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Date: May 30th 2009

The Macfadden Monthly
  June 2009

"I am fully aware that many people think we are a lot of crazy fanatics, but if fanaticism builds the highest degree of mental and moral health, enables one to secure the best in life,...it is well worth cultivating." -Bernarr Macfadden

CONTENTS

Physical Culture City Update to web site by Jim Bennett
Simply Raw DVD Review
Recipe by Bernarr Macfadden

This edition has a lot of images. If it does not load, please CLICK HERE to see everything.

Physical Culture City

(The following is a member's only preview of the newly updated section of my web site.)
In 1903, inspired by people such as John Alexander Dowey who had established "utopian" communities, Macfadden wrote in Physical Culture magazine that he wanted to set up a community where "physical culturists could live the kind of life they could not find out in the rest of the world" - where a natural foods diet and outdoor exercise were the norm -  a community that was "free from the saloon, drug store, and other vices!"

Macfadden's publishing business was booming. With the money he was making he was able to purchase in 1905 nearly 2000 acres of undeveloped land in Spotswood, New Jersey. (near Helmetta and also called Outcalt.) The location was ideal - about 40 miles from New York City and 50 miles from Philadelphia. 200 hardy and dedicated physical culturists joined Macfadden and began clearing land, putting in streets, and erecting buildings. Macfadden planned to move all his enterprises including publishing, teaching, and sanitariums to this location. He named the community "Physical Culture City."

A new railroad station was built to accommodate the shipments that would come into and go out of the community.

physical culture city


This photo shows the Macfadden Institute building on the left and the publishing facility on the right.


The Institute building with tents in the background. In the beginning, most of the citizens had to live in tents.

The institute was where physical culture students had their classes (when they were not working clearing the land.)

physical culture city
The staff of the Bernarr Macfadden Institute.

physical culture city
The Physical Culture Publishing Company building (before the name was emblazoned on the front.) The printing and distribution of all magazines and books was moved to this location. Notice the railroad car parked next to the building and the bicycles in front.


This is the building where food was served. The man on the left looks like Macfadden.
I believe this building was located behind the publishing building.

physical culture city
A large health home was built. It could accommodate 100 patients.

physical culture city
An example of a small experimental "fresh air" house at Physical Culture City.

physical culture city
There was a lake on the property. It was named Lake Marguerite after Macfadden's wife. The lake was the used for boating, swimming, and other athletic activities. People bathed in the overflow at the dam below the lake.


Some of the citizens of PC City are gathered by Lake Marguerite.

Physical Culture City lasted just about  three years. One of the problems was the widespread notoriety that the community was getting from the people who lived in the surrounding area. Several of the PC City residents were arrested for "immodest attire" when they ventured outside the confines of their community wearing bathing suits! Passengers on trains passing through would leer out the windows trying to get a  glimpse of the "nudists."

Another problem was the lack of organization. Although Macfadden was a crusader with a vision, the enterprise was not adequately organized. There was squabbling among the residents. People objected to Mrs. Macfadden's meddling. Many people felt they were being overworked.

The biggest problem and the reason that PC City failed was the legal problems that Macfadden was encountering. There were several lawsuits against him for sending illegal materials through the mails. In 1907, he was arrested and convicted of publishing a sexually explicit story in Physical Culture magazine. His legal battles forced him to abandon the project, move his publishing company to the Flat Iron building in New York City and his sanitarium to Chicago. In all, he lost over $100,000.

Above is a copy of the original layout for Physical Culture City


(Courtesy of Chris & Linda Bowen)


The top of the drawing is south and the bottom is north.

Below is a map of the area today. The numbered streets and lettered avenues as well as


North Shore Blvd. and South Shore Blvd. are still there. Lake Marguerite is gone


because the dam broke and was not rebuilt, but the area where the lake existed


can still be seen on the map. The stream is still there (the broken line). There is a VFW building


in the general location of Macfadden's publishing building and restaurant. The VFW


building is possibly the old PC City restaurant building.


To see a Google Maps street view of Physical Culture City today CLICK HERE.
The VFW building is on the right. The bridge crossing the stream is ahead.

The Simply Raw DVD
Macfadden advocated eating raw foods, the benefits of which are today being validated. This amazing documentary is about the health effects of a raw food diet and how it can reverse diabetes (and other health problems).

This DVD is an absolute "must see" for anyone who is interested in the effects of diet on health. The documentary chronicles six Americans with diabetes who switch to a diet consisting entirely of vegan, organic, uncooked food in order to reverse disease without pharmaceutical medication. The six are challenged to give up meat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, soda, junk food, fast food, processed food, packaged food, and even cooked food for 30 days. The film follows each participant's remarkable journey and captures the medical, physical, and emotional transformations brought on by this radical diet and lifestyle change. We witness moments of struggle, support, and hope as what is revealed, with startling clarity, is that diet can reverse disease and change lives.

The film highlights each of the six before they begin the program and we first meet them in their home environment with their families. Each participant speaks candidly about their struggle to manage their diabetes and how it has affected every aspect of their life, from work to home to their relationships.

To see the trailer click on the banner below.


 

  Recipe
My Favorite Spaghetti Bernarr Macfadden

Simmer (but do not boil) multi-grain or whole grain spaghetti noodles in just enough water so the noodles will absorb all of it as they cook. You should not have to pour off any water before serving, although you may have to add a little as the pasta cooks. This retains all the nutrients. Add a pinch of salt to the water. (I like to break up the spaghetti into short lengths - JB.)
As the pasta is cooking, add 1 to 2 chopped fresh onions and chopped parsley and/or spinach. Add herbs such as basil and oregano if desired.
When the pasta is done, add 1 to 2 chopped fresh tomatoes and olive oil. Mix together. Grate cheese on top. Enjoy!

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Jim's Bennett's FREE monthly newsletter brings you more historical photos and more detailed biographical information about the amazing life of Bernarr Macfadden. Together with thought-provoking reprints from his writings, there are also timely reports on recent discoveries and how they validate many of Macfadden's teachings. The contents include information about Macfadden's life and work, including the subjects of nutrition, exercise, weight control, aging, bodybuilding, and natural treatments. There are also interviews, humor, and recipes.

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