Save the MacLeod-Rice House at Croydon Hall

From the Red Bank Register, January 7, 1925
 
Melvin A. Rice of Leonardo, in Middletown township, died on New Year's eve, shortly before midnight, at his New York winter home. He had been in failing health for six or eight months. The funeral was held at his Leonardo residence on Saturday afternoon and burial was made in the family plot in Bay View cemetery.
 
Mr. Rice was prominent in business, educational, charitable and political circles. He was born in Ossining, New York, August 13th, 1871. He graduated from the normal school at Cortland, New York, when he was 19 years old. He started in life as a surveyor but he soon gave up this work and went to New York City, where he entered merchantile life. In a few years he became the head of the linen and jute importing house of Donald W. MacLeod company, which had mills in Scotland, Ireland and Belgium. He held this position until his death last Wednesday.
 
Mr. Rice lived at Leonardo nearly 25 years. After he moved into Middletown township he soon became interested in the public schools of the township and was quickly made a member of the township school board and then president of the board. Under his leadership several of the school districts were consolidated, new schoolhouses were built in various parts of the township and the high school ast Leonardo was built. Mr. Rice donated two acres of land as a site for this schoolhouse and he also gave liberally toward the cost and equipment of the school. Robert Hartshorne and Louis S. Thompson, who were on the school board with him at the time were likewise gernerous in donations for the high school. This school is regarded as the model rural high school of New Jersey.
 
School teachers from all this part of the county went to Mr. Rice with their troubles and never did he fail them, When what they desired could not be obtained through the school funds of their school district, Mr. Rice would contribute the needed money himself.
 
Mr. Rice's charitable and philanthropic works was large. He was a leader in Red Cross work during the war and every war activity found him active and energetic. In welfare work he was also prominent, and every local work of this character he warmly supported.
 
Mr. Rice was a great personal friend of Woodrow Wilson when Mr. Wilson was president of Princeton university. Afterward, when Mr. Wilson was elected governor of New Jersey, Mr. Rice was appointed a member of the state board of education. In a few years Mr. Rice was made president of the state board of education, which position he held up to the time of his death. Mr. Rice was appointed by Governor Edge for a second term of eight years when his first term expired. The friendship between Mr. Rice and Mr. Wilson continued until the latters death. During the first presidential campaign of Mr. Wilson, Mr. Rice's home at Leonardo was placed at the disposal of Mr. Wilson and his family for week-ends and for other periods when the candidate needed rest.
 
Mr. Rice had an unusual experience during the world war. Germany had taken over a part of Belgium in the early part of the war, and in this territory was the town of Courtrai, where one of the large mills of Mr. Rice's company was located. Mr. Rice made three trips to Europe during the war and visited England, France, Belgium and Germany in an effort to get shipments of his goods through the blockade of the ports. It was on his last trip that he had the unpleasant experience referred to. The United States had not then entered the war and when Mr. Rice got to Germany he was seized as an English spy. He carried letters from President Wilson telling who he was and describing his business mission in Europe, and he finally made it clear to the German authorities that his visit to Europe was purely a business one, in the interests of his company. He offered to continue the Courtrai mill in operation if the German authorities would permit the goods to be shipped to America. This however was refused. When he was released by the Germans he went to England, where he was a considered a German spy, as he had just come from Germany. He had almost as great difficulties in England as he had had in Germany, but things were finally straightened out and he returned home safely. The Courtrai mill employed 1,900 operatives and this mill was virtually destroyed in the fighting in Belgium. Two large shipments of linen goods which were being sent from Europe to this country were lost through the ships carrying the goods being torpedoed by submarines.
 
Mr. Rice was one of the prominent members of the Monmouth county fair association when that organization was in existence and he was one of the most active and liberal members of the board of directors.
 
To the poor and destitute Mr. Rice was more than generous. During a large part of his life at Leonardo it was his custom to frequently drive through Middletown township in the evenings, stopping at homes where there was sickness or want, and relieving distress so far as money and words of comfort could do it. None except those helped ever knew of this work or Mr. Rice's for he was not a man to speak of any good work he was doing along this line.
 
Mr. Rice was a member of No. 1 lodge of Elks in New York city. This was the first lodge of Elks organized in the United States. This lodge sent a hugh floral piece to the funeral. A committee of the Red Bank lodge of Elks held a service at Leonardo on Friday night, after the body had been sent to Leonardo from New York. Mr. Rice was also a member of Monmouth lodge of Free Masons of Atlantic Highlands, and this lodge gave a service at the grave on Saturday. Eugene Magee of Red Bank sang at the Elks serivce on Friday night.
 
Mr. Rice is survived by a wife and two daughters, Margaret and Mary. He also leaves a brother and two sisters, they being Frank Rice and Mrs. James B. Sherwood of Cortland, and Mrs. Edward Dustin of New York.
 
There was a large attendance at the funeral on Saturday afternoon in spite of the heavy snow and bad weather. Many state and county notables were in attendance, as well as many residents of this part of the county. The floral pieces were numerous and beautiful. The coffin and one entire side of the large drawing room was banked with flowers sent as a tribute of friends. The service was conducted by Rev. Joseph H. Schaeffer of Atlantic Highlands. "Lead Kindly Light" and "Abide With Me" were sung by Mrs. J. William Heim of Red Bank.
 
About a year and a half ago Mr. Rice was overcome with heat while visiting schools in the northern part of the state. He was put in an automobile and a start was made for his home at Leonardo. He became very much worse on the trip and when Keyport was reached it was believed he was dead. The party was driven to the coroner's but it was there discovered that Mr. Rice was alive. He was taken home, where he rapidly improved and he was soon able to resume his business affairs. Several months ago he was attacked with kidney trouble and this caused his death.
 
Scores of letters and telegrams of sympathy and condolence have been received by Mrs. Rice. Governor Silzer of New Jersey sent to her the following telegram as soon as he heard of Mr. Rice's death.
 
"With all other Jerseymen who knew him and they are legion, I join in extending to yourself and family my earnest sympathy in the loss of your husband, Melvin A. Rice. Called to his final reward while still in the prime of life, he has left a record of unselfishness, patriotism and loyalty to state and nation that will ever remain a monument to his memory.
 
"What he did as a member and president of our state board of education to place New Jersey in the fore in the moral and mental training of our youth during the past 13 years, is know to all and is equaled only by his activities and the zeal he displayed as one of the closest personal advisers and helpmates of our late President Woodrow Wilson during the dark days of the world war."