Brook Arts Center Sets Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Presentation

Author Jim Davidson will again bring his expertise on the subject of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Saga to the Brook Arts Center at 2 p.m. Sept. 15.

This presentation, entitled “Mayhem on the Mountain” chronicles not only the tragic story of the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, but also how the world descended upon the Sourland Mountains area of northern Mercer and southern Hunterdon Counties during the search, investigation, and trial.  

The presentation will feature photos and stories usually bypassed by traditional accounts of the Lindbergh story, instead focusing on the investigators, reporters, paparazzi and other gawkers who turned sleepy hamlets like Hopewell and Flemington into buzzing tourist attractions.

Jim Davidson’s entire life has been intertwined with that of Charles Lindbergh. 
Growing up in Flemington, his first encounter with Lindbergh was his parents’ attendance at a Hauptmann execution party at the Stacy-Trent Hotel in Trenton the night of Bruno Richard Hauptmann’s execution. He was personally acquainted with William Allen, who found the Lindbergh baby and knew Hauptmann’s attorney, Lloyd Fisher, jurors and other people associated with the trial. Early on he began collecting Lindbergh memorabilia and now has one of the largest national collections.

Trained in history at Muhlenberg College and later Lehigh University for graduate work, Davidson taught history at Hunterdon Central HS in Flemington. Local history has always been his primary passion, and his biggest challenge to date has been the compiling of the first ever pictorial history of the Lindbergh Kidnapping and Trial. Working with Mark Falzini, archivist of the NJ State Police Museum, they canvassed the east coast for never published or seldom seen pictures. Their finished work “New Jersey’s Lindbergh Kidnapping and Trial” was published by Arcadia Press in November of 2012.  The book will be available for purchase at this presentation.

The Brook Arts Center is located at 10 Hamilton Street in Bound Brook, and is a cultural and arts venue whose focus is to bring quality entertainment and artistic programs to the residents of Somerset County and the surrounding area.
   
For a schedule of upcoming shows now through December, please go to www.brookarts.org, or call 908-469-7700.  Admission for this presentation is a suggested $10 donation.