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Historic Facts About Hackensack

All information has been researched,

compiled and written by

George Mercer Scudder

September, 1999

Chavter

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HISTORIC FACTS ABOUT HACKENSACK

Introduction - Preservation of Historic Sites

Theaters of the Past

History of Transport at ion

Social and Fraternal Organizations

Newspapers of Hackensack

Financial Institutions

Churches o f Hackensack

Inns, Cafes, Taverns and Hotels

Industry and Manufacturing

Fairmount in Particular

Schools of Hackensack

Native American History

All materials listed above have been researched, compiled and written by

George Mercer Scudder

PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES

In this booklet, I will endeavor to acquaint the reader with various aspects of Hackensack

history. There have been many sites in Hackensack of national historical significance.

While some still exist, others have fallen in the name of progress.

One of the oldest and more prominent structures, symbolizing culture and education not

only in Hackensack but in all of northern New Jersey, was the Washington Institute,

located on the northwest comer of Main and Warren Streets. It was here in 1769 that the

first school of higher learning in North Jersey was built. Originally known as the

Washington Academy, it hnctioned and grew as an outstanding seat of education and

culture. Eventually it was destroyed and a new brick building was erected on the same

site in 1847. In 1848, the name was changed from the Washington Academy to the

washingion Institute. The state legislature granted title to the Institute's trustees who, in

1865, declared it to be the first all fiee school for all the students in the Village of

Hackensack, Township of New Barbados. All educational groups in this area today can

trace their origin to this school and to its educators who brought national recognition and

distinction to the schools of New Barbados.

Used for school purposes until 1926, the building also served as a town hall, town library,

and was used for elections, lectures, meetings and a variety of church services. Many

present-day churches and fraternal organizations had their start in this building as well as

the .Johnson Public Library, Oritani Field Club, many newspapers and even the Fire

Department.

The extension of Atlantic Street, easterly to Main Street, runs right through the spot

where this historic school once stood. It would be fitting and proper for the School Board

and the City to designate this sport as the starting point of education and culture in

Hackensack. (Pictures are available for those who are interested.)

Another structure that was destroyed was the Union Street School. I appropriated the bell

that once hung in the belfry in 195 1 prior to the demolition of the school. In 1987; it was

relocated to the porch of the Hackensack Public Schools Museum at 191 Second Street.

Col. William Bayard, who once owned most of Hoboken, originally donated this bell. In

1905 the bell was moved to the Union Street School, once known as Washington School

(built in 1878 and not to be confbsed with the Washington Institute), located at the corner

of Union and Myers Streets where it tolled daily until Friday, November 24, 1950.

Many of the other local structures that have disappeared include "The Mansion House"

and "Terhune House" on Rjver Street, "The Westervelt House" on Main and Ward

Streets, "The Brinkerhoff House" on Essex Street, and "The Newman School".

THEATERS OF THE PAST

Hackensack has always been considered the religious, cultural and business center of

northern New Jersey and that is why in 1907, the village of Hackensack was named the

county seat of Bergen. This article deals with the places of entertainment that are a part

of Hackensack's history.

Prior to 1900 there were only a few large buildings where people could gather for town

meetings, lectures or concerts. AfEairs were held outside in fair weather, in the park or

under huge tents much like the circus uses today. Schools did not have any auditoriums

or gymnasiums and theaters were' unknown at that time. Churches were generally the

places where large groups could gather. So, it was in churches that many affairs, such as

graduations were held.

Before 1900 and the advent of motion pictures, there were places in Hackensack where

many prominent people performed and lectured. Among them were Anderson Hall,

located on Main and Passaic Streets; Washington Institute on Main and Warren Streets;

the Opera House, forerunner of the Armory on State Street; and Irving Hall, Main and

Mercer Streets. Famous writers Horace Greely and Mark Twain visited, and governors

as well as Presidents Grant, Wilson and Tafi campaigned in these buildings which were

also used for meetings of the town's fraternal organizations and civic, groups as well as

for elections and debates.

Following the invention of motion pictures by Thomas Edison in 189 1, the Kinetograph

camera and Kinetoscope projector were perfected. This projector was later improved by

the Vitascope projector, which showed pictures on the wall and was first used in 1896 in

the New York Music Hall. In 1903 the first theater was opened in Los Angeles and

showed Edison's first pictures, "The Great Train Robbery" and "American Fireman", both

short pictures and made in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Thousands of people were eager to pay

to see these pictures and as a result, theaters sprang up all over the country. In most

cases, these moving picture houses were known as "Nickelodeons", a combination of the

cost of admission, usually a nickel and the Greek work meaning place of entertainment.

Until 1926 these were silent films shown to the accompaniment of a pianist to set the

mood.

The first theater of record in Hackensack was in 1907 and called the Edisonia. The ad

read as follows: "Hackensack's only permanent place of amusement, 55 Main Street.

Programme is changed daily - Admission 10c - Open daily except Sunday at 6:45 PM.

Matinee on Saturday at 2:45 PM. Scenes of travel mystery, drama and comedy - forty

minutes of delightful entertainment. " Later, other small moving picture theaters

appeared, the Hudson on Hudson Street; the Rovale on Main and Bergen Streets; and the

Biiou at about 170 Main Street, where we used to go for six cents. Another small theater

was the Crown located on Anderson Street just east of the railroad.

The most outstanding theater that existed in Bergen County was the L ~ i c on the west

side of Main Street just south of Mercer. In addition to motion pictures, the Lyric

featured five acts of top rate vaudeville and on Saturday evenings the lines were four

abreast up main Street and then around the comer on Mercer Street. The L y i c opened on

Saturday evening June 30, 1913. It was a very modern theater, very elaborate and fancy.

Box seating was arranged along both sidewalls, with thick carpeting, ornate chandeliers,

and elaborately decorated ceilings. The Lwic had a great history until the demise of

vaudeville and the depression days of the "30's". For many years after the vaudeville

closed, the theater had dramatic plays each week which were of excellent caliber and

were performed by some well known actors and actresses of that time.

In about 1930, the Eureka opened. It was located on the north side of Banta Place. It

featured talking pictures and had a balcony, which until now only vaudeville houses had.

Next came the Oritani on Main Street just south of Berry Street, noted for its beautifid

organ similar to those in large New York theaters. The Oritani did so well and drew so-

many people &om all over Bergen County, that the Fox was built directly across the

street just a few years later.

There may have been others in the years between 1908 and 1930 but the only other spot I

can recall was a small storefront type'place on Vreeland Avenue, where movies would be

shown to the neighborhood kids. This place was known as "Fat Joe's".

It would be interesting to know if there were any more that I overlooked.

TRANSPORTATION

Water Travel:

The method and speed of getting from one place to another has improved as new modes

of transportation have developed. In the beginning it was a matter of walking. Then

came the use of oxen, horses and other beasts of burden. Rivers and streams have always

played an important role in travel and in the development of all cities throughout the

country.

The Hackensack River was a good navigable waterway in the 1 6001s, 1700's and 1 8001s,

hauling cargo in and out as far north as the pier at River Edge (then Demarest Landing).

Schooners plied their trade up and down the Hackensack River until the early 1900's

when the railroads and highway. travel became cheaper and less time consuming.

Records show that much lumber, farm produce and building materials were transported

on the river during these years. In 1862 and 1863 it was reported that the schooners

"John Anderson, "D.A. Berry", and "Haxall" out of Hackensack were moving clothing

and supplies for the Union forces during the Civil War.

Roads:

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Travel by land was over rough and unimproved dirt roads until the early 1800's. These

roads were usually old Indian trails and were never in a straight line or level. Travel was

by horseback or horse drawn wagons. Stagecoach lines were thk popular way of

traveling before the advent of railroads, trolley cars, or the bus. Taverns served as

terminals and stopping places for the stagecoach lines. The taverns were registered and

licensed by the state and were required to provide food and lodging for travelers as well

as food and shelter for their horses at prices fixed by the state. These rates as well as

those charged by the stagecoach lines were set in 1763 and revised in 1781. From

Hackensack, stagecoach lines famed out in every direction fiom the various taverns to

Ridgewood, Englewood, Rutherford, Paterson, Newark and New York.

The

"Hackensack House", a tavern located just south of the "Green" was the terminal for the

stage going to Rutherford. The "Hackensack Tavern" located near the library was the

beginning and end point for the stage line to Paterson and Ridgewood. The tavern west

of the Mansion House was the stopover for the Albany to New York stage line. These

stagecoaches also carried the U. S. Mail.

The roads within the village of Hackensack consisted of Front Street (Main Street) and

Back Street (State Street) and a few cross streets: "Lower Road" (Essex Street); "Kings

Road" (Passaic Street). The roads were unimproved dirt without curbs or sidewalks.

These came in about 1856 as did many of the cross streets named after counties in the

state - Salem, Camden, Mercer, Bergen, and Morris. In 1802 a concerted effort was

made by the state to improve the roads, permitting turnpike companies to be organized

and licensed. This gave these companies the right to raise funds by selling shares, at $25

per share, to build roads and charge tolls. The result was the construction of a turnpike to

Hoboken in 1803, to Paterson in 18 15, to Jersey City in 1804, and to Fort Lee in 1828.

The roads were built according to rigid specifications and operated by the Bergen

Turnpike Company. Roads were four rods wide and cost $7,000 per mile to build.

Tollgates were installed at both ends of each road and a toll of five cents per horse was

charged. In 191 5, these turnpike roads and tolls were abolished.

In 1869, the Hackensack and New York Railroad Company was operating trains fiom

Jersey City to Essex Street, Hackensack. That same year the residents of Hackensack

donated $2,600 for building a station and extending the tracks to Anderson Street. By

March 4, 1870, the tracks had been laid all the way to Hillsdale and stations were located

at Central Avenue, Anderson Street, Fairmount (then called Zingsem), and Cherry Hill

(North Hackensack). This line was later extended to Havestraw, NY and was operated by

the Erie Railroad as their NJ and NY line. In recent years the Erie merged with the

Lacawanna and the trains are diesel powered instead of coal burning steam locomotives.

The railroad running east and west through Hackensack, known as the Susquehanna,

began in 1862 and was known then as the New Jersey Midland Railway Company. At

the start, three trains daily ran fiom Jersey City ferry to Hackensack. By March 1872, the

line had been extended to Newfoundland and later to Sparta, Newton, Blairstown and

across the Delaware River to Stroudsburg, Pa. At one period, about 191 5, there were

thirty-eight trains daily fiom Hackensack to New York and return.

Trolleys:

The Bergen County Traction Company was organized in 1896 to provide trolley service

to ~ e r ~ i n

county: On ~e~

24, 1899, the first trolley left Fort Lee bound for

Paterson, through Hackensack. This line later became known as the Hudson River Line.

Lines were later extended to Rutherford, Passaic and Newark. In summer it was a

pleasure riding in the "open air" trolley fiom Leonia across the meadows to Hackensack.

The line going to Paterson ran alongside the Susquehanna tracks in Hackensack as far as

First Street. It then turned right and ran under the trestle north up First Street to Passaic

Street, then west on Passaic to Franklin Place, north to Hamilton Place where they went

west over the hill into Pleasant Avenue, Maywood. The line to Rutherford and Newark

ran west through Hackensack as far as Summit Avenue then south through Hasbrouck

Heights on the Boulevard.

Meanwhile, the Public Service Company was running a trolley line nortb and south

through Hackensack. The line terminated at the northern most boundaries on Main Street

at Zabriskie's Pond. From there it went down Main Street, Hudson Street and through

Little Ferry, Ridgefield and all the way to Weehawken Ferry. The cost of a trolley ride

was five cents.

Buses:

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During the latter part of the 1920's many of the trolleys were being replaced with buses

which could alter their course and did not rely on tracks or wires. New bus lines popped

up all over; many operated by individuals over short distances. Small companies began

to buy other small companies and eventually the Public Service Transportation Company

owned most of them. The trolley that went up and down Main Street was replaced y a

bus that went fiom Little Ferry to North Hackensack, and later to Westwood. Another

bus line terminated at Summit and Catalpa Avenues and a private line owned by Nelson

Company ran fiom New Milford, past the New Bridge Inn, over the old bridge by

Steuben House and down Main Street to the Court House. The Nelson Garage was in the

building opposite the old "Old Dominion" restaurant. All bus fares were five cents.

ORGANIZA TIONS

Hackensack Hospital

Women's Club

Library

Oritani Club

Eks Club

Golf Club

Armory

YMCA

Wheelrnen

Yacht Club

Boy Scouts

American Legion

Rotary Club

YMHA

Lions Club

College Club

Colony Club

Fairmount Friends

YWCA

Girl Scouts

Business Club

Art Club

B'nai B'rith

Craftsmen

Golden Age

P.A.L.

USS Ling

Chamber of Commerce

The Residence

Hackensack Historical Committee

Bergen County Historical Society

,

Kiwanis

Operation Democracy

Optimist Club

Friendship House

Holly Center

Hackensack Hos~iial

In early spring 1888, Hackensack Hospital began as a 12-room house on Second Street

with a barn in the back. The entire area surrounding the hospital was lush farm country,

and Essex Street was a dirt road with wooden sidewalks. Cows grazed in the pastures

around the 12 h m e house with 35 beds and patients were brought to the hospital by

horse drawn ambulance. In 1903 Mary Stone Conklin trained in the School of Nursing.

At that time nursing was not considered to be a particularly attractive vocation for a

cultured young woman, however, it seemed to Mary Conklin to be a good opportunity to

make a valuable contribution of society. She went on to become Administrator of the

School of Nursing in the hospital for many years. The present Hudson Street, then

known as the old Plank Road, was a toll thoroughfare and Dr. David St. John traveled

this route so often in caring for his patients he was reputed to have a charge account with

the toll operator.

By 1921 there was a desperate need for improved hospital facilities and Senator William

Johnson kicked off the find-raising campaign with a pledge of $100,000. Senator

Johnson (who had been the Assistant Postmaster General of the U.S. during the

McKinley administration) closed the same hospital campaign with another $1 00,000

donation. His name should not and will not be forgotten with our Johnson Public Library

and Johnson Park.

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Today we have a modern, voluntary, nonprofit hospital equipped with the most advanced

took of medical science for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Not only one of the

largest hospitals in New Jersey, Hackensack has the reputation for leading among

community hospitals with its use of the most advanced tools in its Coronary Care, Burn

and other units.

Statistics can only begin to suggest the extent of care Hackensack Hospital provides this

area today. The 500 bed hospital handled 37,184 emergency room visits; 38,817 physical

therapy visits; 28,881 Community Mental Health Center visits, and a total of 23,666

patients were admitted and cared for by several hundred doctors and a staff of. 1,700.

Services also include the only burn unit in New Jersey, Child Evaluation Center,

Community Nursing Service, Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and the Cystic Fibrosis

Center. Hackensack Hospital is truly a major center for medical care in Bergen County.

The teaching affiliation with the New Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry began in

1974 and continues to be strengthened. Members of the practicing medical staff serve as

faculty for medical students, interns and residents who have chosen Hackensack for

specialized training. In 1975 the profound implications of this affiliation enhanced the

hospital's drive for excellence, for the training medical students require teaching of the

highest competence who are equally skilled as practitioners of medicine.

Genetics Services:

The first genetic service in Bergen, Passaic and Rockland Counties began here in 1975

bringing this relatively new field of science directly to those needing it.

Community Mental Health Center:

The CMHC mission is broad, covering hospitalization, outpatient consultations, partial

hospitalization, consultation and education, &d crisis intervention.

Newborn Intensive Care Unit:

In 1975 seriously ill newborns were admitted to the only special care unit of this type in

Bergen County.

Child Evaluation Center:

This 10-year-old center (also the only one of its type in Bergen County) is a recognized

leader in the area of child abuse.

Center for Speech, Hearing and Learning Disabilities:

In addition to being a diagnostic 'and treatment center for children and adults with

communication and learning disorders, it is the only center in Bergen County with a

learning disabilities component, and the only one with a class for neurologically impaired

children.

Cystic Fibrosis Center:

Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic congenital disease that causes distress of the lungs, pancreas

and other areas of the body causing psychological as well as physical stress. Children,

parents, and other family members are given help in dealing with this disease which often

requires daily treatments at home.

Communitv Nursing Service:

Each day 25 registered nurses go into 34 Bergen County and 5 Hudson County towns to

provide skilled nursing service to the chronically ill of all ages.

In 1887, Mrs. St. John and her fiiend, Mrs. Jacobson formed the Women's Auxiliary and

soon had 30 members working day and night to equip the new 12 room hospital with rag

rugs and curtains. They sewed and mended clothes for the patients and collected linen

sheets to make bandages. Bandages were sealed in jars a d sterilized using the same

process used in canning h i t s and vegetables, which they also prepared in their spare

time. Fortunately the supply of raw materials was inexhaustible. Everyone had linen

sheets and the entire county was one large forming community. Many patients paid their

hospital bill with f m produce.

Over the years Auxiliary members have continued to cut, sew and fold dressings, relieve

the nurses of their more menial tasks, operate the Comer Shop and Hospitality Cart,

welcome youngsters to the hospital with their own Foxie the puppet, and raise thousands

of dollars for items such as pacemakers, and other medical and surgical equipment. From

1950 through 1968, the Auxiliary raised $267,009.85 and Auxiliary members fiom many

towns in the surrounding area donate over 60,000 hours a year of vq/ugfeer

. ,

time.

. ,

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1st Hackensack Hosui tal

Johnson Public Library

Ori tani .9aseball Field

Women's Club

In January 1912, Mrs. Charles Adams assembled an enthusiastic group of nine women to

join her in planning a club. When the Women's Clubhouse was dedicated in 193 1, it was

the hition of a dream for the many women who worked hard since the first days of the

organization. The continued objectives of the group have been to bring women together

for mutual help, fellowship, and community service. Among the earliest projects was

making a summer playground for two of the public schools and establishing domestic

science (Home Economics) classes in Broadway School. The women helped finance as

well as conceive the ideas they worked on. They initiated Clean Up Day and Clean Up

Weeks in Hackensack and during World War I were the first to work for Belgian War

Babies. They also contributed services for the men of nearby Camp Merritt and

particularly for men blinded in the war.

Working and being innovative, the Garden Club was a "first" in the entire state and

inspired early understanding and appreciation of conservation of natural resources. By

1922 there were more than 700 members and fiom this one club, women began their own

chapters in neighboring towns.

On June 15, 191 6, the Women's Club was chartered for the Hackensack Chapter of the

American Red Cross and by 191 7 branches and auxiliaries were ,established in 14

neighboring towns. Women's contributions were cutting and making hospital and

refigee garments, surgical dressings and knitted garments. The wartime program

included canteen service, motor car service, and Junior Red Cross that assisted ex-

servicemen and their families. The chapter also contributed to the $78,000 raised by two

war fund drives and the Junior Red Cross raised over $1,500 to help establish a children's

hospital in France.

The first attempt to establish a public library in Hackensack was on July 2, 1833, when

the Hackensack Library Association was formed. In January 1859, another organization,

using the same name, was formed. Stock certificates were issued and seven trustees were

elected but once again it did not prosper. Another organization was formed in 1871,

inheriting the assets of the previous dehnct groups. This library used the second floor of

the Washington Institute on Main & Warren Streets and was operated by a group known

as "The Library Girls", all outstanding women of the community. Finally, in 1898, the

Hackensack Improvement Committee made an appropriation of $500 towards its support.

In 1901 William M. Johnson announced his intention to present an adequate library

building to Hackensack. He purchased the plot on the southeast corner of Main and

Camden Streets and had the irnposhg structure built and also donated $5,000 for the

purchase of new books. The trustees organized April 4, 1901 under the name of "The

Johnson Free Public Library of Hackensack". It opened to the public on October 5, 1901

with appropriate exercises. By 1915, it became evident that larger quarters were

necessary and Senator Johnson made a fUrther gift of $30,000.

Senator Johnson resided at the northeast comer of Main and Anderson Streets, the present

sGEXSars, -Ra&mck. Eh-pmperty extended fiom-ie,dersoiAhx%m&

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-to Knapp

Place and fiom Main Street east to the river.

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Oriiani Field Club

An even older organization, the Oritani Field Club was the result of cooperation of two

existing tennis clubs in 1877, tennis being almost as popular then as now.

Meeting in the Washington Institute in October 1887, the pastime Lawn Club headed by

F.A. Anthony, and President John B. Bogert of the Hackensack Lawn Tennis Club agreed

to enlarge their horizons and create one club that could offer more variety in sports

activities. Together the groups purchased the Anderson property (222 feet on Main Street

mnning down to the river) for $10,000. The Oritani Field Club was incorporated in

December 1887, with one of the first projects being a toboggan slide and reading the area

for an ice skating pond, as well as cutting bushes and leveling ground. The House

Committee renovated the residence, which included bowling alleys and enlarged billiard

rooms. Four tennis courts were built on the fiont lawn, and a baseball field was

constructed in the rear as well as a large boathouse at the river.

The public opening was a gala occasion on the Fourth of July, 1888, when about 5,000

people assembled on the grounds, and a grand fireworks display was held that evening.

The Benevolent and Protective Order o f Elks

The order of Elks is an old organization that began in New York City about the

of

the 1800's. On February 15, 1901, at a meeting held in the Odd Fellows Hall at 153 Main

Street, a local order of Elks was organized. The Grand Lodge identified the lodge as

#658 and it became famous for its benevolent and charitable work beneffiing crippled

children and other causes. Men of distinction fiom all over Bergen County joined. The

clubhouse was located on the northwest comer of State and Garnewell Streets. It was an

imposing structure and they made it even more so with improvements and additions. As

a boy I walked past the building many times, admiring the building and the grand

appearance of its members who were dressed in the height of fashion - hard straw hat,

white flannel trousers, blue jacket and two tones shoes. Little did I ever dream that some

day I would become a member or that I would ever be considered "Elk of the Yearn.

In 1929 it was decided that new and larger facilities were needed. A new building was

constructed at 375 Union Street that was the envy of every Elks Club in the country.

New Lodges were being organized in other towns in Bergen County causing a reduction

in the local membership. As a result the Hackensack Lodge sold its building on Union

Street and moved to smaller quarters on Linden Street where they still enjoy good

fellowship with fellow members and guests.

Hackensack Golf Club

On June 16, 1899, the Hackensack Golf Club began by a group of influential men who

enjoyed this sport. As 18 hold golf course was laid out on the grounds bounded on the

east by Summit Avenue, on the north by Passaic Street, on the south by the Susquehanna

Railroad, and on the west by Golf Place in Maywood. These beautiful lands, formerly

grazing areas and flowery meadows were ideal for a golf course. Wandering through the

course was Coles Brook where the Esplanade is now located , and that came into play on

nd rd

tb

th

the 2 , 3 ,6 , 7 , 13", and 1 4 ~ holes of the course.

The impressive clubhouse (pictured next page) was located where Nellie K. Parker

School now stands. Long after the Hackensack Golf Club left Hackensack and moved to

Emerson because of taxes, the clubhouse served the city as a community center.

The fact that this golf course existed was an important drawing point for the many, well

to do businessmen to settle and build beautihl homes here. With the exodus of the golf

club there was a gradual but steady move on the part of these same people to other parts

of the country.

Armorv (Opera House)

In 1872, the Hackensack Armory and Opera House was built on the east side of State

Street just south of Mercer. This was the headquarters of Company "C", later Company

"G" of the 5" regiment.

This building became the home for minstrel shows, opera programs, singing groups and

all types of entertainment including sporting events such as boxing, wrestling and, of

course, basketball.

The Armory burned to the ground on March 1,190 1 leaving only four smoldering walls.

With two years a new Armory was erected on the same site and was inconstant use until

after World War 11.

Onera House IG Arrnor-.y

1072 t o 1901.

Elks Clubhouse 1929

37.5 Union St.

tlackensack Golf Club

Central Avenue

1890-1 939

Old Ladies IJome

The ladies Aid Society of the Chrislian Refornied Church on State Street just south of the

Armory pla~~ned a small-scale home in 1895. In June of 1896, the former home of Dr.

Hasbrouck was rented and two aged women were admitted at once. Five more were

admitted before the end of the year.

By May 190 1, the building on the northwest corner of l'assaic Street and Clarenden I'lace

was finished and capable of Jlousing twenty-eight women. The home was so011 fi11ed to

capacity with a waiting list of twenty-three more.

Young Men's Christian Association

The present property was purchased in 1920 and the headquarters and activities were

transferred to the building on that site at that time (northeast comer of Main and Passaic

Streets). The Y Program expanded rapidly and soon larger facilities were needed.

Planning for a new building was initiated and a campaign was launched to raise $400,000

for construction. The actual cost ultimately exceeded $600,000.

The new building opened February 12, 1928. It was undoubtedly one of the most modem

and best-equipped YMCA's of its time. Since then the programs have continued to

expand, with its activities and services designed to accommodate the needs of residents of

this area.

The "Y" was reincorporated in 1964 as the YMCA of Greater Bergen County, with

branches in Park Ridge, Ramsey, Wyckoff and Rutherford. It serves some 5,000

members at its Hackensack quarters. It conducts Day Camp Oratarn for boys and girls,

and Michikamau, a resident camp, at Lake Kanawaukee.

The Hackensack Wireelmen

On 'March 9, 1895, the Hackensack Wheelmen's Club was organized with 11 1 members

at a meeting held in the Odd Fellows Hall, 153 Main Street. During this time, bicycling

was a very popular pastime and many changes were taking place in the style and

construction of bicycles.

Hackensack Yacht Club

While the Yacht Club was established in 1908, records and memorabilia indicate that it

was in existence years earlier. Prior to 1908, it was known as the Field and Boat Club,

and even earlier as the Hackensack Field Club. Today the group till uses the original

clubhouse at 50 Shafer Place on the Hackensack River. Facilities have been developed

for accommodating the storage of 50 boars up to 45 feet in length. Incorporated in 1940,

the Yacht Club is listed in Lloyds Register. Its object is to promote and encourage

boating and seamanship, and provide a program of social activities for its members, now

numbering 85.

Though its headquarters is on the Hackensack River, most of its boating is done on the

Hudson River, Long Island Sound and along the waterways of the Jersey Shore. During

the summer the club's official burgee flies over the Alpine Boat Basin of Palisades

Interstate Park. Members participate in a year-round social program, with most activities

during the winter and early spring. A highlight of the Bicentennial summer was a

rendezvous of boats during a two-week cruise to Nantucket Island.

Bov Scouts

Holy Trinity Church was the first Catholic organization in the country to sponsor a Boy

Scout troop, when Troop 5 was chartered in 191 5. Twenty-eight boys enrolled in the fwst

year under the leadership of Scoutmaster W. A. Scrivens. That same year, Troop 5 took

frst awards in an exhibition raUy held by all Bergen County troops. In March 1950,

Holy Trinity expanded its scouting program to include younger boys, and Cub Pack 5

was formed. In October 1970, fbrther expansion led to the formation of Explorer Post 5,

an advanced program for high school boys and girls that included citizenship, social

events, vocational education, outdoor activities and community service. Troop 5,

Hackensack's oldest with a history of 61 years, has since been joined by nine additional

troops. Following are troop designations, sponsors, and number of years chartered.

Troop 15

Troop 11

Troop 13

Troop 372

Troop 285

Troop 151

Trqop 220

Troop 361

Troop 362

First Congregational Church

Second Reformed Church

Police Benevolent Association #9

Mount Olive Baptist Church

Hackensack Housing Authority -.--.---

St. Francis RC Church

Varick memorial AME Church

Unit for Hearing Impaired Boys

Bergen Special Services School

Unit for Neurologically Impaired Boys

Parker School

-

48 years

44 Years

18 years

4 Y-

3 years

2 years

New

New

New

American Leaion

In July 1919, fifteen ex-servicemen met at the home of Otis Gregg to make formal

application to charter a local post of the American Legion. Col. William M. Mead who

had attended the first convention in Paris soon after the Armistice explained the history of

the Legion. The only name considered for the Post was Captain Harry B. Doremus who

led the local company and was killed in action in the famous Argonne-Meuse offensive in

1918. The charter was granted in September and the Post designated at No. 55. Col.

Mead was elected the first post commander and 75 men joined the organization.

Meetings were held in the Board of Taxation room in the County Courthouse twice

monthly until September 1920, when a home used as a clubhouse at Bridge and Moore

Streets was presented to the Post by 'the citizens of Hackensack. A new Post home was

built in 1933 and still stands at American Legion Drive and Second Street.

For many years the Post sponsored a senior drum and bugle corps and color guard which

took national championships in Chicago in 1939 and New York in 1947. Junior

American Legion baseball is another of the Post's sponsorships. The Doremus team is

one of the oldest sponsored teams in the state and has a number of County

Championships to its credit.

Rotarv Club

Early in 1920, Andrew Stertzer enlisted the support of Fred Fountain, Fred Stillwell and

C. M. Dalrymple for the purpose of forming a Rotary Club. A meeting was held at the

Elks Club on March 18 and in the weeks that followed some 50 prospective members

signed up. When it was later learned that Rotary limits charter members to 25, the list

was painfully trimmed. The first president was Andrew Stertzer. The Rotary Club has

continued to grow and presently has a membership of 83 community leaders. The group

is proud of its many service projects including the B. Spencer Newman Room at the

Bergen County Museum It is dedicated to helping develop a better community through

its motto: "Service Above Self'

Youna Men 's Hebrew Association fYMHA)

Late in 1923, several prominent Bergen men met in the Hackensack ofice of the late

Charles Rosenberg to develop a central Jewish organization and meeting place. There

were almost 500 Jewish families in Bergen County and less than ten synagogues. A

campaign to raise hnds for a Y building was initiated and it resulted in the purchase of

the property at 2 11 Essex Street, formerly a Catholic school, The Newman School.

The Y was chartered in 1924 to serve the recreational, informal educational, and cultural

needs of the Jewish population throughout Bergen. However, it has always recognized

its obligation to service the general community. For 50 years, membership in the Y, its

services, and facilities have been available to all residents of the county without regard to

religion, ethnic origin, or place of residence. When Clem Plager assumed the presidency

of the Y in 1927, his goal was to see plans for the construction of a new Y building

materialize. A campaign for $100,000 was concluded in the fall of 1928 and the building

was dedicated in 1929. In January 193 1, during the depression, the building was forced

to close for a short period. During this period Irving Warshawsky was the Ys executive

director and served in the post until his death in 1965. The Y continually provided a

dynamic and unifying focal point in Bergen County for the Jewish community until it

moved to Washington Township in 1985.

Lions Club

Since 1927, the Lions Club has served the residents of Hackensack as well as the entire

county through many humanitarian service projects. HighIights of the nearly 50 years of

helping others include: establishment of an eye clinic at Hackensack Hospital; donation

of a special shelf containing large print and Braille books for the blind in the Johnson

Library; initial development and continued support of the Lions Rehabilitation Center for

the mentally retarded; sponsoring annual visits of the Eyemobile to test for diseases of the

eyes; and support of many other projects such as Community Chest, The Residence and

Holley Center.

The College Club

Founded in 1928, the College Club is a focal point for college women with varied

interests. It provides scholarships for Hackensack High School graduates attending a

degree granting college or university. The aid programs include a $500 scholarship

awarded annually for four years, and a $150 scholarship presented annually.

In honor of the Bicentennial Year, the College Club also sponsored an essay for college

bound seniors of the High School. The winning essay, "Life in America", was written by

David L. Smith, who was awarded $345 for his outstanding work.

The Colonv Club

Founded April 9, 1929, by Mrs. Myron Robinson and Mrs. G. W. McIndoe, the Colony

Club just completed its 67" year of service to Hackensack. Membership over the years

has ranged fi-om a high of 50 to its present I 5 active members. Hackensack Hospital, one

of the club's major recipients, has received many pieces of equipment. The most recent

was a pediatric heart monitor for the newborn nursery. Members also perform various

services for patients and visitors.

Societv o f Fairmount Frienak

In 1942, a small weekly newsletter, 'The Hometown News", was written, mimeographed

and mailed to servicemen of the Fairmount area by G. M. Scudder, who was rejected for

service. The paper was sent to 125 servicemen from this area that were stationed all over

the world. The mailing continued for the duration of the war, with the promise that an

organization would be formed and would meet regularly after the war. In 1945, the

Society of F a b u n t Friends met each May and December, with George Scudder as

president fiom then until the present. The group is a diverse mixture of former boyhood

friends; farmers, doctors, lawyers, several mayors and just friends of equal importance.

Younp Women .'s Christian Association

The Hackensack YWCA was incorporated in 1930 as a member of the national YWCA.

It was located in thesame building as the YMCA for 40 years until they moved to their

own quarters in 1969.

The YWCA residence camp for girls ages 8 to 16 at Bear Mountain has operated for 46

years while the day camp for boys and girls has provided summer fbn such as swimming

and other outdoor activities since the 1950's. Several years back the YWCA launched the

first federally finded after-school day care program for Hackensack youngsters whose

parents work but earn minimal salaries. The program is conducted at Christ Church

where qualified staffers provide a creative learning experience. There are 10 Small Fry

Clubs with bi-weekly pre-school progratns for 180 children aged 3 to 5. Two of the clubs

are co-sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church and Second Reformed Church.

Programs for women and girls are numerous including the Y Room Registry, designed to

help women of limited means find rooms to rent in private homes. In addition to its

services and programs, the YWCA offers a wide range of physical education and

recreational classes.

Girl Scouts

The first Girl Scout troop was formed in 1931 at the Longview School at the suggestion

of George Memll, Principal. Mrs. Albert Lang did much of the promoting for Girl

Scouting while several other troops were organized in schools and churches as more girls

became interested. In 1941, national headquarters in New York contacted Mrs. Charles

Blackford to gather a group of women to consider organizing a Girl Scout Council. All

20 attending that meeting agreed to serve. Mrs. Blackford was elected Commissioner. A

rented store on Anderson Street served as headquarters. A paid secretary was installed

and Girl Scouting grew as programs expanded under trained leaders and a local council.

Two day camps were acquired and ' by 1 948, Hackensack had 30 troops (350 troops and

121 adult volunteer workers, leaders, troop committee members and council members).

Eventually the building was inadequate and the council launched a campaign to raise

funds to purchase its own "Little House" as Girl Scout headquarters is called. With a

year the council was able to buy a house at 155 Passaic Street that would suit their needs.

The Little House brought new enthusiasm into scouting and the organization continued to

grow. In 1959, national headquarters in Washington recommended the consolidation of

the many councils into a single strong County Council in order to make the program

available to more youngsters. Thus the Bergen County Girl Scout Council came into

being. It now serves 22,000 girls in 60 towns with the help of 3,500 volunteers and staff.

County headquarters is located in the Bergen Mall Shopping Center in Paramus.

Outdoor life and camping are a big part of scouting. The Girl Scout Council has two

camps; Bears Nest in Park Ridge and Glen Spey in New York State.

Business and Professional Women 's Club

This club was formed in the fhll of 1934 by a group of eager young women who had met

to establish a branch of the Hackensack YWCA. Since social service organizations and

recreational centers were off limits for Black youth, Josephine Cowan and Nellie K.

Parker decided to establish this club that was affiliated with the Y, participating in social

activities such as suppers, banquets, and teas. Later it was decided to withdraw fiom the

Y and work independently. Through the years, the club has had a strong involvement in

community affairs and in 1959 the group became afEliated with the National Business

and Professional Women's Club.

Since that time the club has sponsored a career development workshop, contributed to

college students financially, aided the Bethune Scholarship Fund, presented plays

celebrating Black History Week, and several members have given much time to the

Health Careers Development Program in the Middle and High Schools.

Art Club

This organization has played a major role in the City's cultural life for nearly four

decades. In 1938, a group of local artists conducted their first joint exhibit under the

'

direction of May E. Boggan, then librarian of the Johnson Public Library. For some

years she had successfully sponsored one-man or one-woman art shows so she selected a

committee to invite other artist fiiends to join in forming a club. After several meetings,

B. Spencer Newrnan and Carl Rarnee were selected to write a constitution. The

Hackensack Art Club was formally organized in November 6, 1939, with 24 charter

members electing Emil Stange as president.

The club has bee involved with all types of community programs, including judging local

exhibits, sponsoring Halloween window painting contests for children, decorating of

doors at Christmas and other similar activities. The club now has more than 160

members, representing some 40 Bergen communities.

B 'nai B 'rith Johannes Pod, Chapter 784

This international Jewish women's service organization has more than 140,000 members

in North America The Johannes Post draws its members fiom ~ack&nsack, Maywood,

Rochelle Park, Lodi, and Saddle Brook. Formed in 1952, it was named for a citizen of

Holland who saved many people &om persecution during World War JI by providing

food and shelter and helping them escape detention during the occupation. The name

Johannes Post honors those who were willing to sacrif~ce all in battling intolerance.

In addition to supporting national hospital projects in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Denver,

Colorado, the local Chapter serves Hackensack and Saddle Brook Hospitals and supports

many other humanitarian programs.

Associaied Craftsmen. litc

The Bergen County Tuberculosis Association in 1953 organized an industrial workshop

for handicapped persons, Associated Craftsmen, Inc. Located at 15 Emerald Street, its

purpose was to provide employment for those with physical disabilities. Throughout its

history Associated Craftsmen has served those with a variety of disabilities through

subcontract work for many of the nation's leading companies. In October 1975 it became

a service of the Easter Seal Society.

The Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults of New Jersey was established

in 1948 and moved its headquarters to 799 Main Street late in 1958. By 1971 it outgrew

these facilities and moved to New Brunswick. A pilot program in office skills evaluation

and training was conducted at the state East Seal office fiom August 1966 to December

1977. This program was the only one in the United States specifically geared to teaching

ofice skills to the disabled. In May 1976, it moved to the Associated Craftsmen complex

at 145 Hackensack Avenue. In addition to the sheltered workshop, the rehabilitation

center includes an evaluation unit, a homebound program, a print shop, and the office

skills training.

Golden Ape Seniors

Early in 1954 a group of seniors met with Mr. & Mrs. Henry Bissex to form an officially

recogmid organization representing senior citizens. Mr. Bissex was elected the first

president. The club met in the Garden Center of the Woman's Club for many years, and

now meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of each month at the Johnson Library

auditorium. There are 247 members.

Speakers at these meetings discuss a variety of topics including housing, taxes, social

services, entertainment, etc. A very civic minded group; the Seniors k e represented at

meetings of the City Council, Homeowners Association, Housing Authority, Office of

Aging, Freeholders and Bergen Transit. Members take day trips to points of interest and

participate in Hackensack events.

Hackensack Police Athletic Leapue (PAL)

The P.A.L. came to Hackensack as a result of the efforts of Patrolman Thomas Reid, Jr.

and a group of fellow officers. It has been a meaningful community enterprise since

November 29, 1968. A 36 member executive board sets policy for the local chapter.

Board membership includes clergy of all denominations, the County Prosecutor and

Sheriff, businessmen, merchants, and representatives of the Police Department. Chapter

founder Reid declares: "We feel P.A.L. is an approach that has brought about a

meaninghl change in the attitude of our young people".

U.S.S. Ling

Welcome aboard the U.S. Ling, moored at Court and River Streets on the Hackensack

River. The World War I1 U.S. Navy submarine now awaits visitors for inspection tours

of her restored fittings, fixtures, and facilities. When on active duty, the Ling carried a

complement of 95 officers and crew. The trim, well cared for sub is 312 feet long and

has a beam of 27 feet. The Ling, which is now the responsibility of the Submarine

memorial Association, is a living symbol dedicated to American submariners who were

lost in the war. While the Ling is not exactly a Hackensack organization, the vessel has

become one of the city's favorite visitor attractions. Hackensack has the distinction of

being the only U.S. city and probably the world, with its own submarine.

Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is a voluntary organization whose objective is to promote and advance the

commercial, industrial, professional, civic, and general interests of Hackensack. It is the

ambition of the members to develop a unified public spirit and make Hackensack a better

place to live and in which to make a living. The Chamber maintains an attractive office

where residents, newcomers, business representatives and visitors can obtain information

and where the consumer can appeal a legitimate complaint. T'hrough committees, the

Chamber addresses varied areas of interest to the City.

The Residence ffonnerly The Old Ladies Home)

Mrs. Mary Ellen Christie, Mrs. Moore, and Mrs. Cecilia Voorhis, fiom the Christian

Reformed Church, formed and incorporated an association under the name "The Old

Ladies Home". The intent was to make provision for pleasant living conditions for aging

ladies. The home of the late Dr. Hasbrouck, located at the Corner of State and Passaic

Streets was rented in June 1896 for $40 per month. The price of admission was $20 and

the age for entering was 65 years. The ladies paid $45 per week, but since one of the

three original residents did not have the required money, she was accepted at $3 per

week. In 1909, the Residence, a non-profit organization, placed a notice in the Bergen

Evening Record reading, "The Old Ladies Home finds it difficult to make ends meet

these days. If every farmer would plant one extra row of potatoes and donate the yield,

or income fi-om it, to the Home, the treasurer would be able to keep a balance".

In 1901, the Home moved to a new building at 266 Passaic Street, corner of Clarendon

Place, specifically constructed to offer a gracious home with comfort and security for 28

women This was soon filled with a waiting list of 23 more. It was appropriate in 1965

that one of the residents, Mrs. Katherine Outwater, 99 years old, participated in laying the

cornerstone for the addition of a wing. It is regrettable that in 1988 the Reformed Church

of America, in opposition fiom local Reformed Churches, decided to close this fkcility

and transfer those residing there to the Central Reformed Church Home in Imington.

Public Schools Historical Committee

As an outgrowth of the "History of the Hackensack Public Schools, written by G. M.

Scudder, a group of concerned citizens decided to preserve and display all memorabilia

and artifacts. Thus was born the Historical Committee and with the blessing and

assistance of the Board of Education, an area was provided at 191 Second Street to

establish a museum.

On June 7, 1987, dedication ceremonies took place with great fanfare, displaying school

bells fiom the old Union Street and Broadway Schools as well as many other articles the

committee members had gathered; The untiring efforts of committee members Edith

Terrano, Ruthann Sheer, Cynthia Lynch and others have this project popular with the

school children. Classes are regularly taken on a bus tour of the City's historic sites, then

to our Museum where they have retleshments, review the displays and are shown slides

of Hackensack's past.

Bemen Countv Hisiorical Societv

Our interest in the history of our town and area is due in part to the work of this Society,

organized by 67 members in 1902. The headquarters of the Society, with an assembly

room, depository of records, and museum was housed in the Johnson Public Library. By

1922, there were 600 members and, quoting the Westervelt book, "The museum is not

only the resort of authors, newspaper writers, educators and the general public, but has

won recognition as a necessary cooperative adjunct to what is known as the visual and

tactile method of teaching, and is visited by large classes of pupils.."

While the present headquarters is now the historic Ackerman-Zabriskie-VonSteuben

House in River Edge, the Society's books, maps and documents are cared for in the

Johnson Library's modem air-conditioned building and are conveniently available to

those interested in history. Many of the books, newspaper articles, pictures, etc.. which

were our main source of information is assembling this book are in the collection of the

Bergen County Historical Society.

Kiwanis Club

The Kiwanis Club of Hackensack, active in the community for 70 years, is known by its

motto, "We Build". The members are drawn £+om the professional and businessmen in

town and specialize in service to the youth. Kiwanis strives to build a better community

and endeavors to develop leadership ability in the young through Key Clubs at

Hackensack High School and the Bergen Technical and Vocational High School.

Dr. Wilson D. Webb was the first president when the club was organized on June 7, 1922

in the historic Hotel Martin on The Green. Over the years the club has been active in

town activities as Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, Girl Scouts, Community Chest, American Red

Cross, and in expanding the work of Kiwanis by sponsoring new clubs in Bergen towns.

When Kiwanis went international in the 19601s, our past president, W. P. Patterson

traveled to Australia and New Zealand to organize the first clubs in those countries.

The Optimist Club

This is an organization that does its best to live up to its slogan "Friends of the Boy".

For many years the club has sponsored a Little League team, a talent show at the Middle

School, and for three years had a circus, entertaining approximately ten thousand children

fiee of charge. At weekly meetings, money collected for a milk fund is given to the

Conklin Home, providing milk for the entire year. In all, the Optimist Club raises about

$3,000 every year.

Operation Democracy-Friendship, Hackensack-Passau

In 1952, Col. Garlock suggested "Operation Democracyw as a method of creating better

understanding between former enemy countries of World War II. The State Department

assigned "sister cities" based on similarities of population, geography, etc. Passau, with a

population of approximately 35,000 and situated in low land in Germany on the Danube,

Ilz, and Inn Rivers, was likened to Hackensack.

The towns having agreed to participate, the State Department sent a group fiom

Hackensack, including Mrs. Essie Abeel her son, Pad, Mrs. Eberhard and Mrs. W. E.

Hunger to Germany in March, 1954. At a later time, Passau students came here to study

for a month in Hackensack and to visit New York City, Washington, D. C., and Boston.

Every few years, trips were arranged to encourage cultural exchange and remove the

emotional scars of war. The last group fiom Passau came in October 1975, and enjoyed

an opportunity to learn about our Bicentennial.

Friendship House

A psychiatric rehabilitation center located in Hackensack since 1964, Friendship House

has been concerned with meeting the needs of individuals with a psychiatric history to

achieve gainfhl employment in the community. A sub-contract workshop within the

building was the nucleus of a work adjustment program leading to part and fill time jobs

in the community.

Recognizing the need for maintenance and home repair skills, a new training program

was initiated in May, 1975 to prepare Friendship House members to learn skills needed to

do office cleaning, floor waxing, house painting, grounds keeping and miscellaneous

home repairs. Members are introduced to maintenance work within Friendship House

itself When proficiency is evident, an individual is assigned to a work crew going out to

contracted jobs in the community.

Holfev Center

The Holley Center, established in 1971, is a unique development combining both a

residence and day care center for emotionally disturbed children. It was initiated by

Christ Church upon receiving a bequest of $300,000 fiom the Holley family to be used

for youth work Christ Church turned to Youth Counseling Services for advice. As a

result, $900,000 in federal building h d s and a federal staffing grant (on an 8 year

declining basis) were obtained to operate the Holley Center as a part of the Hackensack

Hospital Community Mental Health Center, serving all of Bergen County. Thirty-two

boys and girls (5-12 years) live in the center and thirty-seven 3 to 6 year olds come to the

center for day care.

Another outgrowth of the new facility was the need to provide a special class for those

children who were so severely disturbed that they could not attend the regular public

schdols. This class is held in Christ Church, filling still another need.

Other Local Or~anizations

In addition to the organizations mentioned on previous pages, there are many others that I

shall mention briefly:

In February 1865, in the "Old Fort" located on the northwest comer of Main and Passaic

Streets, the "Pioneer Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons" was organized.

The "Ionic Baseball Club" was organized on June 22, 1866.

On July 6, 1866, the "Odd Fellows: held an excursion on the Pavonia excursion boat

"Susquehanna". Their headquarters were at 153 Main Street. It was here that many

organizations were formed and regularly met.

The YMCA met in 1867 and elected A. J. DeVoe president.

Council 1 15 1 Royal Arcanium was organized in I 889.

The Foresters of America #47 was formed August 27,1891.

The Bergen County SPCA began on May 1 3, 1 89 1.

The Hackensack Council #5 1 1 National Union was formed on August 13, 1891 and met

in the Junior Order Hal on Gemewell Street.

The Hackingeshackey Tribe #I89 I.O.R.M. organized on September 25, 1893 and met at

Odd Fellows Hall.

The Hackensack Valley Council #182, Jr. OUAM organized on August 3 1, 1 893. In

191 2 their new building was dedicated on Gemewell Street (now Trinity Place).

Records show that the Bergen County Chapter #40 Royal Arch Masons was formed on

June 18, 1895.

Records list the A.M.O. Club with Horace Banta as president. It is not certain what the

initials signify.

The Nafie Association met at Zinn's Hall on Kansas Street. The purpose of the club is

unknown.

Hackensack Democracy met at 35 Main Street.

On April 26, 1903, K of C, Trinity Council was formed.

,

On May 3 1, 1 900, Bergen County Children's Aid Society was organized.

The Bergen County Historical Society was formed March 16, 1902.

The Union League Club began March 10, 191 0 at their headquarters, 45 Main Street.

The Hackensack Women's Club began on February 5,1902.

Hackensack Lodge #420 Loyal Order of Moose organized December 20, 1 91 0.

Hope Encampment #I33 1 OOF Branch of Odd Fellows constructed their new building on

Warren Street.

Uhland Lodge #I77 was organized in 191 0.

Court House #47 F of A met each month at 153 Main Street.

Bergen Lodge # 1 4 1 K of P also met each month at 1 53 Main Street.

Ind. Order of Beth Abraham #593 meets at 153 Main Street.

Pride of Bergen Co. #132 Daughters of Liberty meets each month at Junior Order Hall on

Gamewell Street.

Both the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association was formed April 10,

191 9 at 153 Main Street.

The Setters Club was probably the oldest of all the groups. It began in the old Village of

Hackensack and consisted of those who sat in fiont of establishments in the village,

smoking imported Dutch clay pipes presented to them by Mr. Banta, merchant.

Many other prominent clubs have existed in Hackensack for many years and have

contributed greatly in the town's progress.

Newspapers of Hackensack

There were a great many newspapers in Hackensack and in most of the towns in Bergen

County during the years 1 8 1 8 to 1978, a period of 160 years. Unfortunately, two main

problems were the cause of most of them folding after a short time. These were the lack

of suficient subscribers and the lack of advertisers to make the venture profitable. This

summary deals with only those papers that were in Hackensack during this period.

The first paper of record was dated July 22, 1818 when the "Bergen County Express"

appeared in Hackensack. It was said to have been printed in Paterson and there is no

record as to how long it lasted. The first newspaper that was printed and distributed in

Hackensack was "The Hackensack Newsman", which came out on March 2,1922. It was

published by J. Spencer and lasted until November 1823. At this same time (November

1823), a newspaper called "The Hackensack Star and Bergen County Farmer" appeared.

This newspaper was published by Charles TroxelJ and H. J. Kingland in a building on

Main Street and lasted only a couple of years.

In January 183 1, Mr. John Post published a paper called the "Bergen County Courier"

that was printed in Jersey City. This must have been rather successful, as there is no

record of another paper in Hackensack until 1857. In March 1857 "The Bergen County

Gazette" appeared. Dr. E. S. McClelian who also owned a Paterson pewspaper owned

the paper. The published was William Kimball and the paper was printed in Paterson. A

year later, Mr. Kimball, backed by some influential local men, published the "Bergen

County Journal" which continued until August 1861, until he left to join the N. J.

Volunteers. G. D. Wallace replaced him as editor.

In October 1861, "The Bergen County Patriot", published by J. C. Baldwin and W. B.

Dunning, appeared. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Dunning joined the Union Army and rose to

the rank of Captain. At the end of the Civil War he, along with Pangborn & Dear,

established the Jersey City Journal.

Also, on December 13, 1861, "The Bergen County Democrat" appeared. This was a

weekly, printed at 80 Main Street and the subscription cost of $1 a year. Mr. C. C. Burr

was the publisher of this paper as well as "The Rockland County Democrat". Two

months later Mr. Eben Winton joined Mr. Burr and the paper became "The Bergen

County Democrat and the N. J. Register". Mr. Burr retired in March 1862 leaving Mr.

Winton sole owner until March 1871 when Henry D. Winton joined the partnership. In

January 1872, Henry Winton became editor and publisher, controlling it until he retired

on March 10, 1905. Mr. E. M. Johnson then became editor and publisher and the paper

continued to flourish. The "Bergen County Democrat" had a strong influence on affairs

in the county and even statewide as Mr. Winton was a State Senator in 1890. To dispute

the editorials and policies of the "Democrat" was paramount to treason. In 1910 the

address is shown as 74 Main Street. After operating for some sixty years, on April 16,

1920, "The Democrat" suspended publication

"The Hackensack Republican", a weekly newspaper, was published by L. D. Hay in

1870. Originally known as "The Watchman" and edited by A. B. Johnson, it was later

called "The N. J. Republican and Bergen County Watchman". In 1874, H. M. Henick

succeeded Mr. Johnson for one year when Judge W. S. Banta bought the paper. He had

W. H. Bleecher and T. H. Rhodes run the paper briefly but Rhodes retired leaving

Bleecher in charge until 1878 when T. B. Chrystal bought the paper f?om Judge Banta.

Chrystal ran the paper only four years and sold it to Mr. W. M. Johnson in 1 882. For the

next seven years it was edited and managed by Eugene Bird who had been Mr. Chrystal's

assistant and an active and respected newspaperman since 1858. In 1869 Mr. Johnson

sold the paper to Mr. H. M. Hemck, who in turn, sold the newspaper to Mr. Eugene Bird.

It appears this paper was active until the mid 1920's.

From 1872 to 1877, Cornelius Christie published a newspaper in Hackensack called "the

New Jersey Citizen".

In 1 873, "The New Jersey Radical" merged with a newspaper of Rutherford and became

a Hackensack paper, "Bergen County Herald".

In 1875, Mr. W. N. Clapp, who had been with the 'Wew Jersey Citizenn, began a

newspaper called "The Bergen Index". His brother Sanford E. Clapp who was editor

until his death in 1907, during which time "The Indexn was a weekly,, a semi-weekly, a

tri-weekly, and again a weekly, succeeded him

On June 5, 1 895, "The Bergen Evening Record", a daily, was published by Evan G.

-

Runner with frank Cook and G. B. Alden. The Evening Record Publishing Company

was formed with Mr. Runner as Business Manager, H. W. Collingswood, Editor and J. A.

Romeyn, Secretqflreasurer. He later became editor and owner. (An original copy of

the first edition of "The Record", in perfect condition, was the property of my father until

the fiftieth anniversary when he gave it to his fiend, Mr. Smith. In 1901, Mr. Romeyn

sold to Mr. Whitbeck of Rochester, N. Y., who directed the operation of the paper with

Mr. James Smith in charge. When Mr. Whitbeck died, Mr. Smith ran the paper with Mr.

Runner as Business Manager. Mrs. Whitbeck sold the paper to a Hackensack. group

headed by Mayor C. Linkroum as president. He and his associates sold their interests

until eventually the company became incorporated as "Bergen Evening Record Corp."

with Mr. John Borg as president and controlling stockholder and ~ m e s

M. Smith, editor.

In 1904 an advertisement lists "The Record" as being located at 11 9 Main Street and the

subscription cost was six cents a week. In 1921 a new larger site was purchased at 295

Main Street where they remained until larger quarters were constructed at their present

location, 150 River Street. (As a youth, I caddied many times for Mr. Borg at the OM

Hackensack Golf CIub when it was located in Hackensack. He usually played- with his

good friends Mr. Binder and Mr. Brewster.) Mr. John Borg eventually delegated the

operation of the paper to his son, Donald, who in turn passed the business on to his sons

who operate the paper today.

"The Daily Times" made a brief appearance on September 18, 1905. It was published

fiom the "Democrat" ofice at 74 Main Street with E. M. Johnson as editor. It was

discontinued on November 5, 1 905.

On February 16, 191 2, the Democrat Publishing Company put out a paper called "Bergen

Daily News". An ad in 1912 lists the paper as a morning daily. Mayor Charles E. Bell

edited the paper fiom the Democrat office at 74 Main Street until April 3, 1914, when

Mr. J. Norton became editor under the new owner, E. B. Walden. H. C. Reilly later

became editor and remained until the paper was discontinued on November 17,192 1.

We should not forget to mention "The Hornet". This was a four-page paper edited and

published by Robert A. Sibbald during the 1930's. It was "published now and then in the

interest of better government", at three cents a sting. It contained no advertising and

pulled no punches. The copies I ha* are fiom 1 93 1 to 1 934.

The "Star Telegram", a weekly, appeared in 1946 and lasted about two or three years. It

was published fiom an office on the south side of Essex Street, between Prospect and

Summit Avenues.

Hackensack Financial Institutions

There was no assurance years ago that money deposited in banks would be there when

you needed it. Federal Deposit Insurance did not exist and as a result, when times were

difficult, many banks failed and depositors lost their money. It is easy to see why people

distrusted banks and preferred to hide their money. Even as late as the depression days,

1 93 0 to 1 93 6, money deposited in some financial institutions could only be withdrawn in

dribs and drabs, $50 or $100 a week. Times and conditions have changed and today it

would be foolish to keep h d s hidden where they might be lost through fire or theft.

In 1825, the fist bank in Hackensack was established in the southwest parlor room of the

old Mansion House located on the comer of Main and Washington Street, just north of

the "Greenn. Originally the bank .was in Weehawken and known as "The Weehawk

Bank". On moving to Hackensack it became known as "The Washington Bank". The

following year it moved to the VanValen building on the northwest corner of Moore and

Washington Street, just a block east of where it had been. It remained there and records

show that it operated there for a few years.

"The Bergen County Bank" opened in Hackensack in 1856. It was also located in the

Mansion House but existed for only about one year. An economic panic in 1857 put an

end to its operations and it wasn't until after the Civil War that another bank was

established in Hackensack.

On October 23, 1871 "The First National Bank of Hackensack" was established with

capital of $100,000. Two years later, April 4, 1873, "The Hackensack Savings Bank"

was opened as its subsidiary. In 1872, "The Bank of Bergen Countyw opened on the

comer of Main and Morris Streets with a capital of $60,000 and operated "The Bergen

County Savings Bank" at the same address. Records show that all four of these

institutions lasted only until November 12, 1880 when William Johnson, later Senator,

was appointed receiver.

In 1887, having been without a bank for about seven years, "The Hackensack Mutual

Building and Loan Association" was started. In 191 2 it was located at 25 1 Main Street

and today is located on the southeast corner of State and Salem Streets.

On July 16, 1889, "The Hackensack National Bank" opened. In the Oritani Field Club

yearbooks, 1907 - 1912 issues, the bank was advertised but no address was given. On

December 23, 1899, "The Hackensack Trust Company" opened on the corner of Main

and Mercer Streets. Records show that on March 4, 1922, Hackensack National and

Hackensack Trust merged.

In 1899 "The North Jersey Title Insurance Company" opened on the east side of Main

Street north of the Susquehanna railroad tracks, formerly "Ryan's Hotel". About 1925,

they constructed a new building on the southwest corner of State Street and Central

Avenue, now City Hall, and operated there until the depression of 1935.

On August 10, 1901, "The Industrial B & L Association of Bergen County" opened at 84

Main Street.

In 1903, "The People's Bank" began at 181 Main Street with capital of $75,000. Old

advertisements list "The People's Bank" at 181 Main Street in 1903; in 1907 as the

"People's National Bank" and in 191 1 as "People's Trust Company at 210 Main Street.

All three seem to be the same organization. On March 15, 191 8, they joined with

"Alliance Trust and Guarantee Company" and became the "People's Trust and Guarantee

Company of Hackensack".

In 19 1 1, two Building and Loan organizations came into being, the "North Jersey B & L

Association at 197 Main Street and the "United B & L Associationn located on the east

side of State Street near the railroad. Today, both are part of "The Oritani Savings and

Loan" on the southwest corner of Main and Berry Streets, with a branch on Main Street

and Spring Valley Avenue.

In November 1921, the "City National Bankn was started on the northwest comer of

Main and Salem Streets. Today they have branches at 900 Main Street and 20 Court

Street.

In May 1922, "The New Barbadoes Mutual B & L Association" began at the ofice of

William Shaffer, 725 Main Street.

In 1930, "the Bergen County National Bank" was opened on the northwest corner of

Main and Passaic Streets, opposite the YMCA, in the building formerly occupied by

Bedell Automobile Company. On June 28, 1971, it became "The Commercial Trust

Company".

Some of the banks listed above have established branches in Hackensack. One of the

fnst was People's Trust when they opened a branch on Main and Essex Street about 1930.

They also have one on the corner of Summit and Essex. Hackensack Trust opened their

Fairmount Branch at Main Street and Johnson Avenue about 1950. Today, all .of the

banks in Hackensack operate under different names than those they had when they

organized. Many only know them by their original names. Following is a listing of

original and present day names:

Original

The Hackensack Trust

People's Trust

The City National

The Bergen County National

Present

Garden State National Bank

United Jersey Bank

First National State Bank

Commercial Trust Company

Churches of Hackensack

First Reformed Church

First Presbyterian Church

First Baptist Church

Second Reformed Church

Third Reformed Church

Methodist Episcopal Church

Christ Church

Holy Trinity Church

Varick AMEMEM Church

Christian RefomedChurch

Immaculate Conception (St. Mary's)

St. Joseph's Church

St. Francis Church

St. Anthony of Padua

Mt. Olive Baptist Church

New Hope Baptist Church

St. Mark's Lutheran Church

First Congregational Church

Church of Christ Scientist

Seventh Day Adventist Church

,

Temple Beth El

p-

(.....-L.,..

-., r ....' a.

I . . * )

I

1 I

A complete book could be written, and in some cases has already been written,

concerning each of the churches mentioned in this article. The following only indicates

the denomination, date organized, date church was built and location.

First Reformed Church

Records indicate in 1686, Deacons and Elders were elected and installed by the

congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church of Ackensack (without the H) for ten years,

or until 1696. There was no permanent place of worship. Learning they did not have

property to build a church, Captain Berry gave them two and three-quarter acres in the

village east of the Hackensack River. Thus began religion with the erection of "Church

on the Green", in what later became the City of Hackensack.

First Presbyterian Church

This church came into existence when a group severed ties with the True Reformed

Dutch denomination following Rev. C. Z. Paulison in 1832, as the Reformed Church of

Hackensack.

On July 3, 1834, the church applied for admission to the Jersey City Presbytery and the

name changed to First Presbyterian Church under Rev. Albert Amerman. The church

building was then located on Main Street, just south of Johnson Library. The call

extended to Rev. Amerman in June 1843 included the following-proposal. "That you

may be fiee of worldly avocations, we agree to pay you the sum of $250 annually, and a

sufficiency of hay for one horse and one cow, fuel for the house, and the £ree house of the

parsonage". There were four more pastors until Rev. Charles R. Kuebler. His active

ministry of 55 years was one of the longest on record in this denomination. In 1929, the

new church was completed on Passaic and Union Streets.

First Baptist Church

Organized in 1832, the First Baptist Church was revitalized by prayer meetings held in

private homes on alternate Wednesday evenings. The first church building was dedicated

on December 30, 1870. Rev. Zelotes Grenelle, Sr., 75 years old, was the &st pastor. In

1893, the First Baptist church of Ridgefield Park merged with the Hackensack Church

Three years later, a group left the church to form what became the Calvary Baptist

Church in Hackensack. Miss Hazel Malliet was the church's first missionary, going to

the Philippines in 1920. Over the years many other members have followed her, serving

in the mission fields in all parts of the world.

The church's growth paralleled that of Hackensack. The cornerstone for a new building

was laid August 26, 1923. In 1940, the church voted to declare itself in fellowship with

the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. On Sunday, September 20, 1953, a

new Bible School building was opened with 1,000 in Sunday School attendance. In

1974, the church established the Hackensack Christian School, which expanded to

include classes from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Second Reformed Church

On November 11, 1855, a part of the congregation of First Reformed Church on the

Green separated to start a church of their own in the upper part of town. Mrs. Berry

donated property on the east side of State Street, comer of Beny, where a new church

was built with a parsonage next door. On Easter Sunday, April 15, 1907, a fire that

began on Camden Street completely destroyed the church and parsonage. Services were

-then held in the school across the street, the Methodist Church, and Oritani Field Club.

In 1908 and 1909, property was purchased on Union Street, facing Anderson Street Park,

and a new church building was erected using native fieldstone from all over the country.

An addition was dedicated in 1965.

St. Cyprian's Protestant Episcopal Church

St. Cyprian's Mission, now located at 269 First Street, was organized on June 18, 1926 at

the home of William Francis, 268 First Street. Present at the meeting were Rev. A. M.

Plasket, representing the Board of Missions and Ven. Augustine Elendorfl Arch Deacon

of the District. Rev. Maxwell J. Williams did the preliminary work. The first service

was conducted in a hall on Berdan Place on September 13, 1925. On Sunday, May 23,

1926, ground was broken on the site where the church now stands. The building was

dedicated on September 26, 1926. The church is named after St. Cyprian, Christian

Bishop and martyr, born in Afiica about 200 AD. He was beheaded in 258 AD because

of his Christian beliefs and practices.

,

First Spanish Baptist Church

Rev. and Mrs. Jose Correa founded the First Spanish Baptist Church in April 1969. The

Correa's, with children Evelyn and Joseph, lived in Hackensack for a number of years

while Rev. Correa commuted to the South Bronx where he was Pastor. As a result of the

influx of many Hispanic families in Hackensack, Rev. Correa was spiritually moved to

form a Spanish-speaking church where Hispanic families could worship within the

firamwork of their culture and language. Present membership includes families h m ten

Spanish-speaking countries and a background of five religious denominations. The

church has a social as well as spiritual impact on the congregation

The church, located at 106 Central Avenue, is currently affiliated with the Metropolitan

Baptist Association of New York, The Baptist Convention of New York, and the

Southern Baptist Convention

St. Mark's Svrian Ortbodox Church

A number of families organized in 1953 as the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch

Society, then purchased a brick home in Hackensack as a residence for His Eminence

Archbishop Mar Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox

Church of Antioch in the United States and Canada. For the next few years services were

conducted in his home. On November 15, 1957, His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Yacoub

In formally established the Archdiocese of the church in the United States and Canada

under the jurisdiction of Archbishop Samuel. The following year, when discussing sites

for a c a t h e d r a t h p ~ ~ t \ ~ o f t h e I a t i o n a l

-

Church at ~airih6unt%id G- AVeiiues, whicKthey p~~9iZiEd--aiidf em~deld?----- -- - -- -

-

On September 7, 1958, Archbishop Samuel consecrated the cathedral, named after St.

Mark's Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Jerusalem. Since then, many families have come

to the United States fiom the Middle East and St. Mark's parish has grown. It currently

numbers nearly two hundred families.

Third Reformed Church

The Deutch Evangelical Sunday School began on January 3, 1858 at Washington

Institute. Two

later, a church was built on Broadway (now the library) called "The

Third Dutch Reformed Church". In 1927, decision was made to move to South Prospect

Avenue. The cornerstone was laid June 24, 1928 and the church was dedicated January

20, 1929 as "The Church on the Heights".

Methodist Episcopal Church

.

United Methodism has a long history, starting with the posting of a public notice tacked

to a willow tree on the Village Green in 1835, which read:

NOTICE

July nineteenth, in eighteen thirty-five

If God permit, and I should be alive,

Under a willow, near one Vanderpool,

,

There will be preaching, say by wise or fool.

At half past two, should audience be given,

And the good people are, hereby, depend,

Respecthlly invited to attend.

In 1849, the First Methodist Episcopal Church was built on the north side of Warren

Street, east of State Street. In I 868 some of the congregation decided to start their own

group and formed the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church and began building a large

church on State Street which burned down before it was completed. Meanwhile, the

congregation of the first Methodist Episcopal Church on Warren Street was making plans

for a new church on the northeast corner of State and Warren Streets, which was

dedicated on January 17, 1875. The Asbury Methodist Episcopal and First Methodist

Episcopal Churches merged in 1912. Closing ceremonies were held March 12, 191 3 and

the property sold to the Masonic Order. The Methodists built opposite the school on

State Street where they remained until they built on Summit and Passaic in 1965. The

new "Steeple in the Garden" became a landmark of modern church architecture.

Christ Churcb

Episcopal services began in January 1863 when arrangements were made to hold Sunday

Services at 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM in the Washington Institute on Main and Warren

Streets. They continued here until June 1865 when ground was broken and Christ

Church was erected on State Street facing Salem Street. The church was dedicated in

January 1866.

Holv Trinity Church

On May 19, 1861, the first Catholic Church in Hackensack was completed on Lawrence

Street near Union, and appropriately called "St. Lawrence". The gro&d and church cost

$1,350. By the end of the Civil War, decision was made to build a larger church and

property was purchased at the comer of Maple Avenue and Pangborn Place (then called

Park Street). The new structure was dedicated on April 9, 1868 with a name change to

the "Church of the Most Holy Trinity".

It was during Rev. Joseph Rolando's stay (1870-75) that the first Catholic School in

Bergen County was built. Then about 1885, the convent was completed for the Sisters of

Charity of St. Elizabeth of Convent Station. They began teaching shortly after the Civil

War and have continued uninterrupted since. Known locally for its Byzantine

architecture, the present church b u i M i was dedicated on June 12,1932.

Brownson High School was established in 193 1 but in 1954 decision was made to end the

high school in favor of building a new elementary school which presently has

approximately 550 students in attendance.

Varick Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church

Though the exact beginning date of this church is unknown, its organization probably

came during the middle 1800's. Initial worship was held in Irving Hall at Main and

Mercer Streets, today's site of the Garden State National Bark The bhurch acquired its

Atlantic Street property on January 5, 1864 and was incorporated in 1866, as Olive

Branch Colored Mission Number Three of Hackensack. It was the first A-ME. Church

of Hackensack in 1883 and adopted its current name on April 18,191 7.

By 191 9, the congregation outgrew its first building that was then moved to the northern

part of the property to become Fellowship Hall, and the sanctuary was built. Growth

continued under the pastorship of Rev. C. M. Kirkpatrick, who was followed in 1954 by

Rev. George Lincoln Blackwell. Membership stood at 370 in 1964, the church's loofb

anniversary. A new fellowship hall and educational building were dedicated in 1966.

Later that year, Rev. Blackwell was elected General Secretary of the Department of

Christian Education of the A.M.E. Zion Church, and was succeeded by Rev. Mack

Brandon, Jr. Expansion moved ahead with acquisition of additional property on Atlantic

Street and late in 1973 a complete renovation and refiubishing of the church building

began. In the midst of the renovation Rev. Brandon suddenly dies and the work

continued under the direction of Presiding Elder Marcus Smith and former Pastor

Kirkpatrick.

Christian Reformed Church

In 1888, Christian Reformed Church was erected on State Street just south of the

Armory, opposite Bordens. It was known as the "Clock Churchn, havihg large clocks in

the steeple. This church merged with the Presbyterian Church of Maywood in 1933. A

group of ladies from this church started the Old Ladies Home in 1895. The Unitarians

used Odd Fellows Hall for services in 1898 and later had their own church on Park Street,

just north of Central Avenue. It is no longer there and I understand they moved to

Pararnus.

Immaculate Conception Church

The Church of the Immaculate Conception, better known as St. Mary's Church, began as

a parish with the purchase of property on Vreeland Avenue on August 21, 1890. Until

then, it was part of Holy Trinity Parish. When it incorporated as a parish on June 5,

1891, it included Little Ferry, Ridgefield Park, Ridgefield, and Fairview, as well as its

present territory. Gradually each of these towns grew and built their own churches and

schools, becoming separate parishes. Today, St. Mary's extends fiom Route 46 to Essex

Street and f?om the Hackensack River to Polifly Road, and includes parts of Hackensack

and Little Ferry and all of South Hackensack and Teterboro. St. Mary's had a parish

school since 1904. Its first building, formerly the Hudson Street School, was purchased

fiom the Board of Education in 1903 when Broadway School was built.

The Benedictine Sisters of Elibeth operated the school fiom September 1904 to

September 1971, when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania took over.

The present building' replaced the old school that was demolished later giving way to

Route 80.

St. Joseph's R. C. Church

St. Joseph's parish had its beginning in 1895 when twenty Polish families attended mass

at Immaculate Conception Church. While the preaching was done in English, German

and Italian, the Polish people had to travel to Passaic to hear their native tongue. The

Polish population increased rapidly and in 1907, a group went t6 Rev. Valentine

Chlebowskii pastor of St. Joseph's to organize the erection of a church in Hackensack.

Through fundraising and the hard work of many parishioners during construction, the

church was completed and the first mass celebrated on Christmas Day 1909, by Rev.

Ignatus Szudrowicz of St. Joseph's, Passaic.

The first resident pastor of the new church was Rev. Stephen Nowakowski, who anived

in 1910. Until the rectory was completed in 191 1, he rented rooms across fiom the

church. Over the years, religious education of the young and teaching of the Polish

language were instituted.

St. Francis R. C. Church

By 1917, it was apparent that a church was needed to accommodate the Italian

community. Construction began August 191 7 and on December 9" of the same year, a

wooden fiame church building was dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi However, there

was only one priest to minister to the ever increasing number of Italian immigrants. The

problem was solved by the arrival of a religious order new to this area, Capuchin Friars,

followers of St. Francis of Assist. The church was entrusted to them in 1925 when Rev.

Gaetano Costi was named Pastor.

In 1931, a new sanctuary was built and religious education was established for members

of the parish, utilizing Capuchin Sisters to instruct the children They were followed by

the order, Religious Teachers Filippini in 1932. In the succeeding years the Mt. Carmel

Guild and St. Ann Society were formed. In 1947 the main marble altar as well as the

marble walls of the church, vestibule, and baptistry were acquired.

During the pastorate of Rev. Sylvester Catallo, his assistant, Rev. Henry D'Angelis began

celebrating Mass in Spanish to accommodate that community. Presently, to meet the

needs of both the Italian and Spanish families, mass is celebrated in both languages each

Sunday.

St. Francis School was dedicated in September 1967, the 5 0 ~ anniversary of the parish

The school presently has an enrollment of 300.

St. Anthonv of Padua Episcopal Church

The First Ward Italian community with its own ethnic retail shops numbered

approximately 5,000 people in 1914. They worshipped at St. Mary's (R.C. Church of the

Immaculate Conception), but wanted a church in their own neighborhood Their requests

to the Newark Diocese for help in organizing a local parish went unheeded. Rev.

Antonio Guilio Lenza, assistant Pastor of the R C. Church of our Lady of Mount Carme1

in Newark often visited fiends here. He advised the group to form their own church then

seek diocesan approval. Thus the Independent National R C. Church of St. Anthony of

Padua was organized. Fr. Lenza was suspended for his suggestion.

In 191 7, many left St. Anthony for the new church of St. Francis of Assisi As a result of

many problems, St. Anthony closed its doors in 1924, leaving its families without

spiritual guidance. The local Episcopal Bishop sent Fr. Joseph Anatasi, to minister to

them The new pastor, who spoke fluent Italian, pleased them axid because of his

Episcopal background he was familiar with their rituals. Soon afterwards, the entire

cokgation took instruction and the church was re-established as St. Anthony of Padua

Episcopal Church

Mount Olive Baptist Church

A group meeting of 29 charter members in Irving Hall at Main and Mercer Streets

organized the Mount Olive Baptist Mission on Sunday, July 2, 1889. Rev. J. J. Porter

was the first pastor. The mission was recognized as an independent Baptist Church by

Calvary Baptist Church of Paterson, and formal incorporation followed on August 16,

1892. Later that year a lot on James and First Street was purchased for $290.

,

The lecture room was built in 1893 and services were held there for the next four years

while funds were being raised for construction of a church. The building program began

July 1, 1897 and was completed in four months at a cost of $1,500. The new building

was dedicated November 14, 1867 and membership totaled 54. The church was

completely rebuilt in 191 1 and completely remodeled, including the addition of a new

pipe organ, in the 1920's during the administration of Rev. J. P. Greene. Rev. T. W. H.

G ~ b n succeeded him in 1933. In the following years, membership continued to grow,

property increased, and the church building was upgraded and improved. Rev. Gibson

served until his death in 1956. Rev. Jonothan Gilbert Brown was named Pastor in 1957.

The church continues to expand in service according to the needs of its congregation.

New Hope Baptist Church

Organized under the leadership of Rev. James P. E. Love on July 1, 1920, the 68 charter

members came from ~ackensack's first two Black churches, Varick A.M.E. Zion and Mt.

Olive Baptist Church. Services were held in Holt's Hall on Bergan Place until the church

was constructed in 1922. Rev. Love became Pastor Emeritus after nearly two decades of

service and was succeeded in 1939 by Rev. Leonard E. Tmell, who served until June

1947. Rev. W. H. Edwin Smith then became spiritual leader, serving until his death in

1961 and Rev. Richard H. Puryear was Pastor from 1963 to 1970. Later that year Rev.

Moses A. Knott of Hackettstown was named interim Pastor.

Church membership has grown to over 600 and the church has expanded and remodeled.

Recently a van was purchased for transporting senior citizens and children to services.

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church

Less than 30 years after the arrival of the first permanent settlers in the Hackensack

Valley, pastor Justus Falckner, the first Lutheran Pastor ordained in America, began

holding services here in 1704. In 171 6, Lawrence VanBuskirk deeded a church site on

King's Road in what was then Hackensack Township and is now River Road, Teaneck.

The Revolutionary War and a fie in the church resulted in the disbanding of this

congregation. For about 100 years, Lutherans worshipped with the German Reformed

congregation or traveled far away to Union Hill for services in the Lutheran Church.

8

A preaching mission began in Hackensack on May 12, 1895, the first service being held

in Washington Institute on Main and Warren Streets. On Fetnuary 7, 1897, it was agreed

to incorporate as the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Mark's Church Property for the

fnst home of St. Mark's was purchased on 9 Hudson Street early in 1900. The fkst

senrice was held in the unfinished building on Christmas Day, 1901. The original

structure was expanded in 1944.

By 1945, the name of the church was changed to its present title, Gennan services were

discontinued, and regular monthly communion services began. In 1950 the New Jersey

Synod of the Lutheran Church in America was formed and St. Mark's became a member.

On October 18, 1959, dedication ceremonies were held for a new church building at Ross

and Grand Avenues. The present building has one of the oldest pipe organs in Bergen

County.

First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)

Just prior to the turn of the century, children of fixdies in the Fairmount section began

Sunday School worship in Zingsem's barn and at the Lowndes' home. This culminated in

the formation of the Fairmount Union Chapel Association. Later the group became

associated with the Congregational denomination and called itself the First

Congregational Church of Hackensack.

The first church building was located at the southeast corner of Fairmount and Grant

Avenues, growing in membership and church oriented activities as years passed. In 1957

ground was broken for a new church building and parsonage at Summit and Spring

Valley Avenues.

First Church of Cbrist Scientist

Early in the century, several families fiom Hackensack and surrounding towns formed a

Christian Science Society with its first service held on Sunday, March 6, 1904 in the

Eckerson Building. The first testimonial meeting was conducted in Wednesday, March

9, 1904 and a few days later, March 1 4 ~ , a Reading Room was opened in the same

building. More than 200 persons attended the first lecture held in the Armory in

November of that year. In accordance with the Manual of the Mother Church, First

Church of Christ Scientist, Boston, MA, by Mary Baker Eddy, the Society was organized

as First Church of Cbrist Scientist, Hackensack, NJ in April 1905, "designed to

commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate Christianity and

its lost element of healing".

Regular services were later held in .the Junior Order Hall until 1922, when construction

began of a church building at Hamilion Place and Prospect Avenue. The first service in

the new structure was conducted on January 27, 1924. Services and Sunday School are

still being held here on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evening.

Seventh Day Adventist Church

In the summer of 1925, Milton H. St. John, Pastor of the Newark Seventh Day Adventist

Church, conducted evangelistic meetings in a tent on the corner of Main and Ward

Streets. As a result, a group of newly interested persons and r&mbers of nearby

congregations began to meet in Carpenters Hall on Bergen Street. The new church

shared pastor St. John with three other congregations making it more convenient to hold

-

-

services in the afternoon. Prayer meetings on Wednesday evenings and young people's

meetings on Friday evenings were conducted in private homes.

The new building at 106 Euclid Avenue opened in June 1937 with about 65 members.

By then Sabbath School and sermon had been transferred permanently to Saturday

mornings. For several years, an elementary day school was conducted until several

Seventh Day Adventist congregations consolidated to operate a larger ten-grade school in

Waldwick. Miss Elsie Steuer, a charter member in Hackensack, was the named the first

principal.

Temple Betb El

The eleven Jewish families living in Hackensack in 1908 decided that without a

synagogue they could not consider themselves a Jewish community. A plot of land was

purchased at State and Meyer Streets, the Hackensack Hebrew Institute was formed, and

a building fUnd campaign launched. Donations were received and bricks, costing $1 each

were sold fiom subscription books. The cornerstone was laid in 1919 and the building

completed in 1920. The cost of land and building was $35,000.

The Ladies Aid Society, formed in 1921, ran projects for the synagogue and the needy.

The sisterhood, established in 1948, is still in existence, working for the synagogue and

the community.

Some years later, the members decided to build a new synagogue. Property was

purchased at 280 Summit Avenue and a h d drive initiated. The new Temple was

dedicated in 1971. The Eternal Light and a Tablet inscribed with the Ten

Commandments fiom the original building are part of the new Temple Beth El,

Trinity Baptist Church

Members of New Hope Baptist Church organized this church, when a group decided to

leave that church along with Rev. Richard H. Puryear when his pastorate terminated in

January1 970. The new 'church building at 21 8 Passaic Street was completed and

dedicated in 1973.

Other Churches

Serving important fbnctions for those who worship there and of importance to the

community for their humanitarian teachings, are the following additional churches:

Little Bethal Pentecostal

264 Second Street

Bethal Church of God

192 High Street ,

Inns, Taverns. HoteLs and Cafe'% of Hackensack

Inns and taverns have a different meaning today than prior to 1900. Before buses,

trolleys, trains, and planes, the inns and taverns were a necessity and as important to

American culture as the horse and stagecoach of that era. They were considered

important enough to the American way of life that in 1669, the State Legislature ruled

that authorities in each township were to appoint Innkeepers. This was an important

position and the innkeeper was considered a town official. He operated the inn or tavern

in accordance with state rules and regulations. Prices were set for lodging, food and

drink as well as the price for feeding and bedding the horses.

Inns and taverns also served as headquarters for town meetings, voting, jury trials and

any other matters when people assembled. Except for churches, inns and taverns were

the only places large enough for many people to congregate.

Mainly, inns and taverns were the starting point, stop-over point or terminus of the stage

coach lines that criss-crossed the country and were about the only means of getting fiom

one place to another on land. To provide for the comfort of travelers, in 1668 the

Legislature decreed that innkeepers were to have at least two extra good feather beds and

additional house room, beyond their needs; provide stabling and pasturing for horses, and

provide food and shelter for both man and beast. Innkeepers were also responsible for

the sobriety of the patrons. Should one be found guilty of drunkenriess, the innkeeper

was assessed forty shillings that would be used for the poor.

The following rates were set for innkeepers:

Warm dinner - 3 shillings; Cold dinner - 1 shillings; Supper - 1 shilling; B r e a k . - 9

pence; Meadeary wine - 5 shillings; Common wine - 3 shillings; Punch - 1 shilling, 6

pence; gill of rum - 5 pence;Quart of beer - 5 pence; Quart of cider - 5 pence; Quart of

oats - 3 pence; English hay - 2 pence; Salt hay - 9 pence; Lodging - 8 pence; Horse

stabling - 1 shilling.

In contrast to today, prices remained fixed for many years and were uniform throughout

the state. Travelers knew that wherever they stopped all services would be available and

prices would be the same. Many inns and taverns existed in the area that is now the City

of Hackensack. They are listed below in chronological order.

"Mansion House" north of the Green on the northeast comer of Washington Place and

Main Street is not the oldest but the best known. Washington stayed here, then the

private home of Peter Zabriskie. Later it became a tavern, a bank, a hotel and a stopover

for Albany Coach Lines.

"Morris Earle Tavern" located on the southeast corner of Main and Bridge Streets.

Directly across, on the west side at 75 Main Street was the "Doremus Tavernn with stages

going to Hoboken, a three-hour trip with many stops that cost 37 1/2 cents.

South of the Green on Main Street, where the courthouse now stands was "Hackensack

House", Ed Van Beuren, Proprietor. Stages fiom here traveled down the toll road

(Hudson Street) toward Dan Kelley's, Hoboken, Jersey City and New York.

"Archibald Campbell's Tavern", possibly the best known since Washington ate there, was

across the street fiom "Mansion House", on the northwest corner of Moms and Main

Streets (later Union House).

"Vanderbeck Tavern" was part of the original Oritani Field Clubhouse and may still be

standing behind the more modem buildings.

"Hackensack Tavern" was located on the east side of Main Street near Salem and was

operated by Isaac Vanderbeck. The stagecoach lines going to Paterson, Ridgewood,

Suffern and points north used the Uplper Road (now Passaic Street).

"Adam Boyd's Tavern" was north of Bergen Street on the west side of Main Street. Later

it was Scrivani's Fruits & Vegetables.

"Dawson Row", a tavern on the south side of Morris Street just west of Main, was a

favorite spot for those who preferred oysters and ale.

"Wulffs Tavern" and "New Bridge Inn" were also stagecoach stops. bh~lffs was on the

southwest corner of Johnson Avenue and Orchard Street and the New Bridge Inn was at

the turn in the road and close to the road in New Bridge.

"Smith's Hotel1' was on the northwest corner of Main and Camden Streets. It was a large,

three story building that was tom down in the middle or late 1920's.

"The LeRoy House" was located on the southwest comer of Passaic and Main Streets and

later became Arnold Constable's.

"Susquehanna Hotel" was on the west side of Main Street between Mercer .and the

railroad. It was quite prominent in its time, where more than one president dined.

"Ryan's Cdi" was located north of the tracks on the east side of Main Street and later

was occupied by N. J. Title Insurance Co.

"Morton House" is listed in ads as being at 307 and 327 Main Street. It apparently was

popular in both locations.

"Cottage Hotel", "Schneiders Hotel", or "The Cottage" as it was listed at various times

was located at 320 Main Street.

"Union House" was at 90 Main Street with John Schneider as proprietor. The Union

League Club was in the same building on Main and M o d Streets.

The "Ofice Hotel" was on the east side of Main Street next to Romaine's, midway

between Mercer and Demarest Place.

"The Fairmount Hotel" operated by E. Lepine was shown as being at 824 Main Street and

Voorhis Lane and should not be confbsed with the large Fairmount Hotel on Summit

Avenue opposite Elm, that existed in the middle and late 1800's.

Some of those mentioned above were in operation during the late 1600 and 1700's.

Others were popular during most of the 1800's. Several existed into the 1900'~~ but by

1930 most were just a memory. None were preserved for posterity. The only building

still remaining is on the corner of Morris and Main, originally a bank.

As of June 23, 1816, taverns supplied a different kind of "service". John Dodd stopped at

the Vanderbeek Tavern and made the following announcement:

"Fellow citizens, I am here for the purpose of securing information that may be fbmkhed

as to the changes which may have taken place in the assessable property of individuals

since the last assessment made under the act of June 9, 18 15, which information must be

given in writing under the signature of the person whose tax may be affected thereby.

First, assemble property omitted to be assessed. Second, transfer of real estate and

slaves. Third, change of residence. Fourth, burning or destruction of houses or other

fixed improvement. Fifth, slaves that have been born or have dies or have run away or

they have otherwise become useless sirlce the preceding assessment."

The honor system in levying taxes! John Dodd must have learned mdny interesting bits

of gossip while visiting the various taverns. Not only was the method of taxing different,

but the turnpike road system of the 1800's was also different. When the turnpike fiom

Hackensack to Hoboken was established in October 1802, among the provisions set forth

were that "it shall be lawfd for the toll gatherer to stop any person riding, leading or

driving any horse, cattle, mule, sheep or hogs, or carriage or pleasure fiom passing

through said gates until they respectively paid the toll specified. Provided that nothing in

this act shall be construed as to entitle said corporation to demand and receive toll of or

for any person except passing to or fiom public worship or to or fiom any mill to which

he may resort for the grinding of grain for his family use, or horses or caniages solely

convening persons to or Grom his common business on his farm or any d i man

passing to or fiom any training of muster day." The toll mentioned as "above" actually

read" :

"For every score of sheep, hogs or calves, 20 cents

A score of cattle, horses or mules, 40 cents

A horse and rider, or led horse or mule, 9 cents

A carriage drawn by two beasts, 25 cents

For every additional beast, if not exceeding four in whole number, 15 cents each

If not exceeding six, 1 8 cents each

If not exceeding eight, 25 cents each

For every sleigh or sled drawn by one beast, 9 cents

For every additional beast, 3 cents each"

Another interesting part of the enactment read "All wagoneers and drivers of carriages of

all kind, whether burden or pleasure, using the said road ... keep their horses and

carriages on the left hand of the said road ..." Also interesting is that in 1915 the toll

gates of Bergen County were abolished after a service of 1 13 years. The idea was to save

the taxpayers money by having, for example, the Bergen Pike become State Route N.lO.

It was a wooden plank road, a toll road, county road and then state highway, having gone

through the epochs fiom stagecoach to trolley line, and then autos.

In the early history of New Barbadoes 'T'ownship and the Village of I-lackensack, there

were hotels of prominence that were an important part of north Jersey. I was able to get

pictures of some of them. These hotels were well krlown in this area during the period

beginning 1750 to 1900. Some were still active during the early 1900's such as the

Mansion House and Smith's Hotel.

One of the most popular during its period was the limous Susquehanna Ilotel. located on

the west side of Main Street between Mercer Street and the railroad. Records indicate

that at least four United States Presidents dined there - Grant, McKinley, Tafl, and

Wilson, as well as many celebrities such as Horace Greeley and Mark Twain. For those

of you who are not aware of it - Ilackensack was always considered the outstanding

social, educational and cultural ~ e c c a of north Jersey.

Mansion House

This structure built in 175 1 was the home of Peter Zabriskie. George Washington made

this his headquarters during his retreat ii-on1 Fort Lee in 1776. The building was enlarged

at a later date and became a Hotel and 'Favern. It was a stop on tlle stagecoach line from

Albany to New York and thc birthplace of a bank and many fraternal organizations. It

faced the Green, looking south h m thc corner of Main Strcct and Washington Place. It

was demolished in October 1945, over tilany objeclio~s.

,

Revolutionary War plans were discussed in the living room of this historic house with

Generals Greene, Putnan~. Mad Anthony Wayne. Ligllt Horse Harry Lee, Poor, Mercer

and Heath as well as [he great and imposing General George Washington.

The Fairmount Hotel

This fine structure faced Elm Avenue looking east. It was located on the west side of

what is now Summit Avenue, what was then Prospect Avenue, bounded on the north by

Spring Valley Avenue, on the soutl~ by Fairmount Avenue and extended to the pond of

the Coles Brook.

ith's i!ni;~l

r. !?a i n Z. Carn,jPrl

Industrv and Manufacturing

In 1834, Hackensack boasted of 150 dwellings, 1000 inhabitants, 3 churches, 2

academies, 1 boarding school for girls, 10 shops, 3 inns or taverns, 2 paint factories, 1

coach maker, 2 tanneries, 2 hatters, 3 blacksmiths, and 4 shoemakers. No doubt there

was more industry than that mentioned above that fails to include: river traffic that was

very active; fanning activity, mostly Hackensack melons and strawberries; clay, brick

and pottery business that was then flourishing; grist and saw mills; stagecoach lines, the

mode of transportation at that time; a pyrotechnist on the triangle at Main and Essex

Streets; and many coal and lumber companies.

Hackensack, then known as New Barbadoes, was beginning to be the business hub of

Bergen County and all types of shaps and stores began to open on Front Street, or later

known as Main Street. Butchers, bakers and candlestick makers sprang up all along the

main thoroughfare. There were few vacant spots on either side of Main Street fiom

Essex to Passaic. On Saturday evenings, people fiom all over the county came to

Hackensack to shop on Main Street. In 1861, the increase in pedestrian traffic

necessitated replacing the boards and planks, used as sidewalks, with flagstones.

Records indicate that the original Anderson Street Bridge was erected in 1858. At that

time, the mid 1800's, Bergen County was known agriculturally for Hackensack melons

and strawberries. The melons became nationally famous. They wire about 8 to 10

inches in diameter by 10 to 12 inches long with deep ridges. They were light tan in color

when ripe. In 1858 alone, more than 11 00 wagons passed through the tollgates on the

way to market with 1,500,000 baskets of strawberries. In later years, corn, tomatoes, and

celery became Bergen's main crops and Paramus became the celery capitol of the east.

In 1862, railroad trains began to reach Hackensack, terminating at Essex Street. Later

they extended hrther north. The year 1869 brought street lighting, by gas, to Main Street

but on moonlit nights they were not lit. Water came to Hackensack in 1869 by way of a

gravity feed line h m the reservoir located at the crest of Cherry Hill, that is now the

corner of Bogart Road and Reservoir Avenue. Telephones were introduced to

Hackensack in 1882 with the establishment of a switchboard at 175 Main Street and by

1900, the number of subscribers reached 225.

Some of the earliest industries to locate here included the Thoma Jewelry Factory located

on the Heights, just north of Central Avenue. Dwellings for the factory workers were

moved to what is now Third Street.

Earle's General Store was located on the east comer of Hudson and Main, about the site

of the present Administration Building. On the southeast corner of Main and Court was

the Robert Campbell General Store and later occupied by George Halstead, one of the

earliest merchants, as "The Bazaar".

On the comer of Main and Bergen Streets was a carriage factory, blacksmith and paint

shop. On the other corner was Vanderbeek's Tailor Shop that also housed the Post Office

fiom 1857 on.

Banta Brothers, formerly Moms Earle's Tavern was located on the southeast comer of

Main and Bridge. On the northeast corner was "House of Flowers".

On March 1 1, 1864, a meeting was held at the Washington Institute to devise measures to

protect the village l?om fires. The outcome was the Hackensack Volunteer Fire

Department. In April 1888, Dr. St. John held a meeting with Mr. W. M. Johnson to

propose a hospital being built in Hackensack. Within a month all prominent persons in

town backed the plan.

Trolleys began running in 1893 on Hudson Street, the old turnpike toll road. This line

ran &om Littk Ferry up Hudson Street, Main Street and as fir as the northern boundary

of Hackensack at Coles Brook. In 1899, the line east and west fiom Fort Lee began

operating .

Starting at the northern boundary was the saw and gristmill of Tuenes Cok at Coles

Brook. Between Willow and Catalpa was the Borden estate and just south of that on First

Street was Krone's School Supply factory and all of the properties that were purchased

fiom G. N. Zingsem about 1800. On Summit (then Prospect), facing Elm Avenue, was

the Fairmount Hotel that operated fiom 1870 until it burned in about 1895.

The real estate office of Wm. SlulTix-was located on Main and Elm and almost opposite

on Main and Johnson was the real estate office of Burlew. Just south, on the corner of

the park at Main and Cross Streets, stood the branch Post Office and across the street was

Shubert's Delicatessen. On the west side of Main Street, south of the railroad, was Mrs.

Shultz' candy and stationery store and F. B. Trossback's butcher shop. Across the street

was the Campbell Wallpaper Company factory that employed hundreds of workers.

Farther down on the east side was Gus the Barber, John the Baker and Cornmarato's Shoe

Repair shop.

Hackensack had several blacksmith shops and the one I know best was Pop Poole's shop

just east of where Euclid, River and Hackensack Avenue join. An inlet fiom the river

came almost up to River Street. It would take reams of paper to write of all the

businesses in Hackensack, as it was the hub of Bergen County. There were at least five

or six well known hay, coal, feed and lumber companies, both large and small, and many

good hardware stores.

The area along the river fiom Little Ferry to River Edge had depths of clay h r n ten to

eighty-five feet. Consequently, fiom the year 1813, when Z a W e began making bricks

at New Bridge to the present time, brickmaking and pottery has thrived. Large

companies included: Shafer & Hamilton in 1853; Moses and Sears in 1860, bought out

by Schmults in 1869 and operated until 1920; the Mehrhof Bros., then Gardeners, then

Hatfield and Walsh, succeeded by the Hackensack Brick Company. Ferber also had a

brickyard as well as some others.

In addition to the large Campbell Wallpaper and Krone's School Supply fkctories, both in

Fairmount section, there were other industrial plants. The Fairmount Bottling works was

located on Voorhis Lane with 0. H. Krause, proprietor, having a liquor store and office at

820 Main Street. For several years, Mrs. Mau&eeoperated-*:General Store at 840 Main

Street and the greenhouses of Gordon occupied an entire square block on Catalpa Avenue

and the Borden and Shubert estates took in large areas as did Korn's on Summit Avenue.

William Johnson's home stood on the northeast corner of Main and Anderson and the

land extended east to the river and north to Euclid Avenue.

The large Hydeia Ice Plant on Railroad Avenue and Gamewell Street provided pure,

clean, sparkling ice to all of Bergen County. Owned and operated by John Stickel until

1922 when he sold to Holly and Smith Company. The large brick plant of Ackerrnan &

Son, Sashes and Blinds was located on the corner of Moore and Mercer. This was later

the site of Pratt's Scalicide and Insecticide Plant. Until 1880, there was a gristmill at 126

Main Street owned and operated by Vanderbeck Parke.

In 1879, Givemands Silk business operated in the large brick building they erected on

East Broadway. The plant employed about 300 people operating 200 looms and

produced a million and a half yards of silk annually. In 191 0 they sold the business to the

Schwarsenbach Huber Company.

Fairmount in Particular

Hackensack, similar to other cities, has sections with descriptive names such as

"The Risersn, "The Heights", "Dublin", and "Fairmount". Fairmount is that area north of

Poplar Avenue and is selected by me because that is where I resided fdr the past seventy

years and about which I am most familiar.

Until 1890, this part of Hackensack as well as the southern portion of River Edge was

known as "Cherry Hill". For a few brief years before that, the area was known as

"Zingsem" because Mr. Zingsem owned most of that land. Mr. Zingsem was the

architect for the world-renowned Fairmount Park in Philadelphia. A good portion of the

land in the northern section of Hackensack was used for growing shrubs and trees of all

kinds. These were shipped by railroad and planted in Philadelphia Park. The area thus

became known as "Fairmount" in the late 1800's.

Until about 1925, half of Fairmount was f8nnland. Businesses in the area included

Campbell's Wallpaper factory, Krone's School Supply factory, about six gas stations, a

few general stores, a school, a church and a great many large, old homes each occupying

a square block or more. Greenhouses on Catalpa Avenue occupied an entire square

block, the Schubert estate occupied a block on Summit and Catalpa and the Borden estate

was about the size of three square blocks. Several taverns dotted the region, even during

prohibition. Mauthe's General Store was at 840 Main Street. Shubert's Deli was opposite

Fairmount Park and just south of the tracks was Trossback's Butcher Shop and Mrs.

Schultz' store. Shaffers and Berlews Real Estate offices were long a part of Fairmount,

one on Main and Elm and the other on Main and Johnson. Zhgsem built estates on Elm

Avenue, each occupying a square block. A few still remain and on Summit Avenue (then

Prospect) facing Elm, was the large and stately Fairmount Hotel extending north to

Spring Valley and west to the brook.

Layers and layers of asphalt have covered the trolley tracks that once ran down the center

of Main Street. Most of the streets have been renamed so that few would recognize them

by their old names. One bank is located where Berlew's Real Estate office once stood

and another bank is on Main and Zabriskie where my brother once owned a gas station.

Today the firehouse is located opposite the site of the old firehouse where the Union

Hose Company had a horse drawn wagon. Main Street, no longer a through street, is

dead-ended on the north by Route 4. Johnson Avenue is the only through street going

north and becomes Kinderkamack Road as it nears the River Edge boundary.

More information on Fairmount can be found in my booklet entitled "Fainnount 1915".

SchooLs of Hackensack

It would not be right to compile a history of Hackensack without having a chapter dealing

with the schools. The schools have been one of the city's outstanding values as a cultural

center of North Jersey.

A complete Historical Record of Hackensack Schools was written by me as one of the

fxst projects of my retirement. It required five years of my time and energies and it

would not be proper to try to put all of this work into a short summary. It is suggested

that you review a copy at any one of the school libraries or the Johnson Public Library.

Should you wish to purchase a copy of this 170-page book, complete with pictures and

sketches, you can do so at any of the school offices as long as the supply lasts.

George M. Scudder

There were a great many Indian tribes in North America. Those east of the Mississippi

River were the Allegheny, Mohawks, Lenape, Mengwe, Iroquois, Algonquin, etc. The

Mengwe and others located near the Great Lakes while the Lenapes progressed eastward

to the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers, then to New Jersey. Subtribes of the Lenapes

were the Delawares, the Achkinheshacky and Raritans who settled in south Jersey and the

Espous who went Mher south. All were roving tribes with no bounds but the

Achkinheshecky (spelled many different ways) finally settled in Hackensack and

remained.

Each village was a government unto itself; having a Chief and counselors who

contributed to decision making. However, the women of the Delawares and other tribes

were the authority in their own homes and had some say in village affhirs as well. Within

a village most W i e s were related to one another and spoke a language understood by

other Lenape groups.

Their homes varied l?om one-room bark huts used primarily for sleeping to huts or

wigwams in a round shape with a dome-shaped roof Others were oblong with a

ridgepole and sloped roof All had a hole in the roof as a chimney for the fire constantly

smoldering on the earthen floor. There were no windows and the only opening was a

doorway covered with a flap of animal skins. Furniture was mad'e fiom tree limbs

covered with animal skins, with steps along the wall used as seats and beds. The Indians

never considered themselves to be owners of the land they lived on. They simply

"borrowedn land the time they needed it because they had too great a respect of nature to

regard water and soil as personal possessions.

When weather permitted, the Lenni Lenapes gathered at an outdoor fire in fiont of their

hut where they made their simple utensils using clay for pots, wood for bowls, stones for

knives, and clam shells for spoons. Usually a M y ate out of one pot, using their

fmgers. Some ~lleat and vegetables were skewered on sticks and roasted over the hot

embers. To preserve food for winter they dug pits, lined them with straw, then arranged

corn, beans, nuts and other perishables in them. The pit was then covered with bard.

They also dried corn on the cob and hung the ears by their husks across the ceiling pole,

along with other vegetables, roots, and herbs used for medicine.

Their clothing was simple consisting of animal skins, feathem and plant fibers sewn

together with tough grass using sharp bones to make holes in the hides and stone knives

to cut and shape the skins. The triis suffered ftom the same viruses, colds, aches and

pains that we do today and they ciid some interesting doctoring to cure them. Lndians

believed that all ills came fiom evil demons that entered their bodies. When they were

sick they asked the medicine man to fiighten the demons away. The medicine man

would arrive dressed in a grotesque costume and wearing a hideous mask to terrorize the

demons. First he would engage in wild and unusual dance movements to drive out the

bad spirits and then he would prescribe medicine made fiom herbs, roots and barks in

accordance with old tribal recipes.

OHATAM

,

Senior Saganlore arid Sacheni

O L' t he I-lackensack l ndians

This great Sergen County nutivc was bog-n in 1577 on tlic Overpeck (Awapaugh) Creek.

He was supposed to llave died in 1666, the year Governor Philip Carteret sent Captain

Treat to Hackensack to cscort tlic C h i d to Newark where a deed to tlie present site of that

city was prepared for his signature. Due to his old age lie never made tlie trip. He

probably died in August 1669 when I'crewyn. called Chief I-lans by the Dutch, became

Sachem o f t he I lackensack. Tappan and Staten Island Indians.

During his lifetime, Oratan] saw tlic lirst white scltlers when they laded on Manhattan

Island and lie lived to see a lastitig peace between the natives and tlie white settlers.

During all the trying years, the mighty Oratam was trusted and respected by the

Governors of New Amsterdam arid their English successors.

In the 1600's the Colonial Dutch settlers of New Jersey were shrewd traders and

businessmen but the local Indians had at least one able leader who could meet them on

even terms. He was Oratam, Chief of the Hackensack tribe, a notable man in his day.

His profile is shown on the 1976 Bicentennial Medallion and through the years has been

used as a symbol of the City of Hackensack.

He was an able debater who quickly recognized that the Dutch were not particularly

interested in bloodshed or fighting. By using his knowledge and influence among his

own people and often-irritable neighboring tribes, Oratam was able to negotiate some

shrewd bargains with the settlers, including the b u s Peter Stuyvesant of Manhattan.

Liquor was very popular with rnany Indians and the Dutch made an all out attempt to

prevent its sale to the natives. One law, strictly enforced, kept a . Indian in jail until he

revealed the name of the seller so that he could be prosecuted. The Netherlanders,

however, were somewhat tolerant and had w objections to Indians drinking in remote

places in the woods where they were not apt to endanger others with knives or guns.

Long before the advent of the 18" Amendment to the Constitution, Oratam became the

New World's first Prohibition Agent. His 1622 Commission fiom the Dutch read in part:

"Whereas, Oratam, Chief of the Hackinghesacky, and other savages have complained

... that selfish people. ..do carry whole ankers of brandy into their country and peddle it

out there, fiom which, it is not prevented in time, rnany troubles will arise, therefore the

Director-General and Council of New Netherland, not knowing for the present a better

way to stop it, authorize said Chief to seize the brandy. ..and those ofking to sell it and

bring them here that they may be punished as an example to others."

As Chief of the Hackensacks, Oratam was a prudent and wise leader who could be

decisive when others prompted war and was highly regarded by the Dutch rulers as well

as his fellow Indians. Oratam lived to the age of 90, a few years after the British took

over this area fiom the Dutch

Indian life was obviously affected by the arrival of Europeans. The settlers brought

diseases that the Indians were not immune to into Bergen County. The newcomers

cleared the forests to provide wood to build New York City and to supply logs for heat.

In their way of life, Indians, our first ecologists only took what they needed fiom nature.

The settlers were saddened that the Indians eventually found it necessary to leave this

area.