Downtown Oakland What Happened to Oakland’s Downtown 9 Oct, 2014 in Features / OaklandNJ What Happened to Oakland’s Downtown? By Kevin Heffernan Downtown Oakland…..Well folks, I’m sad to say that this term is a bit of an oxymoron. No, I’m not poking fun at it and I’m not attempting to abuse the priceless memories of those who grew up here. So why is it an oxymoron and what happened to whatever we refer to as downtown Oakland? In 1872 the wilderness of a farming Oakland had a railroad, a railroad station and large house serving as a ticket agency and as the post office. Then realizing that local citizens needed stuff that the railroad…
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The Relatively Recent History of the Wigwam
The Relatively Recent History of the Wigwam by Those Who Lived and Remembered It – As of 3/7/2014 The Ramapo Wigwam as it was officially called was opened around May 1966 by my parents and the Parettes as partners, it was to be an Old Fashioned Ice Cream parlor. My mother ran a contest in all grammar schools to actually name the store. The winner received a prize. If my memory serves me, doubtful at our age, but it was to open around time of the opening day baseball parade. Work was started in 1965 to do total renov. Inside of it. I do remember Mrs. Frank was one of…
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Once There Was Indians All Over This Place
“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 flagpole for generations in Bush Plaza. Flagpole at 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 Indians and then continued by the British. 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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How the Brits Helped Us Depart
How the Brits Helped Us Depart 2 19 May, 2014 in Features / Oakland Time Travels Installment #7: The Rise of Townships in Bergen County and the Creation of Oakland or How the Brits Helped Us Depart By Kevin Heffernan 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…
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History of the Railroad in Oakland
History of the Railroad in Oakland Source: The History of Bergen County, James Van Valen, 1900, p. 185-6
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Biography of David C Bush
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Bob Spear Home
pic#1 Our old home on what the Boro referred to as Nielsen Avenue which in fact was a dirt road we called Spear Lane. The “proposed” Avenue was to connect Long Hill road to Grove Street for a main entry to develop the entire area. It was particularly a “sore spot” one day to us when a Survey crew hired by the Boro came through without asking permission and staked out a broad “right of way” right across our property, across our pond, up our driveway and down across our field, pounding rib boned survey stakes in the ground! We quickly went behind them and tore up their survey stakes…
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Bob Spear on his Ancestral Bush Residence
Bob Spear on his Ancestral Home-The Bush Residence 7/10/2013 “My great grandfathers’s home circa 1870 on Valley Road- later the home of David C. Bush & Anna F. Spear and much later the Oakland Jewish Center. Henry I. Speer’s farm was next door opposite Ponds Church burying ground. The kitchen area on the right, huge barn in rear where my brother played as a child,” Bob, Thanks for adding additional info on this building. Please post your your comment as I think that it would be good for everyone to know and and appreciate both your and Oakland’s heritage. At the bottom of the pic is a hand written notation, “The Bush…
