Democratic government and peaceful home life have combined to set individually apart the Borough of Prospect Park both as an incorporated municipality and as a residential community. Modern civic improvements, fine educational facilities, exceptionally good roads and a thrifty, home-loving, righteous populace have made it justly proud of its individuality.
Much of Prospect Park's present-day status is due to the solid hereditary traits of its 5,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom are of Dutch descent or birth. In fact, the genealogical characteristics, which have been evidenced ever since the borough was incorporated on March 13, 1901, date back to the earliest settlement of northern New Jersey by sturdy Hollanders. Inherent qualities of thrift and business acumen identified themselves especially during the period of the great depression, which reached its greatest depth in 1933, in the fact that this borough did not falter once in meeting its financial obligations to individual, corporation or government, and the same was true of its two financial institutions, the Prospect Park National Bank and the Prospect Park Savings and Loan Association. Now, despite its well-advanced development, Prospect Park is one of the few municipalities which is debt free.
The natural devotion of the early Dutch settlers to community, church and home life took firm root. As the borough has developed and progressed, that sturdy wholesomeness has borne enviable fruit. An air of tranquility and hominess pervades the community.
In recent years many people of national origin other than Dutch have made Prospect Park their home and are, by their faithful observance of its customs and ordinances long established, helping to keep it essentially a church and home community hence a peaceful one.
The summary of history of the Borough of Prospect Park, as chronicled herein, gives some idea of the growth and advancement of the locality from Revolutionary times, when George Washington led his courageous Colonials through it, on through progressive stages to the municipality's present enviable position.
As part of the great Commonwealth of New Jersey, Prospect Park once provided hunting and camping grounds for the Lenni Lenape Indians - a small, peaceful clan of the great Algonquin tribe, which is extinct in this part of the United States. Evidences of the existence of red men in these parts remain in various collections of relics, such as numerous arrowheads, pieces of pottery, parts of grinding stones and tomahawks, which were found in the territory that comprises Prospect Park. The first white settlers purchased their land from the Indians. Nelson's History relates the advent of the Westervelt and Ryerson families to this region, the purchase of tracts of land from the red men, the cultivation of their farms and the beginning of the territory's development.
Early settlement of northern New Jersey found what is now Prospect Park in a direct line of communication between New England and the historic Preakness Valley. North Eighth Street was then a part of Cannonball Road, which ran between Preakness and Paramus and which figures prominently in maneuvers and the operations of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. George Washington traversed this road with his troops and recorded mention of it in his own diary, as he visited Col. Theunis Dey in Preakness twice during the pivotal year of 1780. On these occasions, with temporary headquarters established at the Dey House, practically all of the revolutionary leaders traveled Cannonball Road to consult with their Commander-in-Chief - General Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Benedict Arnold, "Mad Anthony" Wayne, Baron von Steuben, "Lighthorse Harry" Lee, and many others. Along Cannonball Road, Washington's men were encamped, over it troops moved and communications were sped by messengers.
After the Revolutionary War, settlement of this section, begun by the Dutch, was resumed. Originally part of the extensive Saddle River Township in Bergen County, Prospect Park became part of Manchester Township, when that was organized in 1837 with the creation of Passaic County out of parts of Bergen and Essex counties. Dutch settlers continued to move in. One group of Hollanders established a colony, which was known as "Little Holland ", along both sides of what is now East Main Street. In time this" settlement expanded up the hill into what now constitutes the borough. That predominance of Dutch remains today.
Pioneers who established their homes and farms in this section included Cornelius P. Hopper and Garrit Planten, each of whom owned a large tract of land. The Hopper tract, developed in 1872, extended from Hopper Street to near North Twelfth Street and from Haledon Avenue to near Planten Avenue. Directly east of the Hopper Tract was that of Gerrit Planten, containing about seventy-two acres. The Westervelt property ran between the Planten property and Prescott Avenue. The Muhs Estate, Kievit farm and the Graham tract were other early settlements.
In 1849, according to the custom in isolated places in rural territories, "Mount Pleasant," a graveyard, was dedicated on the Westervelt farm. This remained the burial ground of the Westervelt family until development necessitated abandonment of the cemetery around 1900 and removal of the remains interred there. So far as is known, the only body not removed was that of an old Negro servant and former slave. The Deed of Dedication, as appearing in Passaic County Register's Office in Book A-2, page 339, follows:
"We the undersigned being children and lawful heirs of Peter A. Westervelt dec. of the Township of Manchester County of Passaic and state of New Jersey believing it to have been the intention of our deceased Father to have a family burying yard on his farm in the township county and State aforesaid and whereas it pleased a wise and sovereign God to call our beloved Father from time to Eternity before his intentions had been carried into execution, and whereas no provision is made in the last will and testament of said deceased to secure this object, do hereby relinquish all claim right or title to a portion of a lot lying behind the Barn, being in the north east corner of said lot, said portion containing on the north side one hundred feet on the east fifty six feet and six inches on the south ninety eight feet and on the west fifty six feet six inches to be kept sacred and forever to remain for a Burying Yard for all the heirs of said deceased and for their heirs forever, and further such of us as may use said burying ground for ourselves, our heirs, executors administrators or assigns to see that the fence around said yard as it now stands be and remain where it now is and be always kept in good repair and moreover that a right of way be reserved to and from said burial ground.
"In Witness Whereof we have have hereunto set our hands and seals
this 13 day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty
nine in presence of one another. Margaret Van Saun (LS)
Samuel P. Westervelt (LS)
Ralph P. Westervelt (LS)
John P. Westervelt (LS)
James P. Westervelt (LS)
Anna M. Westervelt (LS)
Peter B. Westervelt (LS)
Mary Helen Westervelt (LS)
William E. Westervelt (LS) "
The location of this cemetery is in the center of block located between Struyk Avenue and Prescott Avenue and North Eleventh Street and North Twelfth Place and had an entrance from Prescott Avenue, and undoubtedly accounts for this present double-size block.
Another landmark recorded in history was a toll gate on Godwinville (now Goffle) Road, east of Belle Avenue. Monies received from a toll of three cents from each carriage and wagon traversing that road were used by the county to defray the cost of upkeep.
The name of Prospect Park first appeared on a development map of Estate of Cornelius P. Hopper filed in 1872.
Some of the older homes still standing in Prospect Park are: The Westervelt homestead at the corner of North Eighth Street and Prescott Avenue, which was in recent years divided into three sections, with each section having a different owner. It was surrounded by a large and beautiful flower garden.
The Gerrit Planten homestead is now on the east side of Planten Avenue about one hundred feet north of North Eighth Street. This large country estate was originally located on North Eighth Street, and had large servants quarters attached. It was set off with a large open lawn. The servants section was remodeled and now stands on North Ninth Street. The caretaker's home, located on the Planten farm, is the present dwelling at 338 North Eleventh Street owned and occupied by Walter C. Allen.
The Stansbury Home is the wooden section of the present Eastern Academy on North Eighth Street. Mrs. Stansbury was Rachel Hopper before her marriage to John C. Stansbury, and was the daughter of Cornelius P. Hopper, and members of her family still reside in Prospect Park. It was this Hopper family that built and owned the large red sand-stone house that formerly stood on the corner of Haledon Avenue and North Eighth Street, which plot is now occupied by the parsonage of the Sixth Reformed Church.
Schools As the passing years saw steady growth of the Prospect Park section education pushed forward. In the early days the children went to a district school, then located at the foot of North Eighth Street near Goffle Road. In later years the need for a separate district became so pressing that towards the latter part of the eighties it gave impetus to a movement to establish a new school district in the Prospect Park area. The present location of the Borough School, at Brown Avenue and North Ninth Street, was the site chosen and work on a frame building began early in 1889.
It is interesting to look briefly at legendary accounts of that undertaking. Before completion of the structure the sixty or more pupils left the North Eighth Street School and continued their studies under David J. Thurston in a large tent pitched close by the new building. Inclement weather was quite an obstacle. Rain leaked through the tent, and at times strong winds blew it down. After a storm the boys and girls often arrived at school to find the tent in a heap, so that it had to be pitched before lessons could begin. One of these pupils, later to become mayor of the borough, was Cornelius Bosland.
Residents of Prospect Park were afforded their first opportunity of managing their own educational affairs with the establishment of their own school district. The three trustees, who governed the school independently of the municipality, were also vested with the power of levying taxes for its operation. Substantial growth in attendance and one addition to the building marked the school's first five years.
The North Fourth Street Christian School also played an important part in the primary education of Prospect Park children, although it never was located actually within the borough limits. Two years of preliminary work culminated in formal organization of this school on August 17, 1892, followed by an official opening in September of that year. There was neither schoolhouse nor tent, so the seventy-five pupils met in the basement of the Second Christian Reformed Church with their two teachers, A. Van Vliet and R. Haan. The latter also served as principal. Unswerving devotion and loyalty carried this school through the first trying years. Slowly but steadily enrollment increased, and in 1895 about one hundred pupils were in attendance. Residents of the borough, as in the past, still give their support to this institution.
The State Legislature then passed an act which gave a Board of Education full charge of all schools in Manchester Township. The abolishment of the local district boards of school trustees created a desire for separate and independent governments throughout Manchester Township, and it subsequently was divided into independent boroughs. Hawthorne was the first to break away from the township.
Independence Achieved
Though loss of control of school affairs was a basic factor in the creation of sentiment for an independent municipality, the idea gathered momentum when the locality's representation on the Township Committee was lost with the defeat of Adrian Struyk and Frank Breen as Township Committeemen. Definite action was inaugurated with preliminary meetings in Breen's store at the corner of North Sixth Street and Fairview Avenue, where plans were outlined for the formation of a new municipality.
At this time the population of this section was estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000. This figure is approximated on the school enrollment available for that period, because the 1900 census did not include Prospect Park as a separate section.
The meetings in Breen's store led to a decision to seek legislative action to form the Prospect Park area into a new municipality. Adrian Struyk's initiative was largely instrumental in the success that was t come, as were the enthusiasm and devotion of Cornelius Van Noort, who assumed the important task of securing signatures on the petition. The borough organizers also enlisted the aid of Lawyer William J. Barbour of Haledon. Mr. Barbour advised against the first plan on the ground that the territory sought to be included was too small, as such an independent municipality could not be self-sustaining. He advised that a greater area should be included and suggested that a strip of land along the river be added so as to give the proposed new borough a voice in any riparian actions which might develop. Even then there were spasmodic and fruitless efforts to make the Passaic River navigable up to Paterson. Those conferences with Mr. Barbour resulted in the drawing of a new plan, which comprised substantially the territory now included in the Borough of Prospect Park. In its revised order, the plan was submitted to the Legislature of 1901. On March 13 of that year the borough was incorporated formally as an independent municipality.
The following April 22 witnessed a memorable gathering in the schoolhouse on Belle (now Brown) Avenue, with the assemblage of the borough's first official family and preparation for the administration of their government. Oaths of office were given by Master in Chancery Martin H.R. Van Hovenverg to Adrian Struyk, Mayor and John Brown, Krine Hook, Peter Pousma, William F. Lambert, Martin Bosland and H. Sanford, Councilmen. Frank Breen was elected Collector of the borough, and Andrew J. Hopper, Assessor. Mayor Struyk's inaugural message, as then presented, was:
"According to custom, I will call your attention to the different divisions of our government and to some of the problems now confronting us. Let us not forget the reasons set forth why we should be separate and apart from the township. Economy was the chief of these, and now, in beginning our municipal existence, let us start upon the economical road, and in so doing let us fix the salaries of our officers at a figure that will conclusively show to all that we intend to begin at home to practice what we have at all times advocated. During the past few days I have made some investigations into the affairs of other boroughs and, based upon this, we will first consider where our money must be expended.
"Our school, you will find, although not under our direct supervision, the most expensive of all our departments streets and highways, our poor, etc., together with internal improvements, will be among the chief items of expense at home, while our quota of state, school and county tax will be the chief item of expense outside.
"Our sources of income are not many, principally derived from direct taxes upon property. We may, in case we pass ordinances licensing peddlers, derive a small income from that source. We have no saloons, and in that particular we are far in advance of some of our neighboring municipalities, who, as a rule, pay dearly for the small income derived from such places. We also have the poll tax and a dog license, and it's your duty to see that the same are collected.
"Other boroughs, as, for example, Hawthorne, drew last year from the state a little more than $1,200 from the railroad and canal tax. We have no railroads nor canals. As a consequence, we miss this income. Taking up again our streets, what is to be done with them? How shall we improve them and how much shall we expend upon them? These are questions which are in your hands for solution, and in this, as in the question of salaries, economy should be your watchword. Shall we have fire protection of our own? This is a question which certainly should receive consideration and be settled either for or against as quickly as possible, and thereby eliminate from our council a question which, judging from the history of other sections, will sooner or later cause discord. The question of street lighting will, of necessity, be one for you to decide also, either pro or con, in the near future.
"The question of our poor will also be one for you to decide. Shall an overseer of the poor be appointed and, if so, what shall be his compensation?
"As the internal affairs of boroughs are managed chiefly by ordinances, a number of ordinances should be passed as quickly as the law will permit. I will mention an ordinance governing salaries; another the use of the streets, so far as fast or careless driving and riding upon sidewalks is concerned, and, gentlemen, these are mentioned only as examples. Others will be found necessary from time to time. There are other officers to be appointed, providing you consider it necessary, as, for example, a recorder, a marshal or Marshals.
"Gentlemen, I have reserved for the last the most important duty that you must perform at a very early date, the settlement between the borough and the Township of Manchester. Please allow me to call your attention to this matter as forcibly as possible, in order that you may familiarize yourselves at once with the matter, so that we will not be found wanting in allowing any matter to escape our notice that would deprive us of any money or property justly due us.
"In closing, gentlemen, allow me to thank you in advance for the assistance I feel confident you will extend to the chair by your advice and support in other ways necessary to insure a successful government."
After the mayor had concluded an adjournment was taken, the object of the officers being to find out their duties before acting in an official capacity.
Thus the town Council was organized, but differences of opinion arose almost immediately in the new governing body. Mayor Struyk's first appointment, that of Cornelius Van Noort as Borough Clerk, was rejected by the Board of Council. The appointment of Thomas Fraser as Borough Clerk was approved, and he served the borough as clerk for nearly twenty years. Various committees also were named. The only one business transaction that was effected at the first meeting was a motion empowering the Street Committee to solicit bids for the collection of garbage, which resulted in the award of a contract therefor to Murk Mater for the sum of $125.00 a year.
At the second meeting a week later the Board of Council confirmed the following appointments: John C. Makepeace, Recorder; John Bosland and George B. Conklin, Marshals; Frank Early, Pound-keeper; and William F. Lambert, Superintendent of Highways. Leonard J. Tynan was named Borough Counsel at the meeting of June 3, 1901.
During the early part of their incumbency, the borough fathers occupied themselves with the establishment of a permanent organization. There were ordinances to be passed creating a Board of Health, fixing salaries, licensing peddlers and dogs, and providing for preservation of peace, as well as details concerning the separation to be settled with Manchester Township. On June 17, these were finally ironed out.
Pending formal organization of a Board of Health, Mayor Struyk and the Board of Council appointed Dr. A. A. Lydecker as Health Inspector and George G. Conklin as Fumigator. Those officials were retained when Health Commissioners Oscar Smith, Jacob Doele, John F. Sanford and Barney Fylstra met for the first time on August 13 in the schoolhouse to name Mr. Smith as their President and Mr. Doele as Secretary.
One of the early ordinances passed by the Board of Council prohibited any commercial activity on Sunday - an ordinance still unchanged in substance, which has served steadfastly to preserve the peace and serenity of the community, especially on the Sabbath. That ruling is but one evidence of the innate traits of the people who formed and still live in the borough. Long before its official organization, the Dutch settlers, who lived in the hill section, maintained close communion with their church. The growth of the borough brought more residents of Dutch birth to these quiet, peaceful environs. More than five decades find Prospect Park's residents still enjoying that same tranquility.
The first year of the Board of Council's existence was marked by only one change in personnel. Councilman Sanford moved out of the borough and was replaced in office by Frank Zeeuw.
Absence of official records necessitates some presumption in determining early occurrences. For instance, the minutes of the Board of Council indicate that its first members were elected for one year only. This fact is inferred from the minutes of the meeting held on March 17, 1902, when the six board members agreed to draw lots to determine who should serve for three years who for two and who for one. Two changes in membership are recorded of that action. Peter Pousma and Barney Fylstra drew three-year terms; William F. Lambert and Krine Hook, two years; and Frank Zeeuw and Leonard Bosschieter, one year. The names of Fylstra and Bosschieter appear on the roster for the first time. It is apparent also, that, while the Councilmen had to be re-elected after one year, Mayor Struyk continued in office for a two-year term. At any rate, the order of sequence in years is the same today as at the beginning, with new mayoralty terms commencing in the odd years and ending in the even.
Mayor Struyk delivered his first annual message on March 17, 1902 to sound the keynote, which has since guided all succeeding officers, when he said: "Our watchword must be economy." At the same time, he cautioned members of the Council to be judicious in the administration of community affairs. He also took the opportunity to express his "sympathy with the heroic and unfortunate Boers in their unparalleled struggle for liberty," and asked that a resolution to that effect be forwarded to the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, and to Congressman James F. Stewart of that district. Contemplating eventual complete independence of the borough, Mayor Struyk strongly advocated "a separate school district" for Prospect Park. Mayor Struyk's active usefulness and loyal enthusiasm are attested to be a vote of thanks for "his efficiency and devotion as presiding officer," which is recorded as having been tendered by the Board of Council at the close of the first year.
Even before Mayor Struyk's appeal for a "separate school district," however, the movement had been afoot. Incorporation of the borough had not changed the status of educational administration, which remained under the supervision of the Manchester Township system, although it had been the loss of school management under the old district plan that had served as the moving force for independent government.
Borough officials chafed under the condition. Members of the Board of Council had journeyed to the capital at Trenton personally to urge passage of legislation to remove the school from the jurisdiction of the township. Success crowned their efforts on June 16, 1902, when a progressive group of citizens convened to organize formally the Prospect Park Board of Education - Adrian Struyk, Gerrit Planten, Krine Hook, H. Campbell, C. Stansbury, Fred C. Brooks, Leonard Bosschieter, Andrew J. Hopper and Garret Sandhuisen. Mayor Struyk was elected to the presidency of the board; Gerrit Planten, district clerk.
At the assumption of council by the Board of Education, there was no eighth grade. Pupils desirous of continuing their studies for graduation were required to proceed to the Haledon School for that purpose. But the growth of the community flourished. School registration alone gave proof. David J. Thurston, who remained as principal, now had a staff of six teachers, whereas previously he had served as the lone schoolmaster.
With expansion came difficulties to test those hardy pioneers and the municipality in its infancy. Shortly after the organization of the school board a smallpox epidemic swept the borough. The community was isolated, but it was sufficient unto itself. Principal streets were heavily guarded to preserve quarantine regulations, nearly twenty extra officers being pressed into patrol service. Though as many as forty cases at a time menaced the very life of the community, effective work on the part of Dr. William S. Green and the health officials prevented the loss of a single life. The epidemic subsided within a month, and the task of fumigation began. Dr. Green first vaccinated John Bosland, later Police Chief, and Doris Faber, then the Marshals. The innoculation took place out-of-doors, at the corner of Hopper Street and Brown Avenue. That done, the marshalls went to work fumigating the homes and the epidemic passed into history.