USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > Narratives of Newark (in New Jersey) from the days of its founding > Part 19
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In the early part of the Nineteenth Century traffic on the Passaic River contributed largely to local prosperity. A line of freight boats was operated by Messrs. Stephens, Condit & Cox in 1818. Whaling vessels received outfits for the long voyage at the wharf near the foot of Centre Street. This industry made possible a kindred one, that of cooperage, the factory being operated by the Stephens, Condit & Wright
Broad and Market Streets in 1820
Whaling and Sealing Company. Large casks for storing sperm oil by owners of whaling vessels were produced at the plant.
A pilgrimage was made along the roadways leading to Newark by men, women and children in holiday attire on Thursday, September 23, 1824. They came afoot, on horse- back, and in carts providing room for half a dozen or more, drawn by slow-moving oxen. The stage coaches enjoyed a flourishing business. Every one able to travel and pos- sessed of a patriotic spirit thronged to greet General Gilbert Motier, known in American history as the Marquis de Lafay- ette, who was, as the nation's guest, touring the eastern part of the country.
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Distinguished Jerseymen met the illustrious son of France, the friend and aide of Washington, at Lyon's Hotel in Jersey City. The hero was accompanied by his son, George Wash- ington Lafayette. General Jonathan Dayton, Major Keane of Governor Williamson's Staff, and Colonel Thomas T. Kinney, extended greetings in behalf of the State, and the committee of Newark citizens was composed of Colonel Thomas Ward, Colonel James Hedden, Colonel Stephen Hay, Colonel Isaac Andruss, Theodore Frelinghuysen, Caleb S. Riggs, Jesse Baldwin, Luther Goble, Robert Can- field, Dr. John R. B. Rogers, Abraham Reynolds, William Halsey, Silas Condit and Smith Burnet. A squadron of cav- alry and a "numerous and imposing calvacade," acted as the visitor's escort to Newark in the forenoon. At 12 o'clock the Newark Cadet Corps fired a salute, announcing the near ap- proach of the procession.
Crossing the Passaic River at Bridge Street, it entered Broad Street, and moved eastward on that thoroughfare with difficulty because the cheering, enthusiastic multitude crowded forward.
Major Elisha Boudinot's home on Park Place, near Centre Market, was placed at the disposal of the guest of honor, where a reception was held. The entire affair was the most brilliant public or private ceremony held in Newark up to that time. Public officials, members of the Order of the Cin- cinnati and others prominent in State and county attended.
Directly in front of the house, in Military Park, a pictur- esque bower thirty-five feet in diameter was erected and a committee of women decorated it with flags and flowers. The design was drawn by William Halsey. Theodore Fre- linghuysen, who in 1829 was elected to the United States Senate, escorted the General to the park, and opportunity was given the public to meet him. A parade, under com- mand of Major-General Doughty, then passed in review. It was planned to be an imposing spectacle, but a rainstorm de- ranged the committee's expectations.
Late in the afternoon Lafayette left for Elizabeth Town,
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where he was the over-night guest of General Jonathan Day- ton. The New York Observer, in a report of the event, said: "Hon. Jonathan Dayton, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress and Revolutionary hero, was with Lafayette when he passed through New Jersey. He was a guest of General Dayton over night at his Elizabeth home, and such were the exertions to honor his guest and gratify the number of people to see him that he sank under them and ex- pired a few days later."
Henry Clay, the noted Kentucky Senator, was offered and
Osborne House, (about 1800) built by Major J. Carter, Broad and Chestnut Streets
accepted the freedom of the town on November 20, 1833, for his championship of the protective tariff. The story is told by a daughter of Silas Condit, in a diary, now owned by Miss Eleanor Condit Trippe, of Bloomsbury, Hunterdon County. The writer of November 21, 1833, commented:
The Honorable Henry Clay visited Newark yesterday. He gave no notice of his coming until late the previous evening, so
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that few people were apprised thereof, and but few waited upon him. General Darcy, General Andrus and Father (Silas Condit) were appointed to go down to New York and escort him to this town. They came out like a private party in a close carriage, which afforded Father an opportunity of conversing with him. He says he is very pleasant.
When they came near Newark, they were met by several young gentlemen on horseback, and many other citizens in carriages. When they passed through town Mr. Clay was in an open carriage, with his hat off, Father by his side, and two other gentlemen on another seat. Now and then a few ladies standing in windows attracted Mr. Clay's attention. We all dressed ourselves and stood up in the front windows, and Mr. C. bowed to us several times very pleasantly.
He was taken to the Park House, where he was met by General Thomas Ward, an old Congressman, who knew Mr. Clay very well. Mr. Clay was then addressed by Mr. Amzi Dodd, in place of Mr. Frelinghuysen, who was out of town.
Mr. Clay commenced a reply, but the people began to press in and shewed so much dissatisfaction because they could not hear him, he was obliged to cease.
"Well, gentlemen, I did not come to make a speech. I came to shake hands with you and become better acquainted with you, and if you please, to take a chew of tobacco with you."
He then walked down to Rankin's Hat Factory, where he was presented with a hat just finished for the occasion, from thence he went to Wright's establishment, where he was presented with an elegant saddle.
He then returned to Barney Day's and partook of a collation, where General Ward toasted him in such manner that he was obliged to make a speech with which his friends were highly gratified. After this a splendid carriage, lined with rich satin, never used before, with six handsome horses, drove up to Barney Day's house, in which Mr. Clay was seated with some other gentle- men, and they rode up to view the inclined plane, so along the hill and then out of town.
When he reached New York, Mr. Philip Hone was to entertain him at dinner, and to-morrow he will return to Washington. Father informed us that our Young men returned to New York with Mr. Clay and on their way agreed to purchase the carriage and
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present it to him; $800.00 was the price thereof. Mr. C. said he could not refuse it, but he was overwhelmed and knew not what to say in return.
The "Barney Day" mentioned was Barnabas Day, the proprietor of the Park House at 27 Park Place, where the Public Service building now stands. Rankin's hat establish- ment was at 271 Broad, between Clinton and Market Streets, and Wright's saddlery manufactory was at 343 Broad, the corner of Fair Street.
In 1826 the famous three-score-year controversy over title to the parsonage lands was ended. The Proprietors, when the town was settled, granted 200 acres of land for ecclesiastical use. The Mountain Society and Trinity Church each demanded a division, claiming an equal share with the Presbyterian Society, into which the Meeting House congregation was merged. Beginning in 1760, the subject was discussed at town meetings, votes were passed, reversed as one side or the other possessed power, and the Legislature petitioned to intervene.
In March, 1761; "at a very full and public town meeting, it was voted and agreed that the said lands, granted by said letter patent to lie for a parsonage, be equally divided in quantity and quality exclusive of the improvements thereon, among three said societies or congregations." A committee was appointed to request the Governor's confirmation, but the members representing the older society refused to act. Thus the strife continued. In 1784 a compromise was agreed upon, the two off-shoot societies receiving a dividend of lands, under lease as tenants at will, but this was revoked on May 20, 1797. A special act was finally secured from the Legislature, enabling the First Church of Newark to convey the land in fee simple to the Trinity parish and the one at the mountain. The deeds were signed on August 29, 1826.
The fiftieth anniversary of Independence Day was ob- served in 1826 by an all-day celebration. A bower arranged to represent the original thirteen States in the Union, the
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principal battles of the Revolutionary War and several of the generals participating therein, was erected in Military Park. A census of the inhabitants who were alive on Independence Day in 1776 disclosed a total of 161, of whom fifty-six served in the Continental Army, the militia or the navy. Captain Obadiah Meeker, at the age of 87, and dressed in his "regi- mentals," led the remnant of Washington's soldiers in the procession. Upon this jubilee day the foundation of a pro- posed memorial to the soldiers of the Revolutionary War was laid at the south end of Military Park with impressive cere- monies.
Adams and Jefferson, two former presidents of the United States, died on the anniversary of the country's fiftieth birth- day, but the people were not aware of the fact till a day or two later. On July 11 a procession and addresses were local tributes to the eminent Americans.
Statue of Seth Boyden, in Washington Park
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CHAPTER XLIV
NEWARK BECOMES A CITY
THE old form of town meeting, prevailing 170 years, was about to give way in 1836 to a more modern, flexible system and in accord with the needs of a community en- titled to cast aside its primitive methods. Newark was growing steadily in population and in industrial enter- prises, and there was a desire among the townpeople for a broader scope in handling public affairs.
Orange was divided about this time into two sections, one known as South Orange and the other as North Orange. The latter territory was later divided into Orange, East Orange and West Orange.
An act of the Legislature, in 1833, divided the town into four wards. Each chose its own moderator, two members of the town committee and other officials. Three years later the Legislature gave the people the referendum regarding incorporation, much desired by the town's leading men.
Advocates of city government were the victors at the polls on March 18, 1836, when the necessary three-fifths favorable vote was cast. The ballots tallied 1,870 in favor and 553 against the Charter. The opposition was developed by large land owners, who feared an increase in the tax rate.
"It would appear that the period of the town's greatestpros- perity and increase," said Benjamin T. Pierson, in his first directory of Newark, issued in October, 1835, "is the interval since 1830. During this time the population has nearly doubled, allowance being made for the number set off with the new township of Clinton in 1833."
The coal fields of Pennsylvania were brought in touch with Newark by the opening of the Morris Canal in 1830, an engineering triumph of the Nineteenth Century. D. C.
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Halsted gave this pleasing impression of the first boat's arrival:
On December 10, 1830, which was Friday, the incline plane being completed, we had the pleasure of witnessing the passage of the first boat through Newark. About 10 o'clock the car descended from the summit of the plane into the water of the canal behind the hill which stretches along the west side of the town, till there was a sufficient depth of water upon the floor of the car to flood the boat upon.
The large and beautiful boat Dover, consigned to Jonathan Cory, was then towed into the car and secured. The water was now let in, upon which the large wheel at the summit and the machinery were set in motion by Major Douglass, the enterprising engineer.
The cable chain was attached to the car and the other end to the machinery, and the car, with the boat secured within its frame, rose majestically out of the water with 200 persons aboard.
In six and a half minutes she descended from the summit to the level of the town and entered her native element, thus passing a plane 1,040 feet long, overcoming a descent of 70 feet and advancing forward 770 feet in an incredibly short space of time.
The boat was then flooded out of the car and drawn by two horses and as many boys as could get hold of the tow-line through the town to the lock on the river.
The New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company (now the Pennsylvania) began operations on September 15, 1835. During the first year 126,485 passengers were carried. River traffic had so largely increased in 1833 that Newark was named a port of entry by Congress and Archer Gifford was appointed the first collector.
The Morris & Essex Railroad was chartered January 29, 1835, and the line began operating from Orange to Newark by horses on November 19, 1836. The road was extended to Madison, and steam power inaugurated on October 2, 1837; and to Morristown, on January 1, 1838. The first regular freight train was placed in commission in the summer of 1838. The horse-drawn cars continued to run on the tracks for
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several years. The average daily receipts from Newark to Morristown (for passengers) from January 1 to May 1, 1838, was $72.00. "An eight-wheel car," an announcement states, "capable of carrying from 70 to 100 passengers, was placed on the road February 15, 1838." The Railroad Employee of June, 1916, says:
The locomotive of this train was the Essex, built for the Morris & Essex Railroad by Seth Boyden at his shop in Newark, and the train crew consisted of Engineer Samuel Craig, Fireman William Pierson and Conductor A. O. Crane, who also acted as brakeman.
A way bill for the freight was handed to Conductor Crane at Newark, which he placed in his hat, where it remained till he arrived at Morristown, trusting to his memory, as to the points where the pack- ages were to be dropped.
The train consisted of the locomotive, tender and one freight car, the latter First Train on Morris & Essex Railroad now Lackawana a curiously constructed affair about twenty-five feet in length, resembling a modern flat car, but devoid of side boards or stakes. The cargo of the train consisted of a few boxes of soap, two barrels of flour and sundry small packages, all of which could have been easily loaded on a modern truck.
While running one day on a straight track between Orange and South Orange, through Scotland Street a barrel of flour fell from a car, and, breaking in its descent engulfed the train crew with its contents.
The regular stations between Newark and Morristown were at Orange, Millburn, Chatham, and Madison. The terminal station at Newark was used as a storehouse for the tools of the construc- tion gangs.
Exports of goods manufactured in Newark included sad- dlery, harness, carriages, shoes, boots, hats, coaches and coach lace, watch springs, lamps, plated brass, iron castings, cut- lery, patent leather, malleable iron, window blinds and sashes, chairs and jewelry. They were sent to nearly every civilized country in the world.
Vacant land was cleared and streets opened, upon which
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were erected factories, and regular employment given opera- tives. Homes were needed for the rapidly increasing popula- tion and the sound of hammer and saw was heard constantly "from sun to sun." Real estate prices increased enormously and every interest prospered. The industrial output in 1836 was valued at $8,000,000, relatively a very large.sum.
Polling places at the first charter election, on April 11, 1836, were thus designated: North ward, Second Church lecture room; East ward, First Church lecture room; West ward, Baptist Church; South ward, Third Church lecture room.
William Halsey, elected first mayor of Newark, was a native of Essex County. He was born in Short Hills (then Springfield) in 1770 and studied for the bar, special- izing in criminal cases. He was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Essex County at the end of his term and retained the confidence and respect of the people to the end of his life. He died August 16, 1843, in his seventy-third year.
Newark's first Board of Aldermen was composed of Abra- ham W. Kinney, William Lee, Isaac Meeker, and John H. Stephens, representing the North Ward; Isaac Baldwin, Thomas B. Pierson, Aaron Camp and Henry L. Parkhurst, from the South ward; William Garthwaite, Joel W. Condit, James Beardsley and James Miller, from the East ward, and Enoch Bolles, William Rankin, Abner P. Howell, and James Keene, from the West ward. Each ward also elected its col- lector, its school committee of two members and three con- stables.
The Board of Aldermen organized on the next Saturday night in the Academy Building, corner of Broad and Academy streets. The board consisted of ten Whigs and Six Ad- ministrationists or Democrats. Speeches were made and the prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. William R. Weeks. Meetings of the board were held usually at the call of the Mayor, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Isaac Nichols, who made the first census of Newark in
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1836, reported of "free white Americans," 10,542; Irish, about 6,000; English and Scotch, about 1,000; Germans, about 300; "free people of color," 359. The population was 18,201.
Newark was housed in 844 dwellings, and there were 207 mechanics' shops, five public landings on the Passaic River, three lumber yards and four quarries. There were three Pres- byterian churches, one each of Episcopalian, Roman Cath- olic, Methodist and African. In the professions there were nine clergymen, ten physicians, fourteen lawyers and sixteen school teachers. The town supported thirty-four merchants, five druggists and eighty-one farmers.
One of the first acts of the new city government was the institution of Centre Market, extending from Broad Street to Mulberry Street, and under which the Morris Canal passes. The portion lying outside of the canal limits was purchased by the Mayor and Common Council in 1836, and in 1852 another tract added. The entire cost of the property was $56,000.
Old Centre Market
John Jeliff graduated from his apprenticeship in time to cast his first vote at the charter election, and in after years was a leading furniture dealer of the city. He was com- pelled, as were all apprentices of the period, to live with his employers. The young men, desiring a change in the break- fast diet of broiled mackerel and boiled potatoes, caused this complaint, written, it was believed, by Jeliff, to be posted on the door of the factory where they were employed:
Oh Lord of love, look from above, On us poor cabinet makers, And send us meat that is fit to eat, And remove the fish and potatoes.
The surprise of the owners, L. M. & D. B. Crane, was no greater, upon reading the lines, than was that of the ap-
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prentices at the next morning meal when they beheld a change in the menu.
Stages ran regularly connecting neighboring towns with the thriving, bustling city.
E. J. Liming's line started from Joseph Munn's tavern, in West Bloomfield, or Cranetown (now Montclair), connecting with Cook & Chandler's Hotel and the Eagle Hotel in New- ark. The hour of leaving the former place was 5:30 A. M. (summer arrangement), in time to reach the 7 o'clock boat and car for New York.
The Eclipse stage line, running from Gillespie's Spring Mansion, now the home of the Essex County Country Club, in West Orange to New York, was popular. The Spring Mansion was the American summer resort, and since 1820 had attracted a large clientele of prominent citizens from all sections of the country and not a few foreigners on account of its famous chalybeate spring, the healthfulness and natural beauties. Coaches, often drawn by four horses, stopped at Gifford's tavern, where travellers were frequently re- freshed on their way mountainward and on their return. Entertainment at the retreat was lavish and the nights were merry with dancing to music of the old-time fiddle- dancing of the quaint old figures, not forgetting the Virginia reel.
The stage left the Mansion House at 6 o'clock in the morn- ing.
It was a period of early rising. Stops were made for pas- sengers and parcels at John Morris Lindsley's store, corner of Main and Cone streets, and at the Park Tavern, both in Orange. At 7 o'clock the horses brought up with a flourish at "Barney" Day's tavern-the Park House-on Park Place, at the lower end of Military Park. The route was along Orange Street to Broad Street. On the return from New York the stage arrived at Day's Hotel at 5 o'clock. Two hours were consumed in making the trip from New York to Orange.
The butcher, the vegetable dealer and the fish man made
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the rounds of Newark homes, announcing their presence by blowing a horn. The housewife appeared at the wagon dressed usually in a calico gown and wearing a sunbonnet of generous dimensions.
A few public-spirited citizens on April 14, 1836, decided to erect the long-deferred Revolutionary Memorial and to have it surmounted by a statue of Washington. The height from base to apex was to be thirty-five feet. The material was to be of American marble, and would cost about $12,000. Half the amount required was subscribed. Confidently was it expected that the tribute would stand in artistic splendor in
View of Newark (1845) Southeast from High Street
Military Park, at the point where the old road to the Land- ing Place begins (now Park Place).
Thoughts of such a possibility were banished, however, when in the autumn, a disastrous conflagration entailed a large financial loss. Fire was discovered on Friday after- noon, October 27, 1836, in a two-story frame building on the south side of Market Street, east of Broad Street. Adjoining buildings ignited quickly. New York, Elizabeth, Belleville, Rahway, and other towns sent their fire departments (or as much of them as they could spare) to assist the Newark fire- men. Both sides of Market Street were soon a mass of ruins. The flames spread to Mechanic Street, to Broad Street and to Mulberry Street.
Fears were expressed for the safety of the State Bank Building, on the southeast corner of Broad and Mechanic streets. The First Presbyterian Church was in danger, too.
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Hundreds of citizens volunteered their services in forming bucket brigades and many were heroes before that night's work was finished. Five hours the fire continued. The damage amounted to $125,000. Several years passed before the city recovered from its loss.
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The old Court House and the one now standing, in course of construction
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CHAPTER XLV
LOUIS KOSSUTH ENTERTAINED
B USINESS and manufacturing interests were prostrated during the panic beginning in April, 1837, and eight States failed to meet their obligations. Not till the next decade did the financial revival come, and also the invention of the Morse telegraph, the introduction of ether in surgery, discovery of gold in California and the excitement caused by the declaration of William Miller, a regular army officer, that the world would end on October 22, 1844. His followers known as Millerites forsook their homes and business, dis- posing of their possessions by gift, and gowned in white stood upon hillsides, tops of houses and other elevations awaiting the coming of the Saviour.
Home, in 1840, was the beginning and ending of the day's duty. Men did not frequent clubs or taverns in the even- ings. Profusion of flowers and shrubbery about the door- yard was the housewife's pride. The boxwood, of hardy growth, and ever green; lilac bushes bursting into glories of lavender and white in the spring; the beautiful rose, sweet- smelling honeysuckle and the syringa bush in June; the morning glory in summer, trailing here and there, and in the autumn the aster in its varied colors and other blooms in season, lent their charm to the Newark home. The tomato, commonly known as the love apple, and placed upon the mantel-piece as an ornament, was finding its true place as an article of food.
Wooden shutters were, as a rule, placed over the front windows, and storekeepers lived in the upper part of build- ings where they carried on business. The people lighted their rooms at night with tallow candles and sperm oil. Gas was not in use but soon expected. The well-sweep and the oaken
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bucket were noticed about the town. The simple life was reigning in its simplicity. There was none other to enjoy.
The act incorporating the Newark Library Association was approved February 19, 1847, and the rooms were opened on Market Street, west of Broad Street, in the following year. Afterward the building on West Park Street, now the home of the New Jersey Historical Society, was occupied.
The institution was created "with a view to advance the interests of learning generally and to instruct and edu- cate the youth of the city of Newark in science, litera- ture, and the arts." The incorporators were William Rankin, Samuel I. Prime, William A. Whitehead, Jacob D. Vermilye, John H. Stephens, James B. Pinneo, John Chadwick, William R. Inslee, Beach Vanderpool, Jeremiah C. Garthwaite, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, William B. Kinney and Samuel Meeker. William Rankin was the first president.
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