Scotch Plains and Fanwood

By Richard Bousquet and Suzanne Bousquet

This fascinating new addition to the Images of America series offers a glimpse into the unique history of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, New Jersey.

This wonderful new book contains more than 200 fascinating photographs, maps, and prints and brings to life the people, places, and events which have defined Scotch Plains and Fanwood over the centuries. These images invite us to explore the area's rich history from the time of its first settlement, in 1684, to the present day.

Scotch Plains and Fanwood were originally one community, also encompassing the area now known as Feltville or Glenside Park. From the beginning, the region played a critical role in American history. The Battle of the Short Hills, from June 14 to June 30, 1777, between the British under General Howe and the Revolutionary Army under George Washington, took place here. During the nineteenth century, Scotch Plains became an important stop on the Swift Sure stage line between New York and Philadelphia. As New York City burgeoned during the nineteenth century and the railroad arrived in Central New Jersey, Scotch Plains and Fanwood became a bedroom community of the metropolis. Finally, in 1895, Fanwood was chartered independently. Later, Feltville became part of the Union County Park System.

Local authors Richard and Suzanne Bousquet have brought together a unique collection of photographs and maps from both the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood and from private collections. They have combined this superb collection with informative captions to create a fascinating journey down memory lane that will be enjoyed by old and young, resident and visitor alike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Oct 1, 1995
• ISBN: 9781439637128

Richard Bousquet

Local authors Richard and Suzanne Bousquet have brought together a unique collection of photographs and maps from both the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood and from private collections. They have combined this superb collection with informative captions to create a fascinating journey down memory lane that will be enjoyed by old and young, resident and visitor alike.

Book preview

SCOTCH PLAINS AND FANWOOD

Richard Bousquet

Suzanne Bousquet

Copyright © 1995 by Richard and Suzanne Bousquet

9781439637128

Published by Arcadia Publishing

Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Portsmouth NH, San Francisco CA

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008926680

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The Vanderdonck map of the New Netherlands, 1656. This map was the foundation of Ogilby’s map of 1671 and others published subsequently.

We lovingly dedicate this compilation to our daughter, Danielle.

We hope she will cherish our history as we cherish her.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Introduction

Acknowledgments

One: The Way It Was

Two: The Blue Hills

Three: Mapping Progress

Four: Fanwood

Five: Scotch Plains

Six: Schools

Seven: Churches

Eight: Wartime and Beyond

A map of the settled portion of East Jersey, 1682. It was compiled from various sources and will give the reader an idea of the extent of the settled portion of the province about the time it passed into the possession of the ‘twenty-four’ [original settlers of this region]. This map was reproduced in 1846 in the collections of the New Jersey Historical Society.

Introduction

Imagine it is the year 1684. You have been at sea for months. You finally come on shore, to find … a land well-settled with people. You begin a journey inland passing droves of deer, elk, wild turkey, beaver, wolves, bears, and rattlesnakes. You encounter a tiny flea—a troublesome little flea. (Today, we still encounter this troublesome little flea, but we call it a mosquito.)

You continue your journey until you reach the first range of mountains—the blew hills of the Watchung Mountains. There, you find mountain streams of fresh water and land for cattle to graze. You walk through fields of wild strawberries so thick you only see the color red. Wood for building abounds in the area. There are no lawyers, physicians or parsons—an advantage for those who wish to stake claim to vast tracts of land. You settle here, just 11 miles from New Perth (now Perth Amboy), and 12 miles from Elizabeth-town. Civilization is close, yet not too close.

Our journey begins with this image of the land as it was in the 1600s, and will continue with photographic images of Scotch Plains and Fanwood. Along the way, a unique, privately-owned collection of historic maps will illustrate the increasing development of these areas. This journey will excite the imagination, because our communities have often played an important part in the development of our country. The long and fascinating history of Scotch Plains and Fanwood includes: the acquisition of landrights from the Native Americans in the treaties of 1778 to 1883; the importance of the area for agriculture and transportation via the Swift Sure stage line from New York to Philadelphia via Scotch Plains; the Revolutionary War and the Battle of the Short Hills, which was fought in the ash swamp of Scotch Plains in June 1777; the Civil War and evidence of our citizens’ involvement in the Underground Railroad;