Part 1

Transcriber Note

An Index has been added at the end to facilitate location of subjects. Text emphasis is denoted as =Italicized Bold= and _Italics_.

Newark's Last Fifteen Years, 1904-1919.

The Story in Outline.

Newark's Last Fifteen Years, 1904-1919.

Interesting Facts, arranged Alphabetically by Subjects

=This compilation is an attempt by a busy library staff to put into form convenient for use a large group of such facts and figures as experience shows are often asked for. The notes which follow tell how we happen to be so interested in Newark's story, why so many questions on that story come to us, and what kind of help we hope Newarkers may get from it.=

About seventeen years ago the Library began to collect information about Newark. We began with a search for good topical poetry and for historical stories so written as to appeal to young people. Of these we found very little; though poor verse and poor history were both abundant.

Then we extended our search to the field of Newark as a going concern. In this field we found so little in print that was fairly descriptive of the actual Newark of the time, from water supply to sewers, and from parks to jails, that we began to write it ourselves.

We were moved to do this largely because certain changes in school work led many pupils and teachers to come to us for information. Our brief, typed and multigraphed statements about subjects like the city hospital, paving and street cleaning, proved to be very welcome. We gathered a vast deal of Newark information and, in time, cast much of it into convenient form for use in the Library and for lending. In these days we held in the Library several annual exhibits illustrative of and calling attention to events of both early and recent days in Newark's history.

Mr. Frank J. Urquhart, one of the editors of the Newark Sunday Call, had long been an advocate of the study of Newark by its citizens, both old and young. At the request of the Library, he wrote a brief history of Newark for the use of young people, which later the Board of Education adopted as a text-book in the schools. Mr. Urquhart helped the Library very materially in the collection of historical data and in exhibits of Newark life and customs in the past.

Several years ago the schools took over this Newark work and, of course, vastly expanded it, and made of it a Course, running through all grades, on the City of Newark, and supplied for it a text-book and more than forty pamphlets of Newark information.

Dr. A. B. Poland, then Superintendent of our Schools, approved heartily of all this Newark study work, and at his request Assistant Superintendent J. Wilmer Kennedy prepared the Course of Study and the pamphlets just mentioned.

The demand for Newark information which came to the Library was, of course, rather increased than diminished by this adoption of a Newark Study Course by the schools.

Moreover, Newark has now a much larger number of persons who are interested in its development and its character and its recent self-improvement than it had fifteen years ago. Consequently, the requests received from adults for facts and figures concerning recent events in our city are much more numerous than they were formerly.

Looking back over the world's history with the perspective of many years, you would not find it an easy matter to select any fifteen-year period about which you might wish to write even the briefest review. That is, events appear to lose their importance or to produce unexpected results with the passing years, and only a comparatively few happenings remain conspicuous for all time and for all peoples.

There is, however, a peculiar fascination about history in the making, and especially local history within one's own memory. Perhaps it may be compared to the study of a dead language as an intellectual pursuit and the study of a live language for the pleasure or profit of human intercourse. Both are desirable--the one, as a background, the other, as a foreground of education.

Newark's history from the days of Robert Treat was so thoroughly reviewed at the time of the 250th Anniversary Celebration, 1916, that we have elected to treat as background everything prior to 1904 and to concern ourselves with the story of Newark from that year to the present. This means that the high school graduate of June, 1919, should find between the covers of this pamphlet a record of the city from the time he or she entered the kindergarten. With these dates in mind it was really astonishing to find how many changes and what material advances had been made within the fifteen years. As you thought of the building of the City Hall and Court House; the changed appearance of the "Four Corners"; the opening of the Hudson and Manhattan Tubes; the new Public Service Terminal; the adaptation of automatic appliances in fire fighting; the impetus given movements like "Safety First", vacant lot cultivation and thrift with its school banks; the bigger civic undertakings like City Plan, Passaic Valley Sewer; Port Newark and the unexpected trend of its development due to the war; the war itself, representing the effect of a world event on a city's activities; the 250th Anniversary, a local celebration, but illustrative of Newark's relations with the outside world; and, finally, of the change of city administration to Commission Government--you wonder whether history at close range invariably presents so much of interest, or whether 1904-1919 happens to be a particularly progressive period, or whether Newark, suddenly conscious of its backwardness in many lines, is now making up for lost time.

So many facts presented themselves that the pamphlet soon outgrew our original conception of it, becoming much larger than was originally intended. It is still, however, a succession of facts and in no sense a consecutive history. Because it grew from fact to fact, suggested by one assistant and perhaps set down by another; and because from the first day the idea was suggested to the day when work stopped, a lapse of three months, we were daily expecting that copy must go to the printer on the morrow, the entries are not as complete, or the whole as well balanced as we should wish. One consideration which delayed our work, but which should contribute to any value it may have, was the fixed desire to avoid loose, indefinite statement and to resist the inclination to make irrelevant comment when real information is wanting or difficult to acquire. This determination grew as our own searches and questionings showed how common is this looseness of statement. For the facts and information which it was impossible or very difficult to get from records on file, we wish to make grateful acknowledgment to city departments, newspapers, societies and individuals who responded promptly and graciously to our calls for assistance.

August, 1919.

C. V. D.

Newark: 1904-1919.

_All-Year School_: Established at Belmont Ave. and McKinley schools, June 1, 1912. Each year's work divided into four 12 week terms instead of two 20 week terms. Enables pupil to complete 8 grades' work in 6 years instead of 8, as he ordinarily would. Attendance during summer term is not compulsory.

_Almshouse_: New home for aged and infirm poor at Ivy Hill, beyond Irvington, erected 1913-14 and opened Jan. 1916. Accommodates 400 to 500 people. Has farm of 70 acres so those who are able can work and help to support themselves. Surveyed by Russell Sage Foundation, Dept. of Surveys and Exhibits, 1918-19.

_Alternating Plan_: Introduced in Cleveland and Madison Schools, 1913. Nov. 1915, Cleveland and Abington Ave. schools organized on complete plan with daily vocational and recreational activities.

Essential feature consists in so co-ordinating work of two teachers that each may make alternate use of classroom, court and auditorium. Makes for economy in erection of buildings, since under the alternate plan, it is possible to accommodate in any fully equipped building from 40% to 50% more pupils than under the regular system. Broader curriculum with longer school day. Modification of the "Wirt" system practiced in the schools of Gary, Indiana.

_Apartment Houses_: City directory for 1906 lists apartment houses, 41, separately for the first time; now over 300.

_Athletic Association, Public School_: Formed April 26, 1904.

_Athletic Field, Public School_: Bloomfield and Roseville Aves. Annual meet held here for first time June, 1913.

_Automobiles_: N. J. Dept. of Motor Vehicles was established 1906 for the registration and supervision of automobiles. Prior to that time this work had been done in the secretary of state's office and originally applications for car registrations were signed by the county clerk. In 1900, as far as the first records show, there were not more than 10 or 12 motor-drawn vehicles in the entire state. In 1918, the number registered was 155,519 exclusive of motorcycles.

_Band Concerts_: First given, 1903, 25 in a year; appropriation, $3,000. 1918 appropriation, $5,000; 60 concerts; attended by 350,000 persons.

_Bank Buildings_: See Buildings.

_Baths, Public_: Public Bath Assoc. formed, 1907. By courtesy of Bd. of Street and Water Commissioners undertook supervision of 3 old bath houses on Summer Ave., Morris Ave., and Walnut St.

Bill passed N. J. Legislature, 1910, permitting Newark to issue bonds for public baths, up to $250,000.

Site of Montgomery St. bath purchased and work begun, 1911. Opened, Sept. 1913. Cost, $100,000.

Placed under the control of Playground Commission, 1913.

Hamburg Pl. (now Wilson Ave.) bath opened, July, 1917.

Baths closed by order of Mayor on account of lack of coal, Dec. 10, 1917. Re-opened by vote of Commission, Jan. 25, 1918.

_Birth Rate_:

_Population_ _Rate per Thousand_ 1904 272,000 25.8 1905 283,000 25.1 1906 290,000 26.3 1907 300,000 27.9 1908 305,000 29.2 1909 311,000 30.8 1910 347,469 29.6 1911 352,000 30.9 1912 370,000 29.3 1913 380,000 29.4 1914 395,000 29.0 1915 375,000 29.2 1916 385,000 29.7 1917 405,000 30.4 1918 430,000 27.0

_Blind, Work for_: N. J. Commission for the Blind created by act of Legislature, 1909, to supervise and encourage work for the blind. State headquarters, originally established at 54 James St., Newark, now located at 147 Summer Ave.

Here the Commission conducts classes in reading, writing, stenography, typewriting, basketry, cane-seating, weaving, piano tuning, and other manual arts. It also sends out teachers to instruct the adult blind in their homes. First public school class for blind in Newark inaugurated, Sept., 1910, in Washington St. School.

Under act of 1918, creating State Dept. of Charities and Corrections (now Dept. of Institutions and Agencies), this Commission is given entire charge of all state matters relating to the blind.

_Boy's Vocational School_: Opened April, 1910, in Warren St. School, at Warren and Wickliffe Sts.

Building of new school, to be located on Sussex Ave., bet. 1st and 2nd Sts., and known as the Seymour Vocational School, in honor of James M. Seymour, Mayor of Newark, 1896-1903, has been postponed by war. Building plans and curriculum will follow recommendations made by an Advisory Committee to Bd. of Education (appointed Aug., 1916) in its survey, Vocational Overview of Newark, New Jersey, which was prepared by Charles H. Winslow.

_Buildings_: (This list is here entered to show how many municipal, educational and notable commercial buildings have been erected within the last few years.)

American Insurance Co., Park Place and E. Park St. Present building completed Feb., 1904.

Merchants' National Bank, 770 Broad St., moved to new building Feb. 22, 1905.

New City Hall, Broad St., between Green and Franklin Sts., cornerstone laid Aug. 5, 1903, formally opened Dec. 20, 1906. Cost $2,500,000.

New Court House, junction of Springfield Ave. and Market St., completed 1907. Cost $2,000,000.

Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co.'s new building. Broad and Clinton Sts., completed 1908.

Firemen's Office Building, 16-story, at "Four Corners", completed 1910.

Ironbound Trust Co., Market and Ferry Sts. Present building opened July 25, 1910.

N. Y. Telephone Co., 281 Washington St. New building completed Nov. 1, 1910.

East Side High School, Van Buren St., bet. Warwick and Nichols Sts., opened March 1, 1911.

Broad St. Theatre, Broad St., opp. Central Ave. Opened under name of Shubert Theater, Jan. 8, 1912.

Lehigh Valley Railroad Station, Meeker Ave., Weequahic Park section, opened Jan. 27, 1912. Cost $60,000.

Central High School, High St., bet. New and Summit Sts., opened Feb. 1, 1912.

Essex Co. National Bank Building, 753 Broad St. Now occupied by Fidelity Trust Co. Completed June, 1912.

National State Bank, Broad and Mechanic Sts. Present building completed Oct. 1, 1912.

L. Bamberger & Co.'s Department Store, Market, Halsey and Washington Sts., opened Oct. 15, 1912.

Kinney Office Building, 12-story, at "Four Corners", completed 1913.

New Board of Health Building, William and Plane Sts., completed 1913.

Young Women's Christian Association, 53 Washington St., completed 1913, and dedicated Nov. 3, 1913.

Washington Trust Co., 477 Broad St., completed Sept. 1913.

South Side High School, Johnson Ave., cor. Alpine St., opened Sept. 8, 1913.

N. J. State Normal School, Belleville and 4th Aves., opened Sept. 16, 1913.

West Side Trust Co., Springfield Ave. and High St. Present building opened July 1, 1914.

Public Service Terminal, Park Place, completed, 1916. Cost, $5,000,000.

Robert Treat Hotel, Park Place, named for founder of Newark. Completed during the 250th Anniversary Celebration, May, 1916.

Federal Trust Co., 740 Broad St., adjoining Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co.'s building and erected by Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co. Completed 1918.

Central Railroad of N. J. Station, South Broad St. Work begun on new building, Nov., 1916; completed Feb., 1919. Total cost, including property acquired, $650,000.

_Carteret Book Club_: Established for printing fine editions and study of art of book making, Dec. 12, 1908. Published, 1917, a volume "Newark", containing "a series of engravings on wood by Rudolph Ruzicka, with an appreciation of the pictorial aspects of the town by Walter Prichard Eaton". Limited edition of 200 copies printed by Merrymount Press, Boston.

_Catholic Children's Aid Association of N. J._: Organized 1904 and headquarters established in Newark with paid agent. Proceeded to withdraw children from Catholic institutions and to place them in private Catholic homes. Instituted work to prevent separation of families and placing of children in institutions, by prosecuting parents and perpetuating homes. Headquarters now located at 776 Broad St.

_Charities_: Bur. of Associated Charities, organized 1882, reorganized 1904. Private organization, supported by voluntary contributions, but with work so far-reaching and constructive that it has become a center for co-operative effort among all charitable agencies in the city. Has a visiting Housekeeper Department, Provident Savings Fund, General Information Bureau and trained social workers to study causes and conditions. In 1903-04 there were 239 contributors and contributions amounting to $3,000. In 1918-19 there were 3,000 contributors and contributions of $48,000.

In 1906, at suggestion of Bureau, Bd. of Trade appointed a committee to examine claims of charities soliciting contributions, and to try to name those worthy of support. This is now known as the Bd. of Trade Endorsement Committee. In 1917 there were 63 endorsed charities.

In 1912 and again in 1916, the secretary of the Associated Charities published a classified directory of the philanthropies of Newark, a genuine contribution to the study of social problems.

For facts about distinct lines of work or particular undertakings consult this directory or the Associated Charities Bur.

_Charter, City_: A city charter is the constitution or frame of government of a city conferred on that city by the state legislature.

First charter incorporating township of Newark, granted by Queen Anne to Robert Treat, 1713. Legislature incorporated _township_ of Newark, 1798. Legislature incorporated it under name of Mayor and Common Council of _City_ of Newark, 1836. The 1857 revision, authorized by act of Legislature, embodied all changes made since 1836.

Mayor Haussling appointed a committee which formulated and published draft of new city charter, 1911.

Mayor Raymond appointed "Charter Revision Commission", which presented its proposed charter to Legislature, 1917. It provided for a mayor, and Commission of five, elected at large. Mayor to have veto power and to appoint heads of departments. This was defeated in Assembly, March, 1917.

See also Commission Government.

_Child Hygiene Division, Board of Health_: Established Aug., 1913, to supervise care of new-born babies, to study causes of infant mortality and to teach art and science of mothercraft. Chief, 4 clinic physicians and 14 nurses now in attendance. Has continued work of consultation stations, formerly directed by general board, at which advice is given expectant mothers and mothers of children up to school age. Supervises boarding-homes of infants up to 3 years of age, which by ordinance of July 6, 1915, must be licensed by Health Bd. Also supervises unmarried mothers and is planning convalescent home for them at Ivy Hill.

A supervisor of midwives was appointed Nov., 1914, to investigate and report on practice of midwifery and has continued to direct work of midwives, who attend 50% of the births of the city.

_Christmas Trees, Municipal_: The first tree, a Norway spruce, 48 ft. high, with spread of 30 ft., was set up in Military Park, Christmas, 1913. Illuminated at night with 800 electric lights, and 50 in star shape at top. Week of festival followed. Similar festivities held around trees set up in the park next 2 years.

In 1916 a great Norway spruce was set up in south lawn fronting City Hall. Inside the building, a smaller tree was placed in rotunda for week of festival. These City Hall Christmas Festivals brought together old and young, rich and poor, for singing and games and Christmas good cheer of all kinds. For the past 2 years there has been no municipal Christmas Tree, but Christmas festivities have been held in the City Hall.

_Churches_: Items of church history,--buildings erected, parish houses annexed, missions established, etc.,--are too numerous to be recorded in a brief, general outline. Detailed sketches of individual churches have been written by Rev. Joseph F. Folsom and appended to Urquhart's History of Newark, Vol. II., pp. 949-1020.

_City Home_: See Delinquent Children.

_City Plan Commission_: "City planning means development of our city according to carefully prepared plans; stopping all further random development, all haphazard extensions, and all improvements for certain favored sections or limited localities. It means considering every suggested change or improvement as to its effect on the entire city and all suburbs and nearby towns.

"City planning is for all, and especially for the man of modest income. It means better housing and attractive and healthful surroundings for the humblest homes. It means securing for the cheapest tenement the sunny, airy, sanitary conditions which health, science and common sense demand.

"It means a City Efficient, a City Clean and a City Enjoyable."

An act providing for city plan commissions passed N. J. Legislature and became a law March 30, 1911. On June 1, Mayor Haussling appointed the Newark City Plan Commission. For its investigations and work, $10,000 was annually appropriated until the adoption of Commission Government. Under this form of government there were no further appropriations for special boards and the City Plan Commission went out of existence, Dec. 31, 1917.

Some of the subjects studied and reported on by the Commission aside from street arrangement, were Centre Market, Housing Problems, Municipal Recreation, Interurban Improvement and Harbor Development. The Commission issued "City Planning for Newark" and "A Comprehensive Plan". Both are valuable documents and rich in Newark facts.

_Civil Service Reform_: The system by which public offices are filled and promotions made through competitive examinations held under federal, state or city government. It is known as the "merit system", since it looks toward the appointment of men to office because of their competency. It is a reaction from the "spoils system" or the practice of giving public offices to political favorites. The state measure was adopted, 1910, by Newark, by popular vote.

_Coal Shortage_: 27,000 emergency coal cards, entitling each person to 1,000 pounds of coal, were issued by Bd. of Health during coal shortage in the winter of 1917-18. U. S. government instituted Workless Mondays to conserve coal, and boards of education closed school buildings for lack of fuel.

_College of Technology_: See Technical School.

_Comfort Stations_: First public comfort station, in Military Park, ready for use July, 1910. Cost $14,734. Maintained by Shade Tree Commission, now a division of Dept. of Parks and Public Property.

_Commission Government_: Adopted Oct. 9, 1917, at a special referendum election. Vote 19,069 for, and 6,053 against.

Present commissioners elected Nov. 13, 1917, to serve until May, 1921, are:

Mayor Charles P. Gillen. Dept. of Public Affairs.

Alexander Archibald. Dept. of Revenue and Finance.

William J. Brennan. Dept. of Public Safety.

Thomas L. Raymond. Dept. of Streets and Public Improvements.

John F. Monahan. Dept. of Parks and Public Property.

Change of government authorized under Walsh Act, passed by the N. J. Legislature April 25, 1911. 5 commissioners, elected by the people and responsible to them, replace a mayor, 32 common council members, numerous departments and boards. The commission names one of its members to be mayor. He becomes chief Commissioner, but has no veto power.

_Contemporary, The_: Organized April 23, 1909, by representatives of Sesame, Philomathean, Irving, Saturday and Municipal Art Clubs. To meet need for single large organization of Newark women, working toward a better knowledge of civic conditions and for the development of good fellowship among women.

204 active and 198 associate members enrolled at first regular meeting, Oct. 19, 1909. Admitted to State Federation of Women's Clubs, Oct. 24, 1909. Legally incorporated, April 19, 1915. Total membership, Sept., 1918, was 1,461.

Among its activities have been the institution of a social hygiene movement; the organization of the Housewives' League; advocacy of the founding of a State College for Women; opening a boarding home for girls; and work for prison reform, mothers' pensions, child welfare and delinquency, emergency relief and food conservation.

_Co-operative School_: First established April 3, 1916, in Fawcett School of Industrial Arts. Wrappers from several department stores given lessons in salesmanship during working hours without loss of wages.

_Course of Study_: Uniform course for high schools adopted May 27, 1915. Educational and cultural value of manual arts recognized by requiring them in all curricula. Arts curriculum carrying full credit in music and art introduced as major subjects. All other courses modified and adjusted to meet more adequately needs of students preparing for office, shop, home or higher institution of learning.

_Crippled Children, School for_: Opened July 7, 1912 in Home for Crippled Children. 17 pupils ranging in age from 4 to 13 years. Heretofore no schooling had been provided.