste

Gretchen DeCoste — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 12:38:00 +0000

My mom worked there, many years! At Christmas we would bake cookies and bring them to the patients! (70s/80s)

By: Suzanne Magnus

Suzanne Magnus — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 14:01:30 +0000

Back in the early 70s, I used to walk there to buy cheap cigarettes- $.24 a pack plus $.01 tax. A whopping $.25 a pack.