The Montclair Times from Montclair, New Jersey • 18

Il THE MONTCLAIR TIMES, FEBRUARY 9, 1940 ls lot donated by A. G. Darwin, wb(k. 7C Typical of Glen Ridge Thoroughfares Before 1895 Leaders of the Separatists Who Created real estate office was located at thitf point. Mr.

Darwin wished tolmnr. i lmnrMi I A XT ,1. incoming visitors with a pleasant impression of Glen Ridge. His ofB entrance was located in a most ecm venient spot of the depot itself, By his influence, having fin, construction of the station the rgj road had one of the most attractivl complained to the road and wanted tn stations irf this area. Other ton know why they didn't receive a de pot as attractive.

the companj was loth to admit tha Mr. Darwin had presented them with the generon gift. j. In 1896 the North Jersey Traction Company was granted a franchise to operate along Bloomfield Avenue, firm had to agree to sprinkle th. streets in "dusty weather.

since that day high speed bus and electric ier. vice has been' placed in operation by the Public Service Corporation and private concerns. Service on the railroads and th trolley and bus lines have been in.1 creased and improved. The railroads eliminated most of the grade cross-ings and constructed overpasses. The borough has a taxi-cab service 4 A po line wa org R.

D. jEd 1 A. Ch, 2a C. fcor second mayor, about 1890. It shows Brewer, the road was being graded Shown above are three of the most prominent figures in the successful separation of Glen Ridge from the Township of Bloomfield which took place on Feb.

12, 1895. Robert S. Rudd, left, was the borough's first mayor; Abijah R. Brewer, center, was the second, and Edward P. Mitchell, legendary newspaper editor and writer who was the borough's first president of the Board of Education.

During the heated campaign which preceded the Feb. 12 special election, they electioneered, wrote pamphlets and stirred up their neighbors to the realization that Glen Ridge should and could be an independent municipality. by Abijah R. Brewer, Glen Ridge's According to a note left by Mr. many sucn grucu day.

(three of them) today. But the ma. fioV jority of residents walk or use their Xc Bloomfield Avenue Once a Toll Road And an Important Stagecoach Route First Services Held in Depot Congregational Church Built in 1890 on Land Given by Gallagher Family. The majority of those Glen Riclie residents who formed the Glen Ridge Congregational Church were previously members of the Westminster Church of the Township of Bloom-Held. Many of them felt that accommodations closer to home were necessary.

Consequently, on Jan. 22, 1888, a small group met in the Lackawanna Railroad depot for the purpose of worship. On Mar. 4 of that year it was decided to hold Sunday services in the depot and to organize a Sunday school. In those days the railroad did not offer Sunday service.

The borough had no noise or traffic problems. A Congregational Council met on April 8, 1888. The Glen Ridge Congregational Church was solemnly declared to be in existence. Forty-three members were accepted. Three deacons were named: Ira Campbell, Marius G.

Belloni and Arthur J. Lock-wood. Services were held every Sun day in the depot. Prayer meetings were held Thursday evenings in Miss Northald's schoolroom on Clark fitreet. Oc July 4, 1888, the Rev.

Prank P. Goodwin accepted a call to become first minister of the new church. He took up his duties on Oct. 10. Membership Increased, larger quarters became Members of the Gallagher family offered a lot on Ridgewood Avenue and Clark Street as a site for a church edifice.

For a time a division of opinion was evident, as some members wished to accept a lot offered by the Benson interests located at what is now the Junction of Bloomfield, Glenridge and Highland Avenues. It finally was decided to accept the Gallagher gift. The Bensons erected a small church, nevertheless. In later years it was taken over by citizens of the Jewish faith. They moved it further up Bloomfield Avenue arrd placed the frame building over a new brick foundation.

It is still used and is known as Shomrei Emunah Tabernacle. The first service in the new gray stone edifice was held June 29, 1890. The dedication1 service was celebrated Oct 28, 1890. September, 1899, the Rev. Elliott W.

Brown of Icwa accepted a call to succeed Mr. Goodwin as pastor of Glen Ridge Congregational Church. By 1902 the church had progressed to the point where alterations and additions were decided upon. In 1900 the Rev. Dr.

Frank Van Allen of the Madeira Hocpital, Itfdia, was accepted as church missionary. The association lasted through 1923. Illness caused Mr. Brown to resign and on Oct. 4, 1909, the Rev.

Dr. Clarence Hall Wilson of Indiana accepted a call to become pastor here. The membership had grown to 350. own cars wherr tneir sons are away at scnooi. Forum Created By Home Guard (Continued from Page Seventeen petuatirug the fellowship that hi developed.

Withirf a short space of time fte Forum was organized with Major Boyd as first president. Its avowtj purpose then was "to perpetuate the Rifle Club and the Battalion, to hoid members together and maintain good Glen Ridge in 1895 fty 0 liillill i Six Special Committees Include Former Mayors Busy Executives Give Time to Civic Interests. Former Mayor John H. Koch is chairman of the Municipal Planning Committee which includes F. Ballard Williams, Clayton E.

Freeman, Her-mance Howard and R. Karl Hona-man. The Board of Adjustment includes Robert E. Moss, chairman: Philip L. Thomson, George W.

Myer Herbert Edge and John Sherman. The Building Committee includes: Robert E. Moss, chairman; H. H. Ferris and Willard Hopkins.

John Davidson is president of the Shade Tree Commission which includes: Robert W. Lane and Rand S. Bailey. The Library Board has Charles E. Griffith, chairman; "Mrs.

Maurice B. Long, John Revene, the Rev. Dr. William W. Patton and Mrs.

Frank D. Brewer. The Community Service Committee includes former Mayor Frank E. Barrows, chairman; Mrs. Perry C.

Pentz, Mrs. John H. Koch, Mrs. Towsen Price, Mrs. Herbert W.

Dutch, Mrs. William L. Parker, Mrs. J. F.

D. Rohrbach, Mrs. W. O. Si- bert, Mrs.

Pattrick Feeney, Mrs. Ralph S. Westgate, Mrs. Walter F. Bonner, Mrs.

A. H. Elder, Isaac For shay and Ernest Bridge. The Playground Committee includes: Coun cilman George T. Minasian, chair man; Stewart C.

Coey, Harold M. Kennard, Luther E. Price, John R. Studwell, A. F.

Eschenfelder, C. Dudley Moore, William J. Cartmill, Leon Nixon, George W. Warner and William K. Underhill 2nd.

List of Mayors When Alexander H. Elder was inducted as mayor on New Year's Day, he became the thirteenth mayor in Glen Ridge history. The others are: Robert S. Rudd, 1895-1902; Abijah R. Brewer, 1902-1906; Arthur J.

1906-1908; George S. White, 1908-1909; Giles G. Mead, 1909-1912; D. H. Standish, 1912-1916; H.

S. Bab-bage, 1916-1920; L. H. Davey. 1920- 1924; Charles L.

Doe. 1925-1928; Al fred Hurrell, 1928-1932; John H. Koch, 1932-1936, and Frank E. Barrows, 1936-1940. fellowship and public spirit." ban Since that day the Forum has be- ful come an integral part of the com- munity.

Its representatives sit wiih 0Sii the Civic Conference Committee, Borough leaders and planners, alio P05' members of the Forum, listen with fBas respect to the discussions of the Prank E. Barrows Collection The Newark, Bloomfield and Montclair Horse Car Company was chart ered in 1867 and nine years later merged with the Newark and Bloomfield Street Railway Company. In the 1860's when the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad Company took notice of the area lying between the Bloomfield and West Bloomfield sections of the Township of Bloomfield, that area (now Glen Ridge) was known as Ridgewood. Railroad officials, salesmen and visitors often became confused with another Jersey community also known as Ridgewood. About that time the Morris and Essex Railroad begarf to serve Ridgewood.

Later it leased the road to the Lackawanna Railroad. The present Erie Railroad leases and operates the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway Company which was the successor to the Montclair and Greenwood Lake Railway Company which, in turn, was the successor to the Morftclair Railway Company which was the original company to operate the road. It was incorporated by special act of the Legislature in, 1867. This road is still known as the Greenwood Lake Division of the Erie. In November, 1887, the Lackawanna built a station at Ridgewood Averrue and Bloomfield Avenue on a to Forum and gives serious consideration jtwe: to ideas, preferences and objections Jan The above photograph was taken Htehland Avenue looking north.

when the photograph was tanen. sparsely-settled community in Thirteen Had Phones in 1895 (Continued from Page Seventeen) old telerjhone directories are to be taken at face value making a tele phone call was, by comparison with the ease arrd clarity of telephoning today, somewhat of an ordeal. This fmm the directory of 1883: "TO CALL: Press in the button and turn the crank briskly; unhook the lis tening telephone (receiver) and put it close to your ear, when central office will enquire 'What Give central office your number and the number of the person wanted, and, upon receiving the answer 'All hansr un the receiver and wait till vour bell rings, therf place the re ceiver to your ear and address person called. "If you do not immediately hear his hang up the receiver, press in the button and ring again. then put the receiver to your ear.

When through, do not fail to hang up the receiver and call off, pressing in button and turmng crank briskly. The thirteen telephone subscribers represented thirteen years of the tele- Dhorte in Glen Ridge. During the forty-five year period of the borough's existence the range of the telephone has extended across the country, across the oceans to the far corners of the earth, to shins at sea and to airships in the sky until the age-old bariers of distance are no more. From limited means of communications of the few, the telephones has become an integral part of community social and business life until it is no longer con ceivable that that life could go on in Its oreserrt form without it. The "voice with a smile," feminine, has replaced boys, less reliable and more inclined to pranks, at the switchboard.

United States Navy denies captains must go down with ships. Anthony H. Fokker, plane designer, dies of rare disease at 49. Navy will patrol the Pacific Ocean with giant flying boats. his originating there.

ws The Forum is not always all ieri ousness, however. At appropriate U1 holiday seasons, musical programs are 'ore In 1913 Isaac Forshay and Sidney G. Firman, schools superintendent, commenced Sunday school classes in the schools. By1914 further additions were made necessary by increasing membership and church activities. la 1917 the system of free pews was adopted.

During the war period the church became a hive of busy groups pre paring articles for "tne boys over there." The Woman's Association of the church was organized in May 1922. Plans for beautifying the. church, the grounds and the chancel were furthered by a $10,000 gift made by Mr. and Mrs. Henry S.

Chapman in 1922. On Palm Sunday, April 13, 1930, the chancel was dedicated as a memorial to Mr. Chapman. Dr. Wilson served as minister until May 20, 1928, when he was succeeded by the Rev.

Dr. William Weston Pat ton, present minister. Borough Proud Of Traditions (Continued from Page Seventeen) man he thought should hold a cer ain office. The merits and demerits of all can didates are exhaustively investigated and judged before a majority vote is obtained for his endorsement. The men who have the power of endorsement, are for the most part, success ful business professional men whose abilities to judge character and talent are respected.

Their endorsement and nomination carry weight. The citizens of the bor ough accept their decisions without question. The three exceptions men tioned. Glen Ridge has never con tested the election of any nominee. use arranged.

With such amateur hum Jeiu orists and skit-writers as Herbert S. C0UJ Palmer and Perry C. Pentz as instigi- 505 1 Jo II tors, the Forum presents art annual 0US1 show that has become a tradition. Fi Robert B. Shepard is president of first the Forum.

In the early days of the eighteenth century residents of Glen Ridge who contemplated making the long and t.rin to New Yorlc city a thriving trading center and. seaport) had to go by wagon to Watsessmg Dock in Bloomfield where they boarded a Passaic River sloop which carried them leisurely around New ark Bay and into New York harbour. In 1806 a road was cut through from Newark to this section of Essex. It was called Old Road. Travelers had to pay a toll for the privilege of utilizing it.

Stagecoach was the accepted form of transportation and travel. Bloomfield became an important stage post. Parts of Bloomfield Avenue and Glen Ridge Avenue now follow the course of the Old Road. It has also been known as the Newark and Pompton Turnpike. The Newark and Bloomfield Railroad was chartered March, 1852, and was completed to Bloomfield in December, 1855, and to West Bloomfield (Montclair) in 1856.

Three trains ran each way every day. Passengers who wished to go to New York had to transfer at Roseville. Glen Ridge station was opened in 1860 and through trains were run for the first time in 1865. The model illiutrated it th Buick i urn i ill ill liflmmaMMaMtf i A Library Plays Important Role (Continued from Page Seventeen) lagher Lane, which is the present Clark Street. Sponsored by gifts and a "book reception" by Clio, the idea grew until December, 1892, when twenty nine men and women organized the Glen Ridge Literary Association and steps were taken to incorporate the association under the laws of New Jersey.

At this first meeting, there were present the following: Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Mitchell, Mr.

and Mrs George M. Porter, Mr. and Mrs. Jo seph D. Gallagher, Mr.

and Mrs. William F. Upson, Miss H. Northall, Miss S. Macintosh.

Mrs. F. P. Reed and Mrs. Charles T.

Dodd. Three Tears Old In January, 1893, three years from the organization of the original reading club, the Glen Ridge Literary Association was incorporated with nine trustees and fifteen directors. Miss Northall was elected librarian at a salary of $50 a year. The library rented Glen Ridge Hall in April, 1893, and occupied first the ground floor and subsequently the second floor. In 1906 Glen Ridge Hall was purchased as a permanent home for the library by a group of citizens, and the lower floor was rented to the borough for a town office at a rental of $600 a year.

Unavailing search of the records reveal but two naines of these public spirited citizens who comprised the membership of the Glen Ridge Hall Association, namely: H. S. Chapman, president, and A. R. Brewer, sec retary.

On Jan. 1, 1900, there were 100 annual subscribers, seventeen life members and two honorary members. The total number of books in the library was 2,884. The library, during its twenty years of service, constitutes a lasting memorial to the spirit that animated the originators and the directors of the Glen Ridge Library Association. Until 1911, when the citizens of the borough voted to take over the library under the New Jersey Library Law of 1905, the library was supported by private sub scriptions of borough citizens who were members of the literary asso ciation.

Free Public Library On Jan. 16, 1912, the first meeting of the trustees of the Free Public Library of Glen Ridge was held in the Borough Council rooms. This first board of trustees elected under State law consisted of: E. N. Bristol, president; William H.

Sayre, treas urer; Miss Caroline W. Stewart, J. Wilson Hart and Mrs. Grace Beard, secretary. Of this committee Mrs.

Beard acted as secretary for nineteen years. Four years later, in 1916, Mr. Chapman offered to build a home ior the library if the borough would ac quire the land. The borough in the same year voted a bond issue of $34,000 for the acquisition of the present site. On May 20, 1918, the present building was formally opened with a meeting of the board of trustees, without ostentation or public ceremony of any sort.

Approximately 31,484 books went into circulation in Glen Ridge homes during the first year of the new building. Registered borrowers totaled 2.434. At the end of twenty years the library's collection of 29,945 volumes is crowded for space and quiet for study is quite unknown. In 1939 98,393 volumes of books, music, periodicals, were borrowed for home and school use. Miss Cora Hen- dee is present librarian1.

Secrets Will' Out Before Frank H. Thomprorr became Glen Ridge tax assessor in 1927, he was in the real estate business. Shortly after he took office a builder who was interested in a piece of property requested Mr. Thompson to afcertain the selling price. The owner gave Mr.

Thompson a ridiculously high price (about twice the amount of its Not knowing Mr. Thompson had a new job, he asked him to keep i a secret "I don't want the assessor to know the real value of this land." he said. Protested Too Much According to the record a taxpayer once remonstrated vocifer ously with the assessor, whom, she thought, had overestimated the value of a lot she owned. He had a-sesed it at $500. "The land is valueless." she "Ill buy it for $500," he said.

She became indignant. "I woulJn't f-li for l-s than $3,000," she said and walked out in a huff. For your fable during 1940 Glen Ridge Officials STATE-CERTIFIED FRESH NEW JERSEY EGGS! To be sure of a regular supply during the Lenten season, place a standing order now with any of these franchlsed distributors. A. P.

Stores American Stores Acme Markets Big Chief Markets Borden Farm Products Co. Grand Union Tea Co. Mutual Stores Co. and Independent Stores Super modtl 51 four-doer touring sedan $1109 delivered at Flint, Mich. White sidewall tires additional Dun IS I jt What Does State-Certified FRESH Mean? The choicest, meat-rich eggs produced by the very pick of New Jersey's fine flocks.

Eggs as fresh as you can buy because of our Special Delivery distributing plan and dating check. Each egg individually inspected and reinspected under Department of Agriculture supervision. Sold only by selected dealers operating under continuous control on a direct franchise. Available' only in this carton carrying the official blue and gold trade-mark and the inspection label of the Department of Agriculture. Of course, we're doing all we can to be ready for everyone.

But you can get only so many cars in a warehouse. And a full warehouse can empty awfully fast. And what with everybody wanting Buicks this season, we can't say how long we can promise the delivery we can give now. So why not play the early bird this year? Why not get the jump on your neighbor and be driving your Buick while he's still talking about getting his? Mayor Alexander H. Elder Borough Council And Standing Committee Chairmen Maurice B.

Long Public Works Bertram I. Dadson Finance J. Henry Police George T. Minasian Water and Light A. Lionel Reid Fire Paul Bestor Law and Ordinance Special Committee Chairmen Councilman Long Unemployment Councilman Doyle Municipal Building Officers and Employes John A.

Brown. Borough Clerk James S. Brown Deputy Borough Clerk James P. Mylod Attorney Lloyd G. Beatty Recorder Andrew F.

Engineer William N. Gibbs of Public Works William F. Staab Superintended of Buildings John A. Brown Marshall Thomas F. Carty.

Chief of Fire Department William P. Higgins. Chief of Police Department Dr. Edwin F. and Fire Surgeon John C.

Van Duyne Tax Collector Frank S. Thompson Tax Assessor Otto B. Schalk. Health Officer Ernest Bridge. Worker Lyda C.

Delano. Welfare Worker Frank Anderson Police Court Clerk Mr. Eschenfelder Supt. of Water Department Mr. Eschenfelder Building Inspector Frederick Dahlgren Forester Chairmen of Special Committees and Boards Robert C.

Moss of Adjustment John A. Koch Planning Committee Frank E. Barrows Service Committee George T. Minasian Playground Committee Charles E. Library Board John Davidson Tree Commission Herbert B.

Lamer Board of Health Robert C. Moss. Building Committee Schools and Library Richard H. Mclntyre Bd. of Education George B.

Williams District Clerk and Business Mgr. Cora Hendee. Librarian Herbert W. Dutch Superintendent of Schools Alfred C. Ramsay Principal, High and Jr.

High Schools Christine Reeves Principal, Central School Stella M. Kincaid Forest School Doris K. Curry Principal, Linden School Stella M. Kincaid Principal, Sherman School ONE of these days the itch is going to hit you to get out and get in on the fun a Buick can be in the springtime. You're going to feel an irrepressible yen to touch off that husky, sweet-singing Dynaflash power plant and swing out in gentle coil-spring comfort to take in the fresh spring landscape.

Maybe, like others we know of, you've even got the model picked out, and are just "waiting a few weeks'1 to do something definite about it. But may we emphasize, in purely friendly interest, that a lot of other people probably have the same idea. And that when they start buying in droves as they do every year about the ides of March even Buick's big factory has trouble keeping up with them. You've nothing to lose, a lot of fun to gam and you'll find the address of your Buick dealer in the phone book. Your Lights When Patting Help promote Safety Dim iK I adl.i.

I il JMSIY POUtTKY AND VT Hr- COOPHtATTVI MAKKfTIN TJWHl i ASSOCIATION, TMNTON, M. J. NRu pin miw jetsrr couNca.