1967 Vol. 1 January

Thefollouirg aas published. as a seri,es i.nthe Fassai,e Herald-News" It was preparedfot CongressrnanCltailes S. Joelson by James J. DeMa.ri,o, & rneynbeT of th.e Passaic County Histotri,cal Society. Congressmq.n ,Ioetson made the hi.stwy a part of the Congvessional Recotrd FIRS? SHHfLEX.---frtRs:#t# PirRCHasE r}I hToRrHr the papermills in Delawanna. This was Passaic History also the ste*ge coach days. lfhen carn€ Due to ttre area being so full of early the Morris Canal which skirted Passaic EXTENSION OF R,E$IAF,KS setbler and Revol*tionarT history, X &rn and pennitted more commeree with OF proud to g'iVe herein sorne brief hieh- otkrer areas. Merctrants and travelers lights on bottr, plus its most unusus,l ln- stopped at and went through Acquack- FISN.CFSARLES S"S*HtS*rq dustial and commerciai develop::nent. anonk Landing where there were tav- OF' NE.w .IERSEY tseing at the head of rlver navigation sur- eilIs, small hotels, or roorning houses. rN TI{E FIOUSE OF R,EPRESENTATI\rES round.ed with forested roilins hills for TETE RAILE.OAD ERA 'was Tuesriav, JarLu.ary tr7, i9E7 hunting, fistring, and farsning, it With the railroad era starting in the quickly inhabited by the ear'ly llutch at Mr. JOELSON. Mr. Speaker, members 1S30's, the commerciai business traders, farmers, and explarers frorn New awalr 8,s of the Passaic County Historical Society Acguackanonk Landing dropped *&rrrsterdarn and C omnnunipaw-now Jer- being made the suggestion of including his- the stagecoaches and boats were the sey Clty-seeicing to extend their fur Acquack- tory of the lower part of Passaic County fcrced to -d.isccnfinue, although trading or f;nding better far,mlands. Sne as a peace- which until LB3? had been part of Essex anonk ?ownship continued. cf thme was l{artrman Miehiels+-or farming community as it County, the upper county until that tirne ful and rich VreelanC-who is believed tCI ha.ve beeu years, farms being being part of Sussex and Bergen Coun- did for nearly L50 the the firs,t whlte man to have set foot uxron, owners were ties. The lower part was settled earlier the finest in the State and purchased lanrd, and setLled in what is pleasure regatas, and has unusual historical and corruner- rich men. But bcating, nolp lanown as the city of Fassaic, form- Pas- cial history of its own, particularly Ac- and excursions increased and the erXy Acquaekanonk. He found a weltr- of East's lead- quackanonk Landing, now part of ttre saic P"iver beea.me one the organized anC established Algonquin ing bs'eting playgrouncls. eity of Passaic, which wes the largest Tribe fndian village at what is now Pas- shipping port of North Jersey, being ?he Faterson & Iludson River llail the saic'S WaIl Street across frorn what was bie upper most point of navigation and af RoaC $/as c'rganiaed !n 1S31. Ttre known as Dundee fsbnC. But they were wagcits that had b::ought to this dock- importa.nt crossroads, with at one tirne not living ln transi--r,u-rywigrarns but in the oniy bridge over the entire length of age ares ircn ores, lurnber, and timbet cabins made of timbers covered witfl busi- the Pa^ssaic River. Much credit is due fram upstate ceased their frips and €Fass. Arr oid Indian suggested tha,t first James J. De Mario of Passaic, who helped ness dropped. It was one of the Michielse set up a, trading trcst on the railroads country, and operated prepare this history, a,s well as fu ihe in fhe island, which. he did irnmediately after Paterson Passaic County Historical Society of at flrst between Passaic and setting the deed April 4, 16?8, ihe fisst horse first until the ste'arn which he is a member. but drawtt at buildine by a white man i.n the ?assaic engine aruived from Engiand. People GEORGE \nIASIIINGTOI{ SAVED City area* Evidenee of InCian fishing fax and wide heard of this ne$r trair And what is most important is that actilrity ean be seen today frona several 'lVashington and were curious to see this new meth- George was saved with his V-shape rours of large stonss &cross the od of traveling. The fi.rst day was a army at this seme point on his retreat river" great succe$s, being witnessed by great from Fort Lee. Capt. John Post, a lrcal BEGII\r}ITI\rG OF' ACQII'ACg.ATVOIqK LAI\IDTI{G. crowds, some coming from as far awaJ man in his army, d,estroyed the forneer Early setflers after taming $riid In- as Sussex. Enterpri-sing Yankees o1 pursuing bridge, cutting off the Britistr. -dians and wilderness turned to com- IrTewark did a profitable business con- If Washington had i:een caught, wB me.rce by harnessing water in the many veying parttes by boat bo Paterson over would have lost our indeBendenee. This strllams i,o pc.ril'er rga.ny lumber and grist the Morris Canal, and there board the spot has historical markers, but it would 'event raitrtrs and for shipping. Then, several train to Passaic for their fi.rst train ride, seem the enorriity of the merits papbr rniIls were established sometirne even if Frorse-driven, a.nd me4)' had tc rxrore. Then, Washi.ngton and his ftlen after, one about 1SIS was the Wtriting sit on the soach rcofs. At the peak ol camped up the hill in bhe church yards. Paper So.-stiII ln existence-where the railroad era, there were four steam the armies-max1e use sev- ^&fter that cf I\{elville Curtis, father of the owners of railroads serving Passaic- Years later, eral fords, in pariicular, one at Dela- Saturday Evenins Post and Ladiest SIome the State's first trolley car line was oper- wa.nna Robertsfcrd, both in ating Fassaic limits- and, one at . JournaX, m*de paper, and another !\ras wiihin the the Fassaie atea. Later, Curing one year, the ICingsland Papermill, both in Dela- all the famous offieers of the Arnerican w-all]]'a. DUnnDE***?ffi;#:H;*" or cN,EAr lLrmy were wifhin the borders of Saddle RrqER BIAT, STAGECOACFT, CATYAT., BARGE, F[lver Township a.cross the river from RATI,BOAO, TBA].+SFBR PONCT The business stagnation at Acquacka- Acquackanonk. Elere is where the Passaic iverfront, nonk Iranding was more than offset a IIm,Sr cItIItcII-}:Gr€T ClB,}[E:t:ExrT' knowrr as Asquacka.nank L,anding, be- few years iaier with benefits to the en- At this same s3rot, known as Acquacka- caule famous a,s the largest shipping tire Passaic &rea. when the Dundee Dam nonk I*anding, ttrere ls the frrst ctruret, port in Ncrth Jersey for farm, forest, was eonstructed, to provide water and in *ssalc Gounty srith ttre frrst cegr'e- a*d mine products, and later for waier power for new industries which tefy and bmrials of f;:st settlers. Efere Alexander Efamiltcn's "Paterson-made with the raiiroads brought about the elso 2$S or 300 feet a-wa,ywas the counffs g6ds" wegorrLed to passaic for shipping. greatest industrial expansion in Passaic's was turned over first distrist school used for nearly ?SS Incideniailn Passaic came within the history. Lush farmland probably to indr.lstry and workers' houses, anC years until 3.8?0, longer than 3$-square-mile area set up by llamil- frrst.store, ffrst bv- rural rvater-powered saw and gist mills any other; also the ton s Society of TIsefuI Manufsgfursr's- ern in the eounty, and the first Sunday gave way to larger operating units, wi|h this S{IM. Here was alsc the frrst and on}y industries and population spilling over school in 6he St*te. More about junction 'Wallingbon, rrynarkable area foll*ws to satis# *he bridse Gves the river anqi ihe into Ctrifion, afld Garfield, desirres of mernbers reprewnting plo:rser of several turnpikes" scms t*II. the Fiank earning f+r Passaic and its environs at fa"mitries qnd n€wer Emes ln my *ieetive R*ad to $ew Y*rk, EEeffihu.rg T"u:srpike, cile tiru,e "the most progressive, energetic *ctr-r-i*nr.rff r*erts* f* F€s.clrevr.qsae.k T.$'i.*ia F'**,TIg- r*rrC .tg: and in:shi.ng *rlmrirunity in the couniry'" N3'W INDI'STRIES ON DIfNDEE CANAI, the largest manufacturer .ikey of duek for 911e. of . the largest. sfarted. il The railroad broqgb.t in a different high pressure tires and Acheson Ilarden Maine in 1g?0 and are kind $uill a tJmry of business and shifted the com- was the world,s targest handka,chief owned cornpany with a. fi.fth-generati6r mercial center from -il Acquaekanonk is one of the largest manufacturers family president, a.n inOustriat-mar-vef Landing i:rland away from of the water_ industrial rubber products and eropera.tion a.nd resourcefulness. front and increased travel. But tholare- l\,itl the real esi ma.kers of rubber-bonded the,recent d€veloprnent of piastic iiquii stimulus started wit*r the compleiion abrasive of wheels and one of the 1argest containe,rs, they now aisc make the Dundee Canal and makers of tfrei: Darn in 1959 bowling balls. Ttie passaic own and for other compa.nies using plas, whieh was begun by the area is one oi Dundee Man_ the sountry,s largest tic botties. With the advent ot ufacfuring: Co., owned rubber manufactui_ *rJiuto by SIIIVI and mg eenters. The crushing panics mobile, Prescott also designed pio, mother of Passa^ic'sindustries of 1g?9, a"r* established 1893, 1929, \Mith competiiion d}ced the prescoti St.jmer, in 1832, and later through and iariiij maiii", fire efforts of h-ave taken a heaw alout ?00 of them, whiah at Etlward toll of some of the ttte turn- o J.

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