Detailed History of Rt. 208 The highway was redesignated NJ 208 when work began in 1952 at the southern terminus with NJ 4. The route, which was completed northwest to US 202 in 1960, was originally constructed as a two-lane undivided highway (one lane in each direction). The state purchased additional right-of-way for a second carriageway, and bridges were built to accommodate additional lanes. The second two-lane carriageway was built during the late 1960’s, bringing NJ 208 up to four-lane divided arterial standards. In 1993, the NJDOT realigned the northern terminus of NJ 208 in Franklin Lakes to coincide with the completion of the long-delayed I-287. New exits also were…
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Sonya Hansen Huhn – Growing Up in the Hansen House
Sonya Hansen Huhn Recalls Her Life and Times Growing Up in the Hansen House with Her Parents Mom and the Men Who Came to Dinner Growing up in a boarding house/ vacation resort/ tourist home is different than growing up in a regular house or an apartment. We always had guests. In the summertime guests would fill all of the 27 rooms. Usually they’d stay a week at a time. When the summer ended my folks would welcome boarders. Some stayed a month…the ones I remember best stayed longer. There was this one man called, “ Christiansen” he came for a weekend in the summer and stayed for two years.…
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Sonya Hansen Remembers Ruth and Didi Nielsen and the Nielsen House
Sonya Remembers Ruth and Didi Nielsen and the Nielsen House Nielsen House located on the site of the Post Office Parking Lot Across from the Ponds Church Ruth and Didi They were sisters, but you never said….Ruth or Didi…it was always the Ruth and Didi. Ruth committee suicide at 57….four years later Didi died of cancer. Neither married… we could only speculate on why Ruth killed herself. She was a nurse, and she died from an overdose. After Ruth died, Didi was alone, she was teaching math in Butler High., I don’t know why she decided to retire so young, perhaps then you could retire with a pension at that…
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Encampment on the Ramapo – 1776
The Revolutionary war “Encampment on the Ramapo” Today, the location known as “Green Meadow” is part of Ramapo Reserve, a high class luxury development on the west side of the Ramapo river in Oakland, New Jersey. Access is limited to residents and little if any of the original setting remains. The property extends up the mountain and into old Camp Todd boy scout camp. This mostly quiet stretch of the river once passed by the early colonial style home of the Fox family, and since the 1930’s was home to Mr. Sidney Kingsley, a famous early screen producer and playwright. His wife was a silent screen actress, Madge Evans and…
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The Colony
Linda Anders & Bob Blumenthal On Sep 3, 2009, at 8:14 PM, Linda Anders wrote: From: “Linda Anders” Subject: The Colony Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 Hi , I just discovered your website & am enjoying so very much. In 1971 my dad was told that by the time he would be 40 years of age he would no longer be able to walk due to a back injury (He is 81 now & walks just fine) but because of this my parent sold their house in Bergenfield & moved to The Colony. We bought 2 attached houses on riverside drive . #48. Two log cabins made for the summer.…
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Romaine Family
Genealogical History Of Hudson And Bergen Counties New JerseyEARLY SETTLERS OF BERGEN COUNTY – Part B Originally published in 1900Cornelius Burnham Harvey, Editor 1682) North of Zabriskie. in section 22, lay lands natented to Claps Jansen Romeyn, fronting east on the Hackensack and extending to Sprout Brook. Romeyn conveyed parts of these to his sons, John, Albert, Daniel, and Claps Romeyn, and to David Ackerman, John Zabriskie. Peter Laroe, and Henry Van Giesen, husbands of his daughters Gerrebrecht, Elizabeth, Lydia, and Sarah, respectively. Jurian Westervelt, Isaac Van Giesen, Panlus Vanderbeck, and John Berdan each purchased farms from Romeyn, in this section, all bounding east on the Hackensack. Section 24 comprised…
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Oakland History: An Op Ed View
I’ve been engaged for a few years now on Facebook presenting the history of Oakland to all who desired to fondly recall their roots. And I have done this as a relative stranger among the multitude who grew up here in Oakland and indeed lived, breathed and who were so enriched by the simple, wonderful joys of our Mayberry. Along the way since my wife and I moved here in 1979, I have been blessed with many friends, many of whom grew up here and shared what it was like then. I am insanely jealous. I grew up in Bergenfield, NJ when we moved there from the Bronx as one…
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Ponds Cemetery Graves
Ponds Cemetery Oakland, Bergen County, New Jersey As of 4/22/2017 Source: http://www.interment.net/data/us/nj/bergen/ponds/index.htm Contributed by Richard Hrazanek. Abbott, Harvey H., b. 1 Nov 1919, d. 11 Jan 1971, New Jersey SSgt 3607 Ord Ham CO WWII Abbott, James B., b. 1918, d. 1958, s/w Mary B. Abbott, Mary B., b. 1919, d. 1997, s/w James B. Abbott, Priscilla A., b. 1919, d. 1995, s/w Harvey H. Abed, Danielle, b. 12 Mar 1963, d. 11 Apr 1963 Acker, Catharine, d. 13 Dec 1856, 82y 1m 21d Acker, John D., d. 19 Jun 1830, 49y 2m 5d Ackerman, Adell, no dates, 13y, d/o of John A. Ackerman Ackerman, Catharine A., b. 5 Nov 1839, d. 17 Jun 1870, w/o John W. Ackerman,…
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Notes on Clifford MacAvoy
Notes on Clifford MacAvoy The MacEvoy trail is named for Clifford E. MacEvoy who was a wealthy contractor of large public works. MacEvoy helped conceive and construct the nearby Wanaque Reservoir. In the 1920’s, MacEvoy bought property in the Ramapo Mountains to form the Bergen County Hunting and Fishing Club. MacEvoy’s estate was sold and purchased by the State of NJ using Green Acres and federal funds in 1976 and became what is now known as Ramapo Mountain State Forest. Mayor of Oakland 1936-1942 Died in 1960 Buried at Ponds Cemetery Married to Bernice Ryerson Daughter married Bud Verveat – Oakland Mill Built Ponds memorial Bldg Statrted Rt 208 $543,724 grubbing and clearing contract for…
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Once There Was Indians All Over This Place
“Once There Was Indians All Over This Place” 2 23 Mar, 2016 in Features “Once There Was Indians All Over This Place” By Kevin Heffernan That wonderful and memorable quote is directly from a sign that was once proudly displayed from the flag pole for generations in Bush Plaza. The quote and depiction of an Indian of an unknown origin form a tearful lament, a proud but sad reminder of Oakland’s past and a vehicle for the questions as to why they left, when did they leave and where did they go. It is tearful lament because it weeps for the despicable and shameful treatment of primarily the Dutch toward the Lenni Lanape…
