James Bond In Bloomfield? Historical Society Plans Public Event

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Historical Society of Bloomfield. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

On March 28, the Historical Society of Bloomfield will present “From Success to Seizure: The Schering Corp. of Bloomfield 1937–1942” with lifetime Bloomfield resident Dean Cole.

On December 9, 1941, U.S. Treasury agents raided the offices of The Schering Corporation of Bloomfield, charging the company with anti-trust violations. Most of its management would be fined and dismissed.

By February 1942, Schering, its property, and its patents were taken over by the U.S. Alien Property Custodian on the grounds that it was an asset of our new wartime enemy, Nazi Germany.

How is it that such a successful and well-respected Swiss firm could come to be seen as a dangerous threat to the United States?

The answer lies with the efforts of a shadowy British Intelligence organization run by a man who would later be the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond. He would use secret agents, falsified documents, and press manipulation to bring Schering’s true identity to the unwanted attention of U.S. authorities.

Join us on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. as we explore this long-hidden chapter of wartime Bloomfield history.

• EVENT: From Success to Seizure: The Schering Corp. of Bloomfield 1937–1942
• ORGANIZATION: The Historical Society of Bloomfield, NJ (HSOB)
• PRESENTED BY: Lifetime Bloomfield resident Dean Cole
• DATE: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
• TIME: 7:30 PM
• VENUE: Bloomfield Civic Center, 84 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ
• COST: FREE & open to the public
• CONTACT: www.hsob.org; info@hsob.org; 973-743-8844

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