Today, the area where Route 23, Route 46, and Interstate 80 meet is a veritable ‘spaghetti bowl’ of highways, ramps, and overpasses. Decades ago, though, there was just Newark-Pompton Turnpike (Route 23) and Route 6 (today’s Route 46, but it’s been renumbered a lot).
In the 1960s, before I-80 came through, this was what the interchange looked like. This photo shows us looking east. Route 23 is at left and at right. Some remember there being traffic lights on the traffic circle.
Aerial view, Route 23 & 46 (1964)
(Click on the image to view it full size.)
If you look at the buildings near bottom right — just to the left of the ad “winter supplies” — you’ll see where Orange Trailer was. This trailer-rental company was owned & operated by the Heslin family of Pequannock. (If you have similar memories, let me know in the comments.)
(This is a continuation of the original post that you can find here.)
I found this line drawing in an 1891 journal titled Engineering Record, in an article titled Construction of the East Jersey Water Company’s Aqueduct and Reservoirs. It’s a lengthy account of the massive undertaking of building five reservoirs in north Jersey for the benefit of Newark.
So this line drawing is described thus: “Figure 3 is a view of the three-arch bridge carrying the new highway across an arm of the Oak Ridge reservoir. At full stages of the water these arches will be completely submerged.”
Which, of course, they are, as per the first blog post. If you’re lucky to be there during a drought, you too can see it… even walk on it, if you dare.
Ghost Bridge illustration (1891)
The “new highway” wasn’t all that new; it was the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike, first chartered in 1806 and improved over the years. At the time the Oak Ridge reservoir was under construction, the roadway ran right along the shore of the river. But since the reservoir would flood the valley, the roadway would have to be moved to higher ground, which it was, sometime around 1927.
Looking north on the east shore of the Oak Ridge Reservoir, late 1890s. On the right is the railroad. (Click image for full-sized view.)
In this postcard photo we see the original route of the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike (also known, at that time, as Route 8) which followed the eastern shore of the reservoir. The ridge supporting the railroad is visible on the right, well above the roadway.
And if you examine the photo closely (or click on it to open it up full size), at lower left is the old bridge that led to the village of Oak Ridge.
Where the original roadway was not far above the water line, today’s highway is elevated several yards higher — almost level with those railroad tracks — to prevent any flooding issues. The highway was also straightened, such that it proceeds nearly north (to the left) of the roadway here, and very close to the bridge. Today, if you park on Route 23 South near the bridge, you look down on it, over a very steep incline, and from a much closer vantage than shown here.
Here’s a 2022 photo taken from about the same vantage as the late 1800s photo above. You, too, can trod on the original route of the Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike. (You would actually be trespassing. Go at your own risk; Newark Watershed patrols can be cranky.)
View of the reservoir, and Route 23, from just about the same vantage point in 2024.Click to see full size.
The next post in this series shows the reservoir practically dry, during the epic 1960s drought, in a truly impressive aerial photo.
FARM FOR SALE – The farm belonging to Sam’l Berry, dec’d, on Pompton Plains, is offered for sale, in parts or whole, to suit the purchaser, situated on the main road from Newark to Pompton, also on the road leading to Paterson, and within ten minutes walk of the Church and Academy. For particulars enquire of PETER S. BERRY 157 Charles st, N.Y. or HUGH HEATH, 6 Columbia st Newark, or on the premises.
The “main road from Newark to Pompton” was, in fact, the Newark-Pompton Turnpike. “Within ten minutes walk of the Church and the [Union] Academy” tells us it wasn’t far from the First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains. That’s all I know; perhaps some Berry descendant can add more in the Comments.
Your typical “greetings from” postcard shows a generic illustration of fields, a country road, a lake, or whatever. This one, at least, does appear to have been taken in Pequannock. It shows a lovely view of the river… with Newark’s four-foot water pipeline crossing it.
Postcard sent in 1922
An idyllic scene, ostensibly from Pompton Plains. It’s probably a generic card, as witness the blocky font with the town’s name. “Greetings from YOUR TOWN HERE”.
“Dawn’s Rest” was, in the early part of the 20th Century, one of many places that a weary traveler could put up his feet and relax for a spell. Back in the day, Pequannock — in fact, the whole of north Jersey — was tranquil and restful. It offered a respite from busy city life (by comparison).
Dawn’s Rest ad (1914)
Mrs. Dawn’s place offered “large, airy rooms” just a short walk from the railroad station. Naturally, all the meals were “home cooked”, including vegetables from a no doubt sizable garden out back. And it was open all year, guaranteed to be “an ideal winter home for settled people”.
Dawn’s Rest, Pompton Plains, looking south (early 1900s)
Dawn’s Rest, Pompton Plains, looking north (early 1900s)
We have a pretty good idea where Dawn’s Rest was once situated: on the Turnpike, just south of Jackson Avenue. This 1937 Sanborne map marks it as “vacant”.
Dawn’s Rest location
Today, there’s a strip mall at that location. It’s between the Little Food Inn and the Lutjen building.
So who was “Mrs. A. Dawn”? I can’t seem to find her in either the Ancestry or FamilySearch genealogy databases. Maybe it was a pseudonym.
This building, on the corner of Boonton Ave. and Kiel Ave., started out as Cleary’s Department Store early in the 20th Century. It also served as the town’s post office after the Clearys moved to a different location. Note the unpaved roads, which became quite messy in wet weather.
Just past it is Cleary’s Grocery Market. Across the street is A. Scott, Tailor. Someone on the Butler page on Facebook commented that the tailor shop became Henry Ricker’s Pharmacy, while one of the next stores was King Hiller’s music store. Hiller also played the organ in the Butler Theatre, back in the day.
Click on this hand-colored postcard to see the full-sized version.
Boonton Ave & Cleary building, Butler, about 1907
Here’s how it looked in 2001. (I strive to duplicate the old photos as closely as possible.) It also looked pretty much the same in the early 1980s when I worked for Suburban Trends, which occupied all three floors. The printing press was in the garage next to it.
The buildings across from it are still there, still in use as storefronts. This 2000 photo shows the corner store was Cafe Buono; before that, when I worked in Butler, and for many years before and after that, it was Pro’s Sweet Shop. The locals still speak of it wistfully. It was a great luncheonette.
Lyon’s Theatre sits on lower Arch Street, near the Bloomingdale border. Most folk just called it Butler Theatre. Can’t say I know much about this place, but I’m sure it was the place to be on a Friday night. I wonder what movies they showed?
According to the Facebook Butler page, King Hiller — who owned a music store on Kiel Ave, across from Cleary’s Department Store — played the organ during those silent films. Evidently it closed sometime in the 1950s.
This is a great photo. The view is from the east end of High Street in Butler, looking across the river at Main Street. Click on the photo to view it full-sized.
Otto’s Deli has been a landmark on Glenwild Ave. at Ann Street since the 1960s, as this advertisement will attest. Before that it was Hamburg Turnpike by Vreeland Ave.
The deli was still there, run by a fine fellow named Helmut. I’m told the potato salad is excellent. Have to try it one day when I’m in the neighborhood.
Where was “The Inn”, I wonder? Share your thoughts in the comments.
