by Bradford Boone Memories of Oakland may be slightly shaded these days. What remains, however, are a multitude of impressions treasured by a young man who lived through the depression era in a quaint, bucolic village cradled in the Ramapo Valley. Yet, the roads, grasslands, ponds, trees and buildings that lent their charm to the tranquility of yesterday have all but disappeared. That was yesterday, but yesterday’s gone, and changes over the years have all but obliterated the Oakland of my youth. Fortunately, memory is a unique resource. It brings pleasure upon recall and reaffirms the joys of better times. It embraces the spirit and inspires a never ending quest…
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Marie Sarcka
The following is the obituary of the wife of John Sarcka who was the headmaster of the Oakland Riding Academy in Oakland, NJ. The Oakland Military Academy was the successor to the Calderwood Hotel in Oakland which in turn was the successor to the Bush residence, a 2 story 18th Century residence on Ramapo Valley Road. All the above is now a parking lot and a strip mall located on the east side of Ramapo Valley Road between the railroad tracks and Oak Street. MARIE SARCKA New Windsor, N.Y. Marie Sarcka of New Windsor, a retired school administrator for Oakland Academy in New Windsor and longtime resident of the area,…
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Oakland Beaches -The Glory Days
Oakland Beaches -The Glory Days In 1930 the full effects of the Depression were setting upon the nation. Employment was scarce and money was more than tight. Compounding the effects of the Depression in Oakland was that our farms no longer in existence. While Oaklanders had little money, we were nonetheless rich in many resources. Specifically, we had free-flowing, pristine river teaming with fish, mountains filled with game, fresh air and hotels and inns built to accommodate the many visitors and guests generated mostly by the businesses here. And, most importantly, we had access via the railroad. That superb combination created a huge opportunity for local residents to capitalize upon.…
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Pleasureland Past and Present
Pleasureland Past, Present,… As the Borough of Oakland considers the future of the Pleasureland property, The Journal offers a multimedia presentation covering Pleasureland’s past and present …including photos, music, and videos…for those interested in reading about the infamous event, you can click here. ….Otherwise, enjoy the better memories…. click to enlarge “Our annual family ‘picnic’ was held at Pleasureland, or Suntan Lake! Our parents would take us to all these cool places, like Wild West City, or Fairy Tale Forest, or The Land of Make Believe! (I’m tearing up, here!) We had no cable television, so Saturday morning TV consisted of Wonderama! (If you got up REAL early, you had…
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The Pulis House and Pond
The Pulis House and Pond Sometime In the early to mid 50s, my wife Elaine’s father John Oldenburg rented a house on Ramapo Valley Road and opened Bergen – Passaic Engineering and Surveying. Soon after, he accepted a position as Borough of Oakland Engineer and became close friends with Milt and Aggie Pulis. Before moving to Oakland in 1957, Elaine recalls frequent trips to the Pulis home with her brother John and mother Betty, who would later become the Valley School Nurse. . One of Elaine’s special recollections is of the top of a massive concrete piling that came up from the basement and ended flush with Pulis’s living room…
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Installment #9 – The NJ Disease That Created Oakland
Boroughitis On April 8, 1902 Oakland seceded from Franklin Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. Hurrah! And in the words of Martin King, Jr., we finally were “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last!” While I will soon write far more about the details of this wondrous event, it’s important to do some stage setting with regard to the state and county geo-political environments in 1902. In other words, what was going on around us to enable the huge step of secession that has benefited both you and me mightily since. How did the forefathers of this town pull it…
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Installment #8 – The Unauthorized Biography of the Founder of Oakland
David C. Bush It may be that many in Oakland have heard of David C. Bush and it’s probably that most might even be aware of Bush Plaza adjacent to the railroad tracks in town. But it’s a good wager to suggest that most do not know of his contributions to community and, equally, that this community would likely not exist were it not for him. He was, in my opinion, the true father of Oakland. When you think of the name of David C. Bush, think of the railroad, think of post master, think of our own Bergen County Freeholder, think of naming our town ‘Oakland’ and above all,…
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Installment #7 – The Rise of Townships in Bergen County and the Creation of Oakland
How the Brits Helped Us Depart The rise of townships in Bergen County…..Hmmmmm….Some might suggest that this is an article to assist borderline insomniacs while others might postulate that it is for the anal retentive interested only in the arcane minutia of little known events and connections of many, many years ago. Well, this mighty pen (keyboard) will quickly dispatch those dragons……Hopefully if you remain awake to the end. Hang in and don’t despair as there are some pictures. I’ll try to answer your first question: What is a township and where did they come from? The answer is that a township is an administrative unit of a larger geopolitical…
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Installment #6 – The Ponds Church
The Ponds Church – Serving God and Oakland for Over 300 Years The Ponds Church in Oakland…..This writer struggles to present its importance and contribution to this community since it was established in 1710. And even now when I have much information at my fingertips about it, I still marvel at its contribution to Oakland and say a silent prayer in thanksgiving for its presence here as Oakland would simply not be what it is without it. If one were to think about it for a moment, the Ponds Church was 66 years old when the Declaration of Independence was read from its pulpit and 153 years old when the…
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Installment #5 – The Bergen County Courthouse Comes to Oakland
Oakland History Reconsidered Recap of Oakland History Presentation Oakland Sheriff Hangs Prisoner Without a Trial We Oaklanders take great pride in the historical fact that in 1780 the Bergen County Courthouse was moved to Oakland. Of course, we think, where else would it be moved to other than here, this fine valley, with its law-abiding citizenry. Oakland was, we think, the first, the best and the natural choice. However, the facts tell a different story. This article is about the how’s and why’s of the arrival of the Bergen County Courthouse in Oakland in 1780 during the American Revolution. It is also about the hanging of a prisoner of the…
