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. C. Atterbury. A, special act companies. This area has the.€entury was good prociuction. f,oll pa,ssed S"ebruary _order aJmost 12, l85g, by the New lost its wool,.cotton, bleaehery, anO while it seerned ttrat passaic woutA be Jersey Iregislature iranA_- r authorized the buitd- kerchief business. "Detroit" as about the same time J, p ing of Dundee Canal and Dam with locks. PtANr OWNE&SHIPS ljange, inventor and chief ensineer for and so forth to provide a navigation link Botany Worsrted Idle plants have been Mills, was proAucini from the Passaic Riyer at passaic to saved due to the some radiea^l designs continual growttrr of industry of experimenta Paterson, but this plan was never ful- here. 'horseless buggres" starting I{opj qf the ptants idled by h fg9g. TAt fllled. dectining use Pantasote Leather Co., of their products or plant transfer which originalli Ttre flow of this canal starts at a high have made a patented leatherlike been flIied wiih numerous small eirriaei da,m forming Dundee LaJPassaic River, providing \ €,ter over by cornicrs and ceilings the New York Steam Engine to sophisticatec and power to the new plants rvhich were Co., and control and computer when that eompany failed, plant eubicles. Tbe Gar_ built along the canai. Ttie flrst plant the was den State Pp,per to taken over by the New .5rork Co. is the country,s fi.rsl be built was the Star I'oundry Belting & reconditioner of papei. & Ma- Packing Co. as plant newsprint ah( chine Co., 1859, and an annex to its several rubber companies others following main one then in this s,res were: lJew York Steam at Sandy Hook, Conn., h.ave switched Engine Co., 1869: the annex later from natura,l rubber k Reid & Barry, 1869; becoming the main plant. syntbetie rubberlike pol3'rners Waterhouse Bros.. ?he Forstmann plant p. and tc lextiles, 18?0; New York pack- was sold to J. various tlpes pla.stics Belting & Stevens, progressive of to reach mo.re ing Co., 1882, ilr. and Okonite, a and m.arkets, produce products, Connecticut, 1846, now going purchased improved or part of United company, was by Ling- to reduce States Rubber; Jacob L. Temco costs. Some of the essentiai oil Basch, textile; Ammidown Vought as an active acquisition. manufaoturers Bros., textile: The planb have entered. the new and Okoniie C.o., 18?B; Okonite was built on the un- more profi.table Dund.ee Textile Co.: finished vita.min fleld. It was un- Clifton Paper Mills; Andrew foundations of a then-new rub- fortunate that gr.eai McLean Co.. ber eompany plant the woolen mills netting; Botany Wors.ted Mills, 1eg0i to be known as the here did not o.peraie long New York & Boston enougtr to take Passaic Print Works, Manhattan print ll,ubber Co. to con- advantage of the solidate the plants newer wool like syn- Works, Pantasote Leather Co., Forst- of the newly merged theiic fibers. New York Belting & paeking Co. of pas- mann & Iluffman Co., worsted, and oth- PASSATC AA,EA ASRICI'ITB'g,AL saic and Sandy PN,ODI'CTS ers. Some of these are no longer in Hook, Conn., and the Boston Belting Co. Besides ma,nufadiuring, this area had existance and some ha.ve merged with of Boston. both Goodyear lieensees, but the plan a! oubstanding agricultural reputation, o'thers and charrged names. was AHred dropped due to the severe depression Speer had ex-fensive vineyards in OTIIER, OI,D AND NE]Jy PLANTS NOT ON CANAI, Passaic that followed. Later, the Okonite and Aihenia, produced rnuch of Tlxere plants Co. D.nebest were other built that did took over the once-idled adjacent native wines and sherries in this not need canal Wa- country. passalc facilities, some built about terhouse tsros. piant. A number He also named which the same time of was previously and some later, some hav- other plants mentioned in paragraphs known as Acquackanonk, ing ceased operating and published passaic's or ehanged narnes. above have merged or had been first newspaper, Some of these acquired p"ichfieid, are: Acheson Ha.rden Co.. by other eompanies. Manhattan In Oarlton ltill and golOlnt J. L. Prescott Rub- Co., Waldrich Bleachely, ber took over the adjacent plant & Atkins had tfte country's l,argest rose Paterson paper of the nurseries. -Parchnent Cc., the Brighton Mills which had moved Richfieid also at one tisre Manhattan ll,ubber south. supplied Manufacturing Co., fn it were several lessees, including De- the l\Tation with horseradish. Gera Mills, wool; New ABOUT Jersey Worst€d' Forest Radio rvhere television was bortr. TETE PASSATC RIIBBER INDI,STRY Spinning Co., Heyden Chemical Co.. Rob- BEMA&I(AILE RI'BBtn, pr,aNTA_ INDUSTRES Crrlyeanl IISRE F'aMrrlts, !:RST ins Conveying Belt Co., Brighton Mills. TIOI{, II/ELLESI.EY COLLTGE, TTBST From all the companies listed above, YII/CA tire duck; Robertsford Spinning Co.; ^. The Okonite later Samuel it is evident that the passaic ex- and Manhattan Rubber Hird, wool; Magor Car Co.. -area Cos., were fa,mily Algonquin Mills, textile; pitkin-Holds- ceeded at some time in the production of ofishoots of the Betting & paeking worbh, textile; Passaic Cotton Mills, wool spinning and weaving, in industrial !1"* lork Co. Richardson nrbber products, textile finishing, hand- Fq*w Tgttu Dur&nt, a senior member of Scale Co., Garfleld Worsted Enrs rubber-manufacturlng Milis, Hammersley paper kerchiefs, sfove polish, and bleach famw, and Co., first wa- and John l{aven terproof Falstrorn other household products, oileloth, wa- Cheever, riot of this idmify, ; Co., Givaudan Corp.. both operated Passaic Metalware Co., now part terlrroof paper, types of grinding wheels, the earlier Roxbury Ru6_ of Con- ber Co. founded in tinental Can; Athenia Steel submarine electric cables, netting, drugs 1g3d in Eoston-as the Co., Stand- ffrst chartered. rubber a-rd Goodiatte Oitcloth and cosmetics, and particularly convey- company in arnei_ E1eachery, Co., ica at the dawn of the rubbei Standard Oitcloth Co. There were many ing maehines as several basie fypes were industrl,. Later, both Durant others, large and smaltr among oid and developed here, some of these being: and Cheever inco$ro- packlng newer plants, but these indicate the belt, bucket, portable, continuous weigh- rated the New York tselting & spread of industry. Elere are some of ing, pelletized, and fluid. As a volume Co., solely owned by both with equai the most prominent among the new in indicator for fhis area, aecording to an shares. Mr. and Mrs. Durant founded. the Passaic area, indicating a further analysis of distribution of industrial sup- Weliesiey College and Mrs. Durant was plies spread in variety but mostiy results of by the American Supply & Machin- first president of the YWCA in tsoston. ery Manufacturers newer technoiogy: DuMont-Fairchi1d, Association, pur- I\{AN}IA?TAN AND OINew Jersey Tercentenary early events, or they themselves had Brazil lost its hold on rubber. Manhat- Commission, headed New Jersey Turn- known oidtirners who had direct or eye- pike ta^n withdrew from Nicaragua when it Commission, Chairman S. H. Kress witness information of their times, even & Co., had obtained a going plantation in 1910 ehairma,n of New Jersey Man- to the Revolutionary period, and were in Java with a better grorving atmos- ufacturers Association, member of Gov- able to provide Scott with documentary phere. The Okonite Co. also established ernors Commission for More South material they had preserved. a rubber plantation in British Guiana t:r American Trade, made close ruD. for Governor. 1911 at the time of the "foreign" squeeze There vr'eremany oihers, lik6 Scott was idea-lly fitted to record Passaic Paulison, Ifip, Howe, and on crude rubber prices, so forth, and histcrSr. His father had finished building others of earlier periods who did mag- IIIR,ST iNSI'I,ATED ELECTR,IC $'INE AND CABTIS the Dundee Dam and Canal and put in the wnne lrarie rN PAssAtc nifi.eent work under conditions difficult to first mill wheels, steam power not being The Okonite Co., made the first ?ub- evaluate with today's era, ahd there &te sufficiently advanced and electricity had ber-insuiated telegraph, telephone, many contemporary. outstanding and performers public not been harnessed. In addition to law, tr submarine eabies in America.. It also ln affairs, lndustry developed the high-pressure pipe-type employing thousands, nnance, law, some had considerable editing and publishing of big electric transrnission cable for high volt- deeds, very large benefactots and experience and was a meneber of the N. J community a€ie now in general use and a number contributors, but space does Historical Society. With this background of not permit. otJrer cable developments. Today most he was equal to the task of preserving for of U.S. naval vessels, submaJines, city IIOSSING PBOBLEMS posterity heroic deeds, folklore, and subways, and many powerplants here This great industrial expansion cre- traditions of one of the most progressiveJ and around the world use Okonite elec- ated housing and rooming problems. fn eventful areas in the country, a veritable trie transmission cables. addition to many thousands of immi- turbulent melting pot, dl so that we may grants, young profit, FIRST BI'BBER CqNVEYOE Bf,LT many men out of school enjoy and try to emulate the deeds came here to seek their fortunes. To successes. Robins, Sr., had and __Thomas worked wittr take eare of them, rooming and board- rnomas A. Edison in developing the flrst conveyor ing trouses were set up almost every- Most of the data about Passaicts great pi- 5ubper belt which was m-aAe many New York Beiting g paafcinE-bo. where, by upstate farmers or from oneer and progressive rubber industry !v_t!e small rural towns, There Robins then became Uinnattanls-nrst were also sev- founded by a brilliant familyhas been take eral houSekeeping "bachelor clubs." two secretary and continued. his belf from the History of The Manhattan Rubbe con_ of which became famous as the young veyor_ deveiopment with them. nonlns Manufacturing Co. written by James J. raDer. men corne from well-to-do families , iounded the Robins Conveying Belt De Mario, a copy of which is in the ar- il Passaic from different parts of the country, 99. in t8g6. rfris todpanv chives of 'the Passaic County Historical la[er.Decame Hewitt_Robins They rotated purchasing and managing, with the ac_ had a cook or housekeeper Society in Paterson. of Rubber C;., and eardenei. ?ujsition- _Hewiti o; Bil- They beca,me favorites at the and_loday it is a division of Litton. ball or for 'rnomas-Matchett*yo, whist. Many became responsible and was president of lotfr conveying in-fluential executives, like C. T..young, :noD:ni Belt and Hewitt p"ub_ president, oer oerore they to vice the Manhattan Rubber mergeC. Manufacturing TELEVISIOI\I Co., and F, L. Curtis to I!{ PASSAIC vice president of Raybestos-Manhattan. gt wa$ 'SVE,OPE! in Fart c,f che tsrighton It{iiis Inc., B. M. Mitchell, who found.ed the p3a:"rtin Pessaic, Fariip'idl*C afte; rn{}v- conveying Weigher Co. and designed the {r-"&' c,nrr*?r *}ra* T\* T ^^ ]'IGTES B]: PCHS The folloin'ing paragraphs wetre on:iited from s € {e ffi the Congressionai Reco::o rcr lack of space, trF qe, &s t! $ Fft Fr [:' k t' trEg anC are inserted here bj' ihe trCt{S io help EE R*i ffied k- H %K# keep the record compiete and tc honor local iiving direct descendamts.

t'Point" and' "Great Acquackancnk" Patents- Sy .FA&HESBE R€AH,E* Countri"s besi dsrnesiic r"rrines. Michie}se, the ?'Foint" Fateni was issued Vfas largest shipping port 0f for the lovrer part cf the Dundee secticn of North Jersey. Fa$lous piorieer rubber f arniiv fcunded New Yorl< Passaic, asrd then ihe "Great Acquackanonkt' HaC onlSr ilridge across en- Eelting and Fackiilg Patent with its five llivisions incluaing n:ost, tire Passa"ic River, at intpor - C0., E{anhattan of Acquackancnk and Paterson. Tire iand tant s'tegec$ach and v/agCIn Ruirber anC Sko- nil,e Farniiy niembel"s we!:e inciuding Garfield, in the Passai.c area" actrcs-q roads intersecticn. the river in Bergen Counby, was acqui.red ncteii ira',ralherces, rc'!atecito Outlet for Flamilion's "Pai,- und.er the $addle River Patent about the sarne f ir"st fantiiie s here anri in crson-made" g$cds ancl up- ti.me. Wai.Lington, another sateLiite of Pas- TIrlrope, founrle.i lPieliesie:' state f arwr, f or"est airci rnine saic across the river in Bergen County, was Ccliegei heirred found YWCA, products" acquired unCer the Capt. Jolui Berry tratent f

T'. Webster lvlatchett, ..ir" and Floltry Matchett, grandchildren of the laie Thomas Matchett Above reprinted from HeraLd-Irles and recent president of Rcbins Ccnveyi.ng August 25, l-967 Belt Co. of Fassaic, are direct descen

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