You ever take a stroll down memory lane and think, "Wow, times have really changed!" My dad grew up in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, in the 1960s, and let me tell you, it was a whole different world back then.

I'm talking about a small town where the biggest worries were who had the best football team and whether you'd catch Yogi Berra saying something crazy on TV. Now, I know you might not be from Phillipsburg, but this blog post might give you a taste of what life was like growing up there.

It's got everything—football, factories, family values, and a defensive playbook so tight, Vince Lombardi himself would've been proud. My dad even threw in some history, for those of you who want to impress at your next trivia night. Trust me, this one’s a trip back to when times were simpler, but the memories? They're still as fresh as yesterday. Check it out, reminisce with me, and let’s pretend we’re back in the good ol’ days for a minute.

Patriotism, Football, and Changing Times in Phillipsburg, NJ

I was raised in the small town of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. It's located on the site of Chintewink, a Native American village until the mid 1600s. The name, Phillipsburg, is from landowner William Phillips, first shown on maps in 1749. In 1853 the Phillipsburg Land Company purchased three hundred acres for $55,000 and laid out 1,030 lots.

Delaware River Bridge, 1900

Growth began with the building of the New Jersey Central railroad, along the Delaware River, which was completed in 1852. Phillipsburg’s Warren Foundry and Machine Inc., makers of cast iron pipes, was incorporated in 1856. The town was incorporated on March 8, 1861. The century old wooden bridge to Easton, PA. was replaced by the present iron bridge in 1895. The Ingersoll-Rand Drill Company built its plant in Phillipsburg in 1904. Sanco Piece Dye Works Inc., the nation’s largest textile mill, moved to Phillipsburg in 1942. These three companies were the backbone of Phillipsburg’s economy.

The early 60’s was a time of patriotism and volunteerism. “Hawaii” by James Michener, was the bestseller; “Ben Hur," starring Charlton Heston, the top film; “It’s Now or Never," by Elvis Presley, the top song. “Peanuts” by Charles Schultz and “Blondie” by Murat Bernard “Chic” Young, were the popular comic strips. The “Barbie Doll” by Ruth Handler, was the top gift. In 1964, Bobby Dylan wrote the song “Times They Are a-Changin.”

Founded in 1860 and 1875 respectively, Saints Philip and James Church and Parochial School provided Catholic education to students from kindergarten through the 12th grade. The private school was located in a three-story red brick building on the “flats,” low ground, filled with around 300 students of Eastern European lineage. A large statue of Christopher Columbus accented the front entrance. Most of our teachers were Sisters of Mercy, supplemented by a few lay teachers. We were strong in the arts and above average in the sciences. Athletics and doing your best in whatever you did was important. The public high school was on the “Hill,” high ground. “P’burg” High was a well-known football and wrestling power in the state.

Saints Philip and James Catholic School and Church, Phillipsburg N.J

Families stressed education and patriotism. Our family mantra was “knowledge is power.” My grandmother Donna Maria Gazzana Arangio would announce to anyone who would listen that “her grandson” was going to be a doctor. Dr. Spillane, our family doctor, was a respected man in town. Love of God, family, and community as well as love of America ruled supreme.

The 60’s were the sundown of the Industrial Revolution and conservative dominance. Pushback against racial discrimination and the Vietnam War gained traction. The New York Yankees, Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers, and the Boston Celtics dominated professional sports. Yogi Berra was my idol. He said, “I never said most of the things I said.”

Vincent Thomas “Vince” Lombardi

Municipal Building, Sitgreaves St. (L), So. Main St. (Right), Saints Philip and James Church (in the distance), Phillipsburg, N.J, 2018

Over the last 64 years, “Times they are a-Changin.” The nation’s philosophy, “man as the essence of all things” grows while faith in the Christian God has diminished. Liberal ideology dominates and citizens of color have gained respect and standing in society. Mixed or” blended” families are now common. The poor still suffer and oppression occurs. Women have joined the working and professional force en masse, some at the sacrifice of their family stability. This has been driven mostly by inflation, as two incomes are necessary to pay bills. Shootings and drug addiction have increased. Humankind is imperfect and we need God.

In the energy sector, fossil fuel still dominates, and climate warming is a divisive political topic. The most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. The number of cloud data centers worldwide exceed “8,500”. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that “data centers’ electricity consumption in 2026 will be double that of 2022 increasing from 500 to 1,000 terawatts, 4% of US electricity demand. (1 terawatt equals one trillion watts.) The largest data center hubs are in California, Texas, and Virginia. Northern Virginia collects $1 billion in local tax revenues per year from data centers. China’s electricity demands will double as well.

Computers, smartphones, and artificial intelligence (AI) are here to stay with good and bad consequences. Carbon dioxide production and global warming continues and is associated with increasing drought, flooding, tornados and hurricanes in the USA.

In the European Union (EU), data center electricity consumption will reach 75 billion watts by 2026. In Ireland 33% of electricity demand will come from data centers by 2026. Denmark and Scandinavian countries are a growing region for AI data Centers.

On the positive side, the Department of Energy is seed funding the production of more efficient made-in-America semiconductors to reduce cooling requirements and decrease carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, Google is developing software that allows data-center operators to reduce costs by up to 34% and achieve 64% carbon-dioxide-free energy. This is supported by solar photovoltaic installations.

Growing water needs for cooling data center computers are a second area of stress. In 2022, Google’s data centers consumed five billion gallons of fresh water for cooling. Google’s data centers used 20 percent more water in 2022 than they did in 2021, and Microsoft’s water use rose by 34 percent in the same period. Research shows that a 20% reduction in water consumption can be achieved. Google reported using its DeepMind AI to reduce electricity demand for their data center cooling by 40%. Quantum computers consume less energy but need more water to be cooled.

Households run by AI may reduce energy consumption by 40 percent. Google’s AI-driven ability to fast-crunch atmospheric data can guide airline pilots to leave less carbon dioxide emissions. If the aviation industry took advantage of this breakthrough, it would save more carbon dioxide than the carbon dioxide greenhouse emissions from all A.I. in 2020.

Times are changing but memories remain constant. In the fall of 1960, Saints Philip and James Parochial School football worked hard to be the best we could be. Our coaches, Frinzi, Mantone and the father-and-son Rounsevilles were hard-working leaders. Vince Lombardi said “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”

We perfected the stacked 4-4-2 defense with multiple blitz packages. It was a defense based on speed, athleticism, and intelligence. The defense was difficult to block and could easily adjust to 5-3-2 for passing situations. Our playbook contained a variety of offensive sets including Dave M. Nelson’s “new” Delaware Wing-T offense. This system was based on deception and lineman blocking down. Our explosive backfield of “Bic,” “Butch,” “Nick,” and “Pip" were a precise running machine, and “Butch” was a very good passing quarterback.

Our line played with grit. What were the odds that a small Class C high school with only 300 students could compete with large Class B high schools with 1,000 to 2,000 students?

A Glorious Start: Dominating the Field in Our First Scrimmage

It was a sunshine filled Saturday morning as our yellow school bus drove northeast to Roxbury, New Jersey for our first scrimmage. Nick and I sat on the grass in our mustard canvas pants and patched white sweatshirts with 2-inch green stenciled numbers. We put on pads and cleats and observed about 400 hundred local enthusiastic spectators gathered to cheer their players. Two teams, Hunterdon Central Regional High School (enrollment 1,500) in red-and-black uniforms and Roxbury High School (enrollment 1000) wearing their navy and gold were “warming up” for the contest. Yes, we were scrimmaging two teams. Our team was lean and well-conditioned. We performed our warmups with the precision of a drill team. Our coaches were challenging us. What were the odds?

Roxbury captains and Nick and I met, and we won the coin toss. We chose offense. Butch called our first play, a 40-yard post pass to Pip, who made a spectacular lay out catch for a touchdown. On their first play, Roxbury’s scatback took a quick pitch around their right end and Bernie turned him back into my path. I tackled him face up at full speed and he lost the ball, and we recovered. We scored on a precisely executed double fake to fullback Bic then halfback Pip and inside reverse to Nick. We kicked the “nose drippings” out of two very good and larger teams. A week later our next scrimmage against Delaware Valley Regional went about the same. And the rest is history.

The 1960 Phillipsburg Parochial Varsity football team scored 280 points versus our opponents 52 points. We were undefeated and untied, 9-0 (12-0 overall), and the New Jersey Class B State Champion. It was a blessed moment.

Phillipsburg Parochial Varsity Football, 1960, N.J Class B State Champions

The Newark Star Ledger elected me to the New Jersey, All Public and Private Schools First Team and Pip and Bernie received First Team All Catholic Diocese School honors. Our team and coaches bring to mind the film, Hoosiers, inspired by the small rural Milan, Indiana team, the 1954 Indiana State Basketball Champions: a different sport but the same story.

It was the Centennial year of Phillipsburg’s founding. Banter continues about a game between our 1960 team and the Phillipsburg Public High School team, also undefeated but tied once (9-0-1). The game never happened. My thoughts, it would have been a game worth watching. Instead, both teams shared the glory of victory at a celebratory dinner at the “Elks Club” on Main Street. A night to remember. We were competitive and we were friends. We had a magical life in those days. It was a different time. Our Americana small-town team is still remembered today and is a book to be published and a movie to be produced. My teammates are my best friends, but times have changed.

Humankind is imperfect and we need God. Our life can be a prayer with blessed moments.

Until next time, God bless you and stay well.

George A. Arangio, M.D.

P.S. Keep We Talk with God at your bedside and share it with your family.

P.P.S. Please ask three (3) of your family and friends to read We Talk with God. It may be the answer to their prayers. And give a rating and a review. Thank you.

Summary:

The post reflects on the author's upbringing in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, its historical roots, key economic developments, and changing social dynamics over the decades. The narrative blends personal memories, especially about the 1960 football team, with broader reflections on societal shifts, technology, environmental concerns, and the enduring need for faith and community.

George A. Arangio, M.D., is the author of We Talk with God, a scripture-based guide to God’s advice that will boost your spiritual energy, bring you peace, and enrich your life. It is full of simple lessons. It shows how God’s Word guarantees answers to life’s important questions. It may also be the answer to your prayers. Please read it and write a review on Amazon.com. For further insights and discussion, visit WeTalkWithGod.com.