ENGLEWOOD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Newsletter, April, 2010

Hospital’s 120 Year History to be Explored

Englewood Hospital accepted its first patient in 1890.  Today Englewood Hospital and Medical Center is Englewood’s largest employer, a major part of our local economy, and a valued facility used by residents of a wide surrounding area.  On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, long-time Hospital attorney Michael Prigoff will present a program discussing the major changes and growth which have taken place over the last 120 years.  Prigoff’s grandfather, Abraham Lebson, was formerly chair of the hospital’s board, and his family has been closely associated with the Hospital for many years.

The program will take place in the Mackay Room of the Englewood Public Library at 7:30 PM. 

Annual Award Dinner Honors Phelps Gatehouse

On March 31, 2010, the Society’s 25^th Annual Award Dinner was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Our Award was presented to the City of Englewood for its maintenance and preservation of the gatehouse in Mackay Park currently serving as the office of the Englewood Recreation Department. It is the only remaining gatehouse of the massive William Walter Phelps estate dating from the 1880's.  The Award was presented by Dr. Will Lee and accepted by Mayor Frank Huttle.

As part of the program, President Norman Davis updated those present on the Society’s activities over the previous year, Treasurer Phyllis Breen quizzed the audience about famous people who have lived here, and long-time resident Thomas Monroe shared his memories of growing up near Mackay Park.  In addition a plaque was presented to the Woman’s Club of Englewood to replace the certificate they had received as honoree in 1992.

Trolley Tours Well Received

On the Sunday afternoons of October 18, and again on November 1, 2009, the Society sponsored tours of Englewood using the City’s old-fashioned trolley cars. The tours started and ended at the new 4West Diner on South Van Brunt Street.  About two hours long, the tours covered sites of historical or other importance throughout the City.  Highlights included the new Grieco Elementary School, the tower at Dwight Morrow High School, and the Walnut Court home of Englewood’s founder, J. Wyman Jones.  Norman Davis, Will Lee and Phyllis Breen served as tour guides.  The tours were oversubscribed, and a repeat is tentatively scheduled for September 26 of this year.

 Colman Highlights Englewood Women

On March 3, 2010, local author Penny Colman gave an illustrated talk in the Mackay Room about important women in Englewood’s history.  Penny has written extensively about unsung American heroines. Notably including the members of the Woman’s Club of Englewood who led the fight in 1900 to stop quarrying of the Hudson River Palisades, there have been many Englewood women who played important roles in the world and in our community.  Penny showed their pictures on a screen and invited the audience to identify them.  The program was well attended and well received.

Arnold Brown Speaks on Slavery

On January 6, 2010, local historian Arnold Brown gave a powerpoint presentation to an overflow crowd in the Mackay Room on “The Institution of Slavery as it Existed in Bergen County from the 17^th Century to the 19^th Century.”  Brown, the descendent himself of Bergen County slaves, brought to life with statistics, pictures and memoirs the reality of African-American slavery as it existed in our own county until the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery in 1866. Bergen County, until well into the 20^th Century, was largely made up of big farms where initially slaves provided much of the labor.  New Jersey in the early 1800's provided that no children could be born into slavery, but existing slaves retained their status until they were freed or died.

First Presbyterian Church Anniversary

On November 4, 2009, Robert Ryder, historian and member of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church, spoke in the Mackay Room about the eventful 150 year history of his church.  Founded in 1860, one year later than Englewood, it was also celebrating its sesquicentennial.  Its first minister, Rev. James Harrison Dwight, was also one of Englewood’s founders.  The original church building was moved and is now the chapel for Brookside Cemetery.  The current building at 150 East Palisade Avenue received our annual award in 1994.  Dating from 1890, its architecture is handsome Victorian Gothic Revival with Tiffany and LaFarge stained glass windows.  Dwight Morrow’s funeral there in 1931 attracted former President Coolidge and several cabinet members.

Committee Participation

The Englewood Historical Society is eager to expand its membership, its visibility in the community and its activities.  We welcome ideas and participation from all interested persons.  The following operative committees in particular will be happy to include additional members:

Public relations committee - Seeking to fulfil our mission of informing the public about Englewood’s history, and publicizing our events.

Program Committee - Organizing an interesting schedule of programs and speakers each year.

Membership Committee - Recruiting new members and keeping them involved

Dinner Committee - Choosing a recipient and venue and sending invitations for our annual award dinner

Persons interested in joining any of these committees

should contact Norman Davis at 201-567-8857 or n_w_davis@mindspring.com.

Historic License Plates

Please remember that, when you are renewing your automobile registration, you can make a contribution to historic preservation by paying a little extra for one of the special historic preservation license plates.

Check Out Our Website

Go to englewoodlibrary.org/departments.htm on your computer and see previous newsletters, a list of famous people who have lived in Englewood, important dates in our history, and other information.

Annual Meeting Selects Officers

At the Annual Meeting on March 3, prior to Penny Colman’s talk, the following slate of officers and board members to serve for the next two years was unanimously approved by the members present:

President                     Norman Davis

Vice President             Beverly Mitchell

Treasurer                     Phyllis Breen

Secretary                     Natalie Beaumont

Board Members          Bobbie Bouton-Goldberg

                                    Philip Chartrand

                                    Frances Christopher (honorary)

                                    Nicole Clark

                                    Barbara de Mare

                                    Sondra Greenberg

                                    Betty Grossman

                                    Vreni Hartwig

                                    Will Lee

                                    Olga Mosciaro

                                    Irmari Nacht

                                    Austin Volk

                                    Frances Whelan

                                    Frances Wilson

Englewood Historical Society & First Presbyterian Church

Celebrate Sesquicentennial

The Englewood Historical Society and the First Presbyterian Church (FPC) are joining together to present a program about the church and its relationship to the town of Englewood during the past 150 years. Both are celebrating their sesquicentennials and their history has been intertwined over these years. 

The event will take place in the Mackay Room of the Englewood Public Library on Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30pm. Bob Ryder, FPC historian and member of the Session of FPC, will give a talk on the history of the church, which was started in 1860. The founders of Englewood were also the founders of the church and throughout the years, church members played a vital role in the activities of the town.

First Presbyterian Church at 150 Palisade Avenue , with its  handsome Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and beautiful stained glass windows by Tiffany and LaFarge, is an important part of Englewood ’s heritage. In 1994, the EHS gave its annual award to the church “in recognition of their outstanding achievement in restoration and preservation of an historical building”.

FPC is having a year-long series of events that celebrate the past and move forward to the future. Each month there will be special programs to which the public is invited - carnivals, picnics, camps, lectures, concerts, art festivals, labyrinth weekend, as well as relevant worship services. For those interested in walking through the building - church, chapel, sanctuary, viewing the stained glass windows -  there will be a sign-up sheet for tours at a later date.   

The talk at Englewood Library, 31 Engle Street , is open to the public. For more information visit FPC website at www.englewoodpres.org or call 201-568-7373 or 201-567-8857.