USA > New Jersey > Morris County > A history of Morris County, New Jersey : embracing upwards of two centuries, 1710-1913, Volume I > Part 39
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The Methodist Episcopal Church-Until 1853 the First Presbyterian was the only church society in Boonton. On June 5, 1853, the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized with George T. Cobb, John Decker, John H. Frampton, John Meyer Jr., Samuel H. Shaubb, Horace E. Taylor, and William T. Vanduyne as trustees. On January 24, 1854, Dudley B. Fuller and James Brown, of New York, donated to this church a lot, one hundred feet square, on the east side of Cedar street, nearly opposite the old school- house. During the same year they erected on the lot a church edifice, forty feet square, costing $1,600. Later a parsonage was built on the lot at a cost of $1,800. These served the church for sixteen years, then increased numbers demanded a larger church. In 1868 the congregation bought, at a
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cost of $9,000, the residence and grounds of Dr. Ezekiel B. Gaines, situated on the west side of Main street, above William street. A church was erected and the basement used for services in 1869, the entire building not being completed until 1874. The building, 52x80 feet, was erected at a cost of $18,000, including furnishings. The present value of the church property is $23,000, the parsonage being valued at $10,000. The congregation numbers 332 members, with a Sunday School of 393 scholars in all departments. The present pastor is Rev. William S. Robinson, who in 1912 came to Boon- ton from the Hackettstown Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-This, the third church in Boonton, was built on a lot at the corner of Birch and Green streets, deeded on January 7, 1848, by the New Jersey Iron Company to the trustees of the Roman Catholic Church at Boonton. The first church was of necessity small, as were the other first churches of Boonton, but had a burial ground attached, and for seventeen years was in active use. Then a lot was bought on the opposite side of Birch street and in a few years a church of stone, with slate roof and tower, was completed and consecrated. The church is 40x80 feet, tower 65 feet high. The large basement was for a time used as a parish schoolroom. The cost was $13,000. The first lot is occupied by a suitable parsonage built at a cost of $5,000. At the time the new church was built, the parish purchased ground for a cemetery east of the town at the foot of Sheep Hill, and enclosed it with a stone wall for a cemetery, bringing the bodies from near the old church and re-interring them in the newly consecrated grounds. On September 20, 1864, the church was incorporated as "The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel."
There is also a Slavish Roman Catholic Church in Boonton in a pros- perous condition.
St. John's Church-The first Protestant Episcopal church in Boonton was duly organized and incorporated May 4, 1860, as "St. John's Church in Boonton," the required certificate being filed and signed by Francis D. Canfield, minister, and George Anthony, secretary. Previous to this, how- ever, religious services had been held in a small building erected by Miss Eliza A. Scott, as a session house for the Presbyterian church and standing on Church street. This building was lengthened and fitted up and for several years was used as St. John's Church. About 1867 Fuller & Lord donated to the congregation a handsome lot, corner of Cedar and Cornelia streets. On this was later erected a church edifice in plain Gothic style and a rectory built on the same lot. The first rector was Rev. Francis D. Can- field, the second Rev. William Stearns, the third Rev. John P. Appleton. Services have been held continuously and the church continues an effective organization.
The Reformed Church of Boonton-Meetings of this congregation were first held in Washington Hall in 1867, under the direction of Rev. Nathaniel Conklin, of the Montville Church. On February 2, 1868, at a meeting held in Washington Hall, in accordance with previous notice, Tim- othy W. Crane and Albert Crane were elected elders, Daniel D. Tompkins and Francis Room deacons. On March 6, 1868, the society was duly or- ganized, elders and deacons signing and filing a certificate as required by law under the name of "The Reformed Church of Boonton." Some years prior to this, a division in the Presbyterian church at Parsippany led to the erec- tion of a second church edifice there. After a few years the breach was healed and the second church was not needed. The creditors being anxious to receive their money, and the Reformed Church needing a building, a
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bargain was made and the church removed to Boonton. Many pastors have served this church, which has always been one of the forces for good in the community and still remains active and useful. Pastor, Rev. F. E. Depue.
Schools-The original proprietors of the iron works, the New Jersey Iron Company, were far-seeing men, and in their relations with their em- ployees and with the settlers in the young village, were almost paternal. In the matter of schools, they acted promptly by opening a school in 1831 in part of a dwelling just opposite the Boonton Iron Works office. They obtained and paid for the services of the first teacher, Miss Dean. Later in the year a schoolhouse was built on what is now the southwest corner of Liberty and Cedar streets, that was first used in 1831, and last used in 1851 when a large building of brick was erected as a public schoolhouse. The last teacher in the old schoolhouse was Marcus W. Martin, whose term ended in June, 1852. His salary that year was $350, raised by subscrip- tion, the school being made free. The old schoolhouse built in 1832 and used for twenty years, was converted into a dwelling, and a half century later was still so used.
In the year 1850, the school room becoming overcrowded, there was a demand for the division of the district and the erection of another school- house. The legislature having passed a bill under which free schools could be established, it was decided wisely by the township superintendent, that it would be to the advantage of Boonton to remain in one district and have a strong, better and more extended graded free school. A bill was pre- pared by the township superintendent that represented the plans he wished carried into effect, and in November of that year he presented it at a public meeting, accompanying it with his argument in favor of a larger, better school, free to all. His ideas prevailed and after further meetings and some amendment, the bill was passed by the legislature in March, 1851, and went immediately into effect. Under its provisions, in April, 1851, William G. Lathrop, James Holmes and George W. Esten were elected trustees, Henry W. Crane being chosen clerk. During the year, a two- story brick building of suitable size was erected on a lot donated by the New Jersey Iron Company. It was opened July 19, 1852, under Alonzo B. Corliss, principal, Miss Corliss, assistant. This was the first and for many years the only free school in Morris county. It has kept open free and constantly from that year to the present date, and in 1881 seven of the ten teachers then employed in the school had therein been trained and educated. The original boundaries of the school district have been greatly enlarged, as the town has grown, and it was deemed advisable to have a board of education, consisting of seven commissioners, instead of the trustees called for under the act of 1851. The author of that act under which the free school was established and successfully operated for twenty- four years, was still living and a member of the school board of trustees. To him was assigned the labor and honor of drafting a new bill providing for the necessary changes and prospective needs of the growing district. His bill was passed by the legislature, April 5, 1875, and under this special act the school at Boonton has since operated. Under its provisions the school was graded, and two buildings of brick, two stories high, with slate roofs, provided for their comfort. Nine assistants with a principal were appointed, a provision that amply provided for all needs at that time. But as the town has grown, so have the schools, and from time to time additions have been made to the property, and in the school year 1912-13, $29,633 were spent
Boonton High School Building.
Boonton National Bank Building.
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in operating the schools. That year the total enrollment of scholars was 855, with an average daily attendance of 623. For the school year 1913-14, three teachers are employed in the sub-primary school, eleven in the primary school, six in the grammar, six in the high school, with special teachers in music and manual training, all under a supervising principal, or superin- tendent. The following is the present personnel of the teaching force :
Boonton Town-Superintendent, M. P. Reagle; music, Myra Packer; manual training, Gertrude E. Burt; high school, George Clark, Russell E. Bullock, Elfie L. Grimes, Mary M. Johnston, Florence E. Long, Nellie F. Quinley ; grammar, Lena H. Wilson, Helen S. Primrose, Clara A. Black- well, Florence J. Rice, Clara A. Wootton, Harriet M. Sutton ; primary, Ella Mutchler, May DuBois, Grace Cooley, Nellie M. A. Lofthouse, Eva L. Snyder, Harriet Kitchel, Cora B. DeHart, Mayrose Waterman, Gertrude M. Willard, Lulu Conkling, Julia A. Peckham; sub-primary, Ida V. Combs, Mary H. Jenkins, Alison J. Close.
The officers of the Board of Education are: Arthur Blanchard, presi- dent; Emory W. Myers, district clerk; Samuel G. Harris, custodian; Dr. E. N. Peck, medical inspector; Jacob L. Hutt, attendance officer. The Board of Health: Giles E. Miller, president; Frank N. Banta, clerk; J. Herbert Dawson, inspector; John Glennon, William Carson.
Municipal Government-Boonton was incorporated as a town March 18, 1867. The government is vested in a mayor and council of seven members. The officers for the year 1913 are as shown below: Thomas Heaton, mayor ; councilmen : Albert P. Smith, president; John Guiton, Wil- liam W. Apgar, Oscar P. Whitehead, John E. Dunn, James H. Hopler, Warren H. Baldwin, William R. Bailey, clerk; Joseph P. Cullen, assessor; George M. Mutchler, collector ; Samuel G. Harris, treasurer ; S. Claude Gar- rison, counsel; William H. Oliver, street commissioner; J. E. Dixon, police justice; Thomas Boyle, William Mahoney, constables; James Gilmartin, chief of police; and Eli Van Derhoof, assistant; John B. Hawley, city en- gineer ; J. E. Dixon, overseer of the poor. Fire Department: Thomas P. Logan, chief ; Henry S. Worman, first assistant; Warren L. Doremus, sec- ond assistant. The department numbers about 200 volunteer firemen, di- vided into seven companies, quartered in three fire houses: Maxfield Hose and Engine Company, steamer ; Maxfield Hook and Ladder Company, Max- field Hose Company, Harmony Hose Company, Harmony Engine Company, hand engine; South Boonton Hose Company, South Boonton Hook and Ladder Company. Each hose company is equipped with 2,000 feet of hose, and the hook and ladder trucks are fully equipped.
Banks-Boonton is well served by the banks, National and State. The Boonton National Bank was organized in 1890, with a capital of $100,- 000. A condensed report of its condition at the close of business March 4, 1914, shows: Total resources, $1,116,742; a surplus fund of $100,000; deposits, $875,656; loans and discounts, $519,452; United States bonds, $25,000; other bonds and securities, $380,061 ; and a banking house valued at $30,000. The bank officials are: Nathan L. Briggs, president; Charles Brock, Frederick Gordon, vice-presidents; Edwin A. Fisher, cashier ; Oscar P. Myers, assistant cashier.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank was organized with a capital of $75,000, and opened its doors for business January 2, 1912. A statement made January 13, 1914, showed total resources of $225,584; deposits, $132,- 176; surplus fund, $17,500. Officers: W. C. Salmon, president; T. J. Hillery, vice-president; Marvin D. Hayward, cashier.
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Newspapers-The oldest newspaper in Boonton is the Boonton Weekly Bulletin, now in its forty-fifth year. The present editor and proprietor is S. L. Garrison. The Boonton Times first appeared October 1, 1895, Chas. L. Grubb, editor and proprietor. Both papers are well supported by the merchants and corporations of Boonton, the advertising pages being well filled.
About 1897 a number of public-spirited women organized the Boonton Improvement Society, to co-operate with the municipal authorities in beauti- fying the place and improving its material and moral conditions. Its work has been carried on through committees on streets and sanitation, beautify- ing streets and public grounds, the maintenance of a library, and for the protection of domestic animals against cruelty. To its credit stands Schultze Park, instituted through a gift of $20,000 of its procuring. In 1908 these and kindred purposes were further advantaged through the instrumental- ity of a Business Men's Association which was then formed, and has since worked zealously and successfully in behalf of the material interests of the community.
The Holmes Free Library was founded by James Holmes, who devised the three-story building on Main street for that purpose. The library is open every day and evening, and is well patronized.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Main street was erected by the citizens of "Old Pequannock," in 1876. It is a graceful granite shaft and base, flanked at the four corners by cannons that were used in battle during the Civil War.
There are three licensed hotels in Boonton that cater to the wants of the traveling public-the Mansion, City and Hotel Boonton.
There are many societies-social, benevolent and religious-connected with the churches of Boonton, as well as the following orders: Arcana Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Fraternal Order of Eagles; Junior Order United American Mechanics; the Foresters; Royal Arcanum; Daughters of Liberty; Ancient Order of Hi- bernians; St. Patrick's Alliance; Catholic Benevolent Legion; and the Buffaloes.
Boonton has an excellent water supply, as well as a modern electric light system. The excellent service of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern railroad is supplemented by the hourly service of the electric street railway which connects with the main line of the Morris County Traction Company at Denville, for the eastern and western towns of the county. A large power plant is being erected at Boonton by the Atlantic Gas and Electric Company, that will be an important addition to the electric power of the county.
The assessed valuation of Boonton real estate for the year 1912 was $2,112,200; personal property, $307,640. In 1910 the population as given by the government census was 4,930.
CHAPTER XIV
CHATHAM.
BY CHARLES A. PHILHOWER, M.A.
The history of Chatham may be considered under seven divisions, as follows: Geological story, Indian occupation, early settlement, Revolu- tionary period, community development, Civil War period, and modern growth.
While the geological story of a locality is popularly not deemed a part of its history, yet it seems permissible to include such consideration when the record is especially noteworthy. Consequently, since the vicinity of Chatham has had a most remarkable geological career, it has been concluded wise both from the point of interest and of information to make it a part of this brief treatment.
The region about Chatham like all others has passed through those formal periods of geological history which in the aggregate cover approxi- mately from 75,000,000 to 100,000,000 years. It had its beginning of life in the Archean era, when from 5,000 to 10,000 feet of sandstone and shale were laid down on various parts of the earth's crust. Then came the period of old life or paleozoic era at which time contemporaneously with the forma- tion of limestones, quartzites, and schists, swarms of animal life filled the waters and impenetrable jungles of vegetable growth covered the land. At the expiration of this period which possibly marks the termination of some 80,000,000 years, our specially considered locality had not yet protruded from the antediluvian seas.
Within the mesozoic era or period of middle life massive beds of red sandstone were deposited to the depth of 15,000 feet, and the vicinity of north central Jersey became a part of the continental mass of land. Soon after this event a great geological catastrophe took place. Those gigantic strata which made up the immediate bed-rock of much of the eastern part of Morris county were tilted, bent, warped, and broken. Great upheavals of molten rock emitted from the interior of the earth and the consequent result was the Long Hill Mountain, the First and Second Watchung Mountains, Riker's, and Hook's Mountains, together with the Palisades on the Hudson. On the outskirts of these mountains abbreviated lava flows were deposited and across the valleys dikes of trap rock were pushed up as adamantine as the surrounding hills.
For some unknown reason the climatic conditions changed and in a brief geological period which followed, this region of volcanic heat and eruption was transformed into one of a most arctic character. It should be stated however that this transformation took place within that modern geo- logical time known as the cenozoic era or period of new life. There was so much snow and the cold was so intense that a great layer of ice was formed over the whole upper half of North America, reaching as far south as Central New Jersey. This enormous ice sheet had a depth of a mile or more, and the limit of the southward advance of this extensive glacier was marked by a long line of glacial gravel which passed through what is now Chatham in its upward curve across the State from the site of Amboy on the
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coast to Riegelsville on the Delaware. Later there was another change in the climate and the thick floor of ice began to melt. Large streams of water flooded over this ice front and eventually heaped up great mounds of gravel like Coleman's Hill, Duchamp's, and Molitor's sand pits. In certain stagnant pools a silty limestone sediment was laid down making clay beds like those of the old brick yard and the deposit west of Passaic avenue, in the vicinity of the old school. Previous to this glacial period the trunk stream which drained the country west of the Watchung Mountains flowed through a deep gap beneath what is now Morris avenue in Summit. When the glacier receded this gap was filled with gravel and sand to a depth of about 200 feet, and the water from the melting ice was shut in behind the hills making a lake extending from Pompton and Little Falls around to Millington and the Great Swamp. When this lake was at its maximum depth the vicinity of Chatham was about 150 feet beneath its surface, and the outlet was at Muggy Hollow near Liberty Corner. Finally the lake broke through the First and Second Watchung Mountains at Little Falls, and Paterson; and drained the consequent valley through the present stream bed of the Passaic . river. The gravel of the terminal moraine originally piled up by the glacier formed a barrier in the drainage of this lake at Stanley, and for a consid- erable time a minor body of water referred to in geological history as Dead Lake, extended southwestward from Stanley towards Millington. This lake eventually broke through the gravel deposit at Stanley, and the Passaic Valley throughout its whole extent was finally drained, leaving no vestige of the former lake excepting shore deposits now observed here and there on the hill sides. (U. S. Geolog. Survey, Passaic Folio I.) Even to the present day remembrance of "old Lake Passaic" is had in the springtime in the way of the freshet which overflows the meadows for many miles. After its drainage there were without doubt many marshes left in the vicinity of the lake bottom. That locality known from the earliest settlement as the "sunken lands" in and about Canoe Brook is a typical form of those marshes.
Considerable evidence attests that the hills and valleys of this region were overrun with animals of a gigantic size. Direct proof of this is had in finding about the year 1865 the teeth and bones of a mastodon in the bottom of a spring in the sunken lands on the Morhouse farm. One of these teeth is now in the possession of Mr. David Dickinson. However plentiful these animals might have been very few remains are found, and it is certain that they were extinct long before the coming of the American Indian.
Indian Occupation-The Lenni-Lenape Indians who were the original inhabitants of the land of Scheyichbi (Indian name for New Jersey) came into this country from beyond the Delaware or Lenapewihittuck (The River of the Lenape) at a very early date, probably 800 to 1000 years ago. [ Stockton's "Stories of New Jersey," p. II.] These Indians were divided into three divisions; the Minsi of the northern part of New Jersey, the Unami of the Central, and the Unalachtigo of the southern part. The vicinity of Chatham lay within the dominion of the Minsi. The central seat of their encampment however was back of the Blue Mountains along the Delaware north of the Water Gap. It is said that regularly in the spring- time these Indians would migrate over the old Minisink trail, which path came through Culver's Gap, by way of Lake Hopatcong, through Dover, and Chatham, through the Short Hill's Gap, thence to Elizabeth Town, and across the Raritan at Perth Amboy to Shrewsbury Inlet. There they would enjoy themselves feeding on the oysters of the coast. The name Minisink Crossing which was applied to the ford of the Passaic River in Chatham
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derived its name from this practice, and was one of a number of river cross- ings in the path leading from the Minisink country.
It is questionable whether that tribe of Indians known as the Sanhicans which lived on the flats east of the Watchungs, and were inveterate enemies of the Manhatae held dominion west of the Watchung Mountains. [Barber & Howe, p. 60.] Tradition has it that the local tribe of Indians resi- dent in the Passaic Valley in and about Chatham were known as the Passaics or Passaya. The name Passaic is of Indian origin, and was without doubt the name of the tribe which inhabited the valley west of the Watchungs. The original pronunciation is rather uncertain. Even the word Pecheise is used in early documents. [Answer to Bill of Chan- cery, p. 38.] Various members of the tribe pronounced the name with slight variations in consequence of speech impediments and char- acteristic enunciations. This is evidenced by the various spellings of the name in the old Indian deeds and consignments. The following are some of the original spellings: Passaya, Pessaya, Pessayak, Passayonck, Pasagack, Passawa, Pasawack, Pishawack, Passawick, Pesawick, Piscawick, Pesainck, Pesoick, Passaiacke, Pissaick, Pisaicke, Passick, Passaick, Passaic. [Col- lected from N. J. Arch., Ist series, vol. xxi.] It will be observed that there is a rather interesting evolution of the pronunciation from Passaya to Pas- saic. The first spelling given is that found in an Indian deed to Arent Schuyler, dated June 6, 1695, and is doubtless the most nearly correct of any. The Minisink Crossing of the Passaic is sometimes referred to as the crossing of the Fishawack in the valley of the great Watchung. This word Fishawack is probably a corruption of Pishawack. The letter P was pos- sibly misinterpreted for the letter F. The Indian interpretation of the word is a valley, however the word Passayak has been interpreted as meaning peace.
John Reid's account of the "mountainous districk" of Nova Caesarea, 1685, states "Indian natives are few." [The Model of the Government of the Province of East New Jersey in America, Edinburgh, John Reid, 1685, p. 70.] Reference to a tribe of Indians called the Passayoncks is made in the "Hand Book of American Indians" and reads as follows: "A Delaware village on Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania in 1648. Macaulay calls the band a part of the Manta, and says that they lived along the west bank of the lower Delaware extending into the state of Delaware." [Hand Book of American Indians. ii, p. 208.] Manta according to Brinton is a corruption of Monthee, the dialectic form of Munsee or Minsi among the Mahicans and tribes of Northeast Jersey. Later these east Jersey Indians lived on the eastern bank of the Delaware in the vicinity of Salem. This is quite con- clusive evidence that the Passayoncks were none other than a division of the Minsi who occupied the Passaic valley in the 16th century, left this lo- cality in the early part of the 17th century, and migrated to south Jersey where in the 18th century they were incorporated with the Unalachtigo Dela- wares. Thence they went to Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. In consequence the Passaic Valley was found in 1685, according to John Reid, inhabited by few Indians.
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