YESTERDAY, TODAY &
TOMORROW
The Dutch were the first foreign settlers attracted to the
Township of Washington. Prior
to this, it is said that the Lenape Indians were the
inhabitants. They
were mostly gone by the early 1700’s.
Only the names remained, such as: Pascack, Kinderkamack,
Musquapsink, to name a few. The
Dutch cultivated the apple trees and fields which the Indians
started and pumpkins, spinach and grain grew in the valley.
The area became known for its apple cider.
The
Township of Washington, organized by 1840 by an act of the State
Legislature, was one of the largest townships in Bergen County,
separating from Harrington Township.
It had an area of 19,525 acres (about 30 square miles)
and it had a background of solid Dutch settlers reaching into
the 19th century.
John Ackerman was elected as its first official leader.
An 1840 map shows about a half dozen houses in the area,
mostly farmers who settled along Pascack and Ridgewood Road.
Population and trade in the Township grew with the
completion of the N.J. and N.Y. Railroad through the Pascack
Valley in the decade following the Civil War.
These changes heralded the idea for communities to have
self-government. Between
1894 – 1909, the municipalities of Emerson, Westwood,
Hillsdale, Woodcliff Lake, Rivervale, Park Ridge and Montvale
applied to the state for charters allowing them to form new
boroughs. The
Township of Washington dwindled to a mere 3-1/4 square miles.
By 1910, the Township had a population of 100.
In 1920 – 194; 1930 – 402; 1940-491; 1950-1208;
1960-6,623; 1970-10,577; 1980-9,550; 1990-9,200; and 2000 –
closing in on 10,000.
We have a number of interesting places in our town, one
of which is “Seven Chimneys” – a large 18th
century stone house that stands high on a grassy knoll in the
southern portion of the Township.
Legend has it; George Washington stayed there a short
period of time, which gives our community special history and
pride.
The Township has carefully planned and zoned
its town so it can withstand the absence of
industry and be a fine residential community.
The small patch of northeastern New Jersey, the Township of Washington calls home, is still a community
where trees are plentiful, sidewalks are rare, crime is minimal
and industry is not welcome.
On Pascack Rd. there is a recently renovated shopping center
anchored by an A & P, 3 banks, a movie complex and 24
specialty stores. This
comprises the 5% of commercial development in the town.
The Township of Washington is only 4 to 7 minutes from
one of the finest hospitals in New Jersey, Valley in Ridgewood.
There are 5
condominium complexes and now a luxury senior citizen
condominium development.
The Township of Washington and Westwood share the Westwood
Regional Public School. The
Township of Washington Public Library with a variety of cultural
programs for all ages is housed on Woodfield Road.
There is an all girls’ parochial high school,
Immaculate Heart Academy on Van Emburgh Ave. with churches and
synagogues representing all religious denominations. There are eight private tennis courts, a swim club and a YM/YWHA
for competition and exercise.
The Township of Washington has an extraordinary recreation
program for each season and for all ages – and take great
pride in their Senior Citizens Activity Center.
The
Township of Washington is a tranquil town surrounded by a web of
major highways including Rt. 17 and 4, which facilitate easy
commuting to other parts of New Jersey. Accessibility to buses
and trains alike for the daily commute to New York make this
town a desirable place to relocate.
Many old-time families have grown up in the
community and have established strong ties here; and today we
are witnessing 2nd and 3rd generations
moving back into the community.
The Township of Washington is an ever-growing
community but even with all our 21st century
improvements, we still feel strongly about preserving the
residential character of the Township of Washington – Could
that be why our children return – a little part of rural
America is perhaps the legacy they are looking towards.
|