When was Mahwah, NJ founded?
124989#1
The area that is now Mahwah was originally formed as Hohokus Township on April 9, 1849, from portions of Franklin Township (now Wyckoff). While known as Hohokus Township, territory was taken to form Orvil Township (on January 1, 1886; remainder of township is now Waldwick), Allendale (November 10, 1894), Upper Saddle River (November 22, 1894) and Ramsey (March 10, 1908). On November 7, 1944, the area was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as the Township of Mahwah, based on the results of a referendum held that day, replacing Hohokus Township.
Mahwah, New Jersey
10506976#4
The beginning of railroad service in Mahwah dates to the 1840s with the Paterson and Ramapo Railroad, which had its charter approved on March 10, 1841 by the state of New Jersey. The railroad was constructed through Mahwah in 1848, and while a stop was added at Mahwah, it was nothing more than a flag stop for passengers. The passengers would have to notify the station agent, who would flag down a passing train to stop. Once the Erie Railroad leased the Paterson and Ramapo in 1852, the improvement of service at Mahwah was not improving, and it was not until citizens of Mahwah persuaded the railroad that there was enough passenger and freight traffic for a depot that one was constructed in 1871. The land for the new depot was donated by Albert Winter, a local citizen.
Mahwah station
43673658#11
On June 29, the Mahwah Township Council had passed an ordinance, effective July 27, barring nonresidents of New Jersey from its parks. Residents had complained that out-of-staters were flooding Mahwah's parks, sometimes by the busload. After the ordinance passed, but before it went into effect, Mahwah police chief James Batelli received many phone calls from residents asking that it be enforced against Orthodox Jews. He contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor, Gurbir Grewal, for advice. On July 27, the date the ordinance was to go into effect, Grewal issued a directive ordering Mahwah police to disregard the ban, stating that the ban could lead to racial profiling, unlawful searches and seizures and the illegal targeting of Orthodox Jews. In response, Rob Hermansen, president of the township council, stated that that body would rework the ordinance to continue putting Mahwah residents first.
2017–18 Bergen County eruv controversy
43673658#9
When the matter became generally known in mid-July, there was what local reporter Tom Nobile called a "firestorm of opposition" from local residents, with some expressing concerns that the eruv would allow Orthodox communities in Rockland County to expand into New Jersey. Groups formed on social media, including one named Mahwah Strong, in opposition to the eruv. Mahwah Strong claimed 3,000 members within days; a founder, Robert Ferguson, stated that his group would act as a check and balance to ensure the township enforced its laws, and noted, "I don't view this as a hostile takeover of the town." Two hundred people gathered in a Mahwah park on July 22 to support the eruv's removal. An online petition to "Protect the Quality of Our Community in Mahwah", initiated by former township council member John Roth, reached 1,200 names before being taken down due to what Roth called inappropriate comments, made by some signers. Similarly, Mahwah Strong lost its Facebook page following an influx of comments deemed "hateful".
2017–18 Bergen County eruv controversy
124989#8
Ford Motor Company operated the Mahwah Assembly plant from 1955, producing 6 million cars in the 25 years it operated before the last car rolled off the line on June 20, 1980. At the time of its completion, it was the largest motor vehicle assembly plant in the United States. The Ford plant, along with other businesses such as American Brake Shoe and Foundry Company, helped contribute to the economic development of the town and its reputation for low home property taxes. The Mahwah town sports teams remain named Thunderbirds in honor of the Ford plant.
Mahwah, New Jersey
3954303#7
Construction on the $3.25 million campus-style facility began in August 1958, with 13 buildings spread out over of the 62 acre property to accommodate 600 students from Mahwah and Allendale. Delays in starting the work meant that the initial set of classrooms would not be available until November 1958, with completion of the 1,200-student capacity facility due for February 1959. Before the buildings opened, the district rented space from Ramsey High School, with Allendale and Mahwah students who had already started in the Ramsey district remaining there until graduation. With the opening of the high school, the Mahwah district's elementary schools were changed from K-8 to K-6, with the new high school serving students in grades 7-12.
Mahwah High School
10506976#7
In 1908, electrical crossing gates were installed in Mahwah, as Rockland Electric came in and powered up the municipality. The new electrical gates would be managed by a man who was working in the gatehouse that used to serve as the watchman's shanty. The 1904 depot only lasted over a decade, as in 1914, the station burned due to a fire that was left untouched. Mahwah still did not have a fire company in the 16 years following the burning of Oweno, Local residents had been talking about organizing one and getting a fire engine, but that ended up not occurring. A new depot was constructed by the Erie Railroad in 1915, an irregular shape design with a wood and stucco design. The roof was created out of asbestos shingles.
Mahwah station
3954303#8
In May 1963, voters in Allendale and Upper Saddle River approved a referendum to create Northern Highlands Regional High School, with the expenditure of $3.65 million to build a facility on a 40-acre site, with plans to complete the building in time to start classes in September 1965. The Northern Highland school building, completed at a cost of $4 million, was dedicated in February 1966. The first all-Mahwah graduating class was in 1967.
Mahwah High School
33000540#10
American Brake Shoe in Mahwah, New Jersey at or around the time it changed its name to ABEX was working on a 48-track Route Switching System (Hump Yard) for I believe the Santa Fe Railroad. Two versions of the switching unit were created, one in Mahwah and one in Chicago. The Chicago version was a fully transistorized unit that fit on a tabletop; the Mahwah version used stepping relays, dozens of each. Two engineers and one engineering technician {William (Bill) C. McElroy jr} did the design and build of the walk-in closet sized seven foot tall unit. The railroad 'bosses' looked at both designs and decided that rather than retrain their personnel to understand transistors, they would rather keep with the relays and thus, purchased our version. There was one minor problem,they wanted the relay closet to be 'portable', and thus we welded a six-inch eye hook to the top of the cabinet housing. That was the day I understood that our nation's railroads were in deep trouble..
Denison Hydraulics
10506976#8
In 1967, the Mahwah Historical Society acquired the 1871 depot and began to restore the structure. In order to do this, the station was moved from its site to a spot across from Winter's Pond. The depot required repairing the roof, installing new glass, repairing doors and chimney. Special molding was inserted around the depot, and the flooring required replacement. The depot was completed on September 22, 1968. In 1970, the society acquired a caboose once used by the Erie that was constructed in 1910. The Erie donated ties and rails in return for payment of the track crews and the caboose was moved by crane into its new spot.
Mahwah station