Clifton (Acquackanonk) February 100 Years Ago
Feb. 4. 1902
FROM CLIFTON TOWN
Daily Budget of Village
Happenings Gathered For The News
William Hughes and family, of Madison Avenue near Main Avenue moved from Clifton to Passaic today.
A black horse was found walking up Clifton Avenue, last evening by Ray and Russel Cooper. The horse and carriage belonged to a tea and coffee merchant of Passaic. While he was attending to business, the horse walked up Lexington Avenue and turned up Clifton avenue. It was taken to the Clifton hotel and Alex. McCloud telephoned to the police in Passaic. The owner was there reporting the loss of the animal. He took the next car to Clifton and claimed the horse.
As
reported in the Passaic Daily News.
Feb.5,1902
FREE DELIVERY FOR
ACQUACKANONK TOWNSHIP
It Was Discussed Informally Last Night -
Postmaster Mahony Is Interested
As reported in the Passaic
Daffy News.
Feb. 5, 1902
MEETING WAS VERY SHORT
Acquackanonk
Committee Wound Up Its Affairs
NO
FIVE CENT TROLLEY FARES Company Sent Curt Note to the Committee Denying the Request Flagman
Wanted at Crooks Crossing - Other Matters.
The
February meeting of the Acquackanonk Township meeting which was held last night
at the Clifton post office, was the shortest on record. Promptly at 8 o'clock
Clerk Van Brunt called the roll. All the members were present. ,
The
road ordinance passed second and third readings and is now a law. Hereafter it
will be a misdemeanor to open any road without fist securing a pen-nit from the
committee, which will only be granted to persons who promise to put the street
in its same condition. A heavy fine will be imposed upon offenders.
Committeeman
Thorburn's request to the traction company for five-cent fares from the Big
Tree through the township was denied by that company in a short letter, which
read: "Your request is refused."
Mr.
Gravatt, of Lakeview, wanted the township committee to communicate with the
Erie officials and ask for a flagman at the Crooks avenue crossing, claiming
that a number of narrow escapes of pedestrians and drivers of vehicles have
lately taken place. Chairman Thorburn will confer with the freeholders about
the matter, as that avenue belongs to the county.
John
Blum, of Delawanna, will be the guardian of the peace at that place hereafter.
He was appointed a special officer.
This
practically rounds up the business of the present committee, as the election
will be held in March. The committee will meet this evening to audit the books
of the various officials and will continue until the work is done.
Ex-Collector
Lawson will be asked to come before it and give his final accounts.
Committeeman
Prentiss, of Albion Place, is the retiring member, and will undoubtedly seek
reelection. As he has been a model official the township will probably support
him and continue him in office.
As reported in
the Passaic Daily News.
Feb. 7. 1902
FROM CLIFTON TOWN
Daily Budget of Village
Happenings Gathered For The News
There will be a chicken pie supper in the Reformed
church tonight. It is given by the aid society. Tickets ten cents; supper
extra.
A party of young folks met on
Westervelt's millpond the other evening and enjoyed the skating. Later they
went to the home of Miss F. Kerr in Union Avenue and enjoyed refreshments and a
social time.
As reported in
the Passaic Daily News.
Feb.13,1902
ELECTION IN THE TOWNSHIP
Acquackanonk Voters to
Choose New Officials
THE POLITICAL POT IS BOILING
Term
of Assessor Richard Berry Expires - He Will Be Opposed By Joseph J. Rooney -
Other Offices To Be
On
Tuesday, March 11, Acquackanonk Township will hold its annual election.
The
term of Assessor Richard Berry expires, which is of the most important office
of the lot to be filled. Mr. Berry is out for re-election, and there seems but
little doubt that he will secure the office. Mr. Berry will be opposed by
Joseph J. Rooney; the Lakeview builder, who will be the Democratic nominee.
John
Prentiss, of Albion Place, will seek re-election to the township committee. As
he does not seem to have any opponent in the Republican ranks for the position,
his chances for securing the nomination are bright. The Democrats have not as
yet heard of any one who wants the place.
Two
commissioners of appeals and two constables are also to be elected. Unlike
former years, the election in the township this spring will be unusually
friendly. The Republicans are on good terms with one another, there being no
opposing factions. The Democrats will not have any unfriendly feeling in their
ranks, which makes it seem that the election will be a regular love feast.
The
Citizens' party of the township has gone out of existence, thus leaving the two
parties to fight their battles without any interference.
As reported in the Passaic Daily News.
Feb.15,1902
CLIFTON FIREMEN THANKED
Chief Stagg Writes Letter of
Appreciation
The following communication from Chief Stagg of the Paterson fire Department, was received by the Clifton Fire Department:
Chief
Fire Dept., Clifton.
Dear
Chief:- Allow me on behalf of the Paterson Fire Department and the citizens of
this city, to thank you all for assistance given us on Sunday last and for the
offer to come. Would have called earlier in night but did not know whom to
telephone to. If your men left anything here, on return, please send list so
that they may be looked up.
Yours truly, John Stagg, Chief.
The
sentiments embodied in the above kind letter and the appreciation shown for the
effort made by the men of the Clifton company, more than repay for the
willingness on their part to lend a helping hand. This company is a private
organization and deserves credit for the able manner in which its equipment is
gradually becoming perfected.
As reported in the Passaic
Daily News.
The above letter is in
response to the assistance the Clifton Fire Department provided infighting the
Great Paterson Fire of February 9, 1902.
The fire began around
midnight when an overheated stove caught fire in the trolley barn of the
Paterson and Hoboken Street Railway between Broadway and Van Houten Streets
near Main. The flames and embers were spread by gale force winds to the center
of Paterson's business district and Sandy Hill residential area.
Fire companies from
surrounding communities, as Clifton above, assisted the Paterson Fire
department in combating the flames. Damage was eventually estimated at $10,
000, 000. Included in the 459 buildings destroyed were Paterson's city hall,
police headquarters, high school, and library; churches, banks, elementary
schools, clubs, and a movie theater. Amazingly, only two deaths were attributed
to the fire
The above information is from
The New York Times Sunday February 3, 2002 and the book "A Century of
Progress" The story of the First National Bank of Passaic County through
its flrst one hundred years, and a brief history of Passaic County, its people,
and its growth; Published by the First National Bank of Passaic County with the
collaboration of John T. Cunningham, Clinton B. Axford, and Frank Lauren Smith.
1965.
Feb.26,1902
POLITICS IN ACQUACKANONK
Two Primaries Called For Tomorrow Evening
SPRING ELECTION ON MARCH 11
Republicans
Will Hold Forth at Clifton and Democrats at Richfield
Two
preliminaries will be held in Acquackanonk Township tomorrow evening for the
purpose of nominating candidates for the spring election, which will take place
on March 11. The Republicans will hold forth at their headquarters in Clifton,
while the democrats will go to Richfield.
Richard
Berry seems to be the most likely candidate for assessor. His opponent for the
Republican
John
Prentiss, of Albion Place, will have as his opponent for committeeman in the
primary Dayton Weaver, of Richfield, who a few years ago wanted to be assessor
on the Citizen's ticket, but who was beaten so badly at the time by Mr. Berry
that he has not been heard from since until the present time. It is doubtful if
he and Mr. Stagg, who are in a combination will get enough votes to make them
winners.
The
Democrats have set their eyes on Joseph J. Rooney, of Lakeview, and as there is
no other candidate he will win out easily for the assessorship. For
committeeman, William Barrett, of Albion Place, is talked about, as is D.
Henniger, of Richfield, but as neither of these has signified his willingness
to run, the Democrats may induce Joseph Hamil or Peter N. Ruffing to become
their candidate.
The
other offices to be filled are of minor importance, and no fight is being made
over them.
As reported in the Passaic
Daily News.
Feb.27,1902
FROM CLIFTON TOWN
Daily Budget of Village
Happenings Gathered For The News.
Clifton Avenue was flooded yesterday far worse than ever known. The water was from two to three feet deep. Third Street, from Passaic Avenue to Clifton Avenue, was also badly flooded.
Miss
Jessie Willard has returned from a few weeks visit to Pennsylvania.
As reported in the Passaic
Daily News.
Feb.28,1902
POLITICS
LIVELY IN THE TOWNSHIP
Acquackanonk Citizens Nominate Tickets
PEACE AND QUIET REIGNED
Republicans of Clifton Unanimously
Endorse Richard Berry For Assessor, While Democrats, in a Harmonious Gathering
at Richfield, Put up Joseph J. Rooney as His Opponent.
"Let there be peace" is the motto of the good Republicans of Acquackanonk Township, as was shown at the primary which was held at their headquarters in Clifton last night.
The following ticket was
selected without any opposition:
For
Assessor - Richard Berry.
For
Member of Township Committee - Eugene F. Piaget.
For
postmaster - Herbert Sipp.
For
Commissioner of Appeal in Case of Taxation - William Hoffineister.
For
Surveyors of the Highways - John H. Frederick, Philip T. Piaget.
For
Constables - Alexander McLoud, Cornelius laffler
For
Poundmasters - Abraham VanWyke, John Van Houten, Daniel Lawler, John A. Fowler,
Lyman Paxton.
For
Macadamizing and Repairing Macadam Roads - $5,000. For Repairing and Opening
Roads - $ 1,000.For the Support of the Poor - $ 1,000.
The
total number of votes cast was 160 and of these only one had a scratch on it,
which was in reference to
The ticket selected is a good one and there is
hardly any doubt but that it will win out on election day. Richard Berry, the
candidate for assessor, is known to have done the township more good in keeping
the assessments down to a reasonable rate than any one else. He fought the men
in the courts who went before the state board of taxation, claiming that their
assessments were too low, which surprised that body, as it had never heard of
any one making such claims before. The board investigated the matter and found
that these certain individuals were in error. These same parties later went
before the commissioners of appeals and asked to have their taxes reduced, claiming
that they were too high, thus showing the inconsistency of their arguments.
This incident will win many votes for Mr. Berry.
A
sort of surprise was the presence of John H.
Adamson, who, it was thought, was a staunch Democrat. Mr. Adamson, however, did
not vote, and the Democrats will have hopes of reclaiming him to their ranks.
There is likely to be a little unpleasantness for
the candidates, as it proposed by a few "Republicans" to select an
"Independenf' ticket at the old Citizen's headquarters, in Richfield, next
Tuesday night. But as both the representative bodies have made their selections
in good faith, it is hardly likely that any harm will be done. At the
"independent"primary it is proposed to run Daniel Stagg for assessor,
who claims to be the best Republican in the township, although he was the
Democratic nominee for assessor in Paterson a number of years ago, but was
defeated. Dayton Weaver will be the nominee for township committeeman. Mr.
Weaver has been a candidate before, but showed his qualifications by being
beaten so badly that he has not shown himself since. The other candidates to be
selected will be made up of "Republicans" and "Democrats"
who do not like the running of things in either party.
"Oh so easy," was the popular song among
the Democrats of Acquackanonk Township at the primary last night at Richfield.
There was no opposition whatever against the slate, which is composed of the
best Democratic material in the township.
Despite the bad weather, there was a fair attendance.
John De Mott, the lean giant of the Democrats, and "Father" Dowling,
the "Hercules," both of Clifton, braved the bad roads to help their
party. Mr. Dowling came for a special purpose of nominating the chairman of the
primary, but, unfortunately, was too late, the selection having been made in
the person of Lawyer McDermott, of Lakeview. C. H. Weller was selected as
secretary, or, rather he selected himself, as nobody seemed to want the
"responsible" positions, as fully a dozen men were nominated for the
office, including himself, but all declined the honor.
John Van Winkle acted as judge and Messrs. Mueller
and Hoffman as tellers.
The chairman appointed as the committee on vacancies
Freeholder Thomas, John Weller and Joseph Mueller. The committee on printing is
composed of 0. H. Weller and Joseph Rooney.
The following is the ticket selected, which was made
unanimous, there being no opposition: For Assessor - Joseph J. Rooney. For
Township Committeeman Joseph Mooney. For Poormaster - John Weller. For Commissioner
of Appeal in Case of Taxation - Henry Klucken. For Constables - John F. Kearney
and Henry W. Frede. . For Surveyors of Highways - Joseph Ruffing and George
Max. For Poundmasters - Daniel Lawler, Albert Buenzli and Henry Kahman.
The appropriations were $5,000 for macadarnizing
roads, $ 1,000 for repairing roads and $ 1,000 for support of the poor.
After the primary there was a rumor that some of the
candidates were merely put up as "dummies," the idea being to endorse
some of the candidates of a ticket which is to be made up of a mixture of
Mugwumps, but there is hardly any truth in it, as the candidates nominated
promised that they would not withdraw in favor of any one, as it would hardly
be fair after the selection had been made by the Democratic representatives.
A
prominent Democrat said last night to a News
reporter that if the Democrats endorsed Dayton Weaver, who will be the
candidate on the "Kicker" ticket, he would for one vote the straight
Republican ticket. He also said that he was not alone, as there were scores of
others who would do the same.
As reported in
the Passaic Daily News.
As gathered by
Donald C. Lotz