Newark Public Library

“ The demand for Newark information which came to the Library was, of course, rather increased than diminished by this adoption of a Newark Study Course by the schools.
Moreover, Newark has now a much larger number of persons who are interested in its development and its character and its recent self-improvement than it had fifteen years ago. Consequently, the requests received from adults for facts and figures concerning recent events in our city are much more numerous than they were formerly. ”

“ Frank J. Urquhart, one of the editors of the Newark Sunday Call, had long been an advocate of the study of Newark by its citizens, both old and young. At the request of the Library, he wrote a brief history of Newark for the use of young people, which later the Board of « 2 » Education adopted as a text-book in the schools. Mr. Urquhart helped the Library very materially in the collection of historical data and in exhibits of Newark life and customs in the past. ”

“ Joseph F. Folsom and appended to Urquhart's History of Newark, Vol. II., pp. 949-1020.
City Home: See Delinquent Children.
City Plan Commission: "City planning means development of our city according to carefully prepared plans; stopping all further random development, all haphazard extensions, and all improvements for certain favored sections or limited localities. It means considering every suggested change or improvement as to its effect on the entire city and all suburbs and nearby towns.
"City planning is for all, and especially for the man of modest income. ”

“ Juvenile court act, providing for separate trial of all offenders under 16 years, passed by N. J. Legislature, 1903. Essex Co. Juvenile Court established in Newark the same year. To prevent association of young offenders with hardened criminals. Judge may commit the boy or girl to a reformatory institution or refer the case to a probation officer. In the latter case the child is released but must report regularly to the officer until the probation period is passed.
House of Detention, 120 Newark St., county institution maintained in connection with juvenile court, was opened Dec., 1910. ”

“ For notes about branches, see chronological "Story of the Branches", in pamphlet "The Roseville Branch", published 1917.
Children's Books. The Children's Room at the Main Library always has a special collection of children's books to lend to children who live near enough to visit it. The branch libraries lent books also to children in their neighborhoods. The School Dept. sends to any teacher who wishes it, a school or classroom library of 25-40 books to lend to the children in her class. 400 or 500 of these libraries go into schools every year and 15,000 children read the books. ”

“ Prepared in collaboration with Newark Bur. of Combustibles and Fire Risks, Public Service Corporation, Employers' Liability Commission and State Bd. of Health, teaches how fires may be prevented, many street and railway accidents avoided, industrial workers safeguarded, diseases combated and first aid administered.
Law providing that no vehicle should travel at a greater speed than six miles an hour when approaching a schoolhouse, provided signs easily visible were placed on the highway, indicating school locations, passed by N. J. Legislature, April 6, 1915. ”

“ Charter, City: A city charter is the constitution or frame of government of a city conferred on that city by the state legislature.
First charter incorporating township of Newark, granted by Queen Anne to Robert Treat, 1713. Legislature incorporated township of Newark, 1798. Legislature incorporated it under name of Mayor and Common Council of City of Newark, 1836. The 1857 revision, authorized by act of Legislature, embodied all changes made since 1836.
Mayor Haussling appointed a committee which formulated and published draft of new city charter, 1911. ”

“ A member of the city police force has charge of this work under attendance department of Bd. of Education. Members are appointed each term from students of upper grades in schools. A chief is chosen in each school. The chief and other members take a pledge and each is furnished with an arm band as emblem of authority. There are 50 girls and 600 boys in the force. Duties: To prevent taking of unnecessary risks by pupils in going to and returning from school; To guard younger children against traffic accidents and to prevent disorderly conduct among school children on the street ”

“ Employment of county prisoners and payment of earnings to their families was provided for by N. J. law passed 1915. Wardens of jails are instructed to give preference to men serving terms for nonsupport. At Essex Co. jail in Newark, $3,000 or $4,000 have thus been contributed to prisoners' families otherwise left destitute. Benefits will increase as practice is further systematized.
Probation System: Probation and suspended sentence first introduced by act of Legislature, April 2, 1906. ”

“ In addition there is the Newark Parental School, at Verona, formerly known as the City Home. Maintained by the city for the most difficult cases from ungraded schools. Provides a home as well as schooling like the Essex Co. Parental School, except that it takes boys only.
Dental Clinic Association: Organized 1909 and financed from private sources. Later supported by city under N. J. law of 1910, with amendments 1911 and 1913, allowing Common Council to appropriate $10,000 annually. Provides free dental services for children under 16, unable to pay for treatment. ”

“ Whooping Cough: An ordinance passed Sept. 15, 1915, requires children under 10 years of age with whooping cough to wear in the street or any other public place, a yellow band around the arm, marked "Newark Health Department, Whooping Cough". This is a measure to prevent the spread of disease.
Woman Suffrage: In view of the recent adoption of the Susan B. Anthony amendment by U. S. Congress, a review of the suffrage movement in N. J. from earliest times to the present, may be of sufficient interest to warrant the disregard of limiting dates. ”

“ One consideration which delayed our work, but which should contribute to any value it may have, was the fixed desire to avoid loose, indefinite statement and to resist the inclination to make irrelevant comment when real information is wanting or difficult to acquire. ”

“ Is in accordance with the principle that imprisonment is primarily for reformation and that offenders should be released as soon as they have shown themselves again ready to be fit members of society. ”

“ When the lending of books outgrew deposit stations, branch libraries were the natural result. After branches were established, deposit stations were discontinued, Nov., 1914.
From 1905 to 1915, seven general branches in rented stores and two school branches, were opened for the convenience of residents in neighborhoods two or more miles from the main library. All branches closed in 1918 because of insufficient funds to carry on the work, which had grown to large proportions. ”

“ There were 35 Junior Red Cross organizations in schools; over twenty thousand articles were made for the Red Cross by domestic art classes; 3,000 cards of cotton wound; and 5,000 button holes made.
3,500 pupils enrolled in the Home Garden division of the Junior Industrial Army.
2,300 home gardens and 21 school gardens were cultivated.
Many thousand magazines were collected in the schools and « 52 » 20,000 text books not needed in the schools, were given to the soldiers through the Public Library.
71 pupils and 26 teachers enlisted in the army and navy or other branches of war service. ”

“ Parental School, Newark: See Delinquent Children
Parks, City: Under care and supervision of Shade Tree Div. of Dept. of Parks and Public Property. Distinct from county-controlled parks, like Branch Brook, Weequahic, East Side, West Side and Riverbank, which happen to lie within city boundaries. Largest and most familiar are Lincoln, Military and Washington, all bordering on Broad St. Besides these parks, there are, in business and residential sections, green squares and triangles, to serve as breathing spaces and recreation centers. ”

“ For many years there has been agitation for new source of supply, as population and industries increase. In 1918, permission was granted by the Capital Issues Committee of the Federal Reserve Board to proceed with the development of the Wanaque watershed on condition that no construction work be undertaken during the war. ”

“ There were innumerable parades, of which none was more pleasing to the spectators, or more creditable to the city, than the School Children's Parade, June 6.
Annual or recurrent events like the Music Festival and Industrial Exposition were included in the anniversary program and made particularly attractive.
230 athletes from all parts of the United States and Canada « 46 » participated in the athletic events held at Weequahic Park, September 8, 9 and 16, and succeeded in breaking six world records. The Ninth International Fly and Bait Casting Tournament, held in Newark, Aug. ”

“ Makes for economy in erection of buildings, since under the alternate plan, it is possible to accommodate in any fully equipped building from 40% to 50% more pupils than under the regular system. Broader curriculum with longer school day. ”

“ Private organization, supported by voluntary contributions, but with work so far-reaching and constructive that it has become a center for co-operative effort among all charitable agencies in the city. Has a visiting Housekeeper Department, Provident Savings Fund, General Information Bureau and trained social workers to study causes and conditions. ”

“ Assessment collected as are other taxes. When owners ask to have trees planted on their property, expense is met by bill rendered to owner. Price varies with size of tree, but averages $5. Called "request planting".
See also Parks, City; Parkways.
Shipbuilding: Since Sept., 1917, the Submarine Boat Corporation at Port Newark has equipped, set in motion and run at high speed a plant covering 113 acres and requiring the services of 15,000 workers. ”

“ Educational and cultural value of manual arts recognized by requiring them in all curricula. Arts curriculum carrying full credit in music and art introduced as major subjects. All other courses modified and adjusted to meet more adequately needs of students preparing for office, shop, home or higher institution of learning.
Crippled Children, School for: Opened July 7, 1912 in Home for Crippled Children. 17 pupils ranging in age from 4 to 13 years. ”

“ Some of the subjects studied and reported on by the Commission aside from street arrangement, were Centre Market, Housing Problems, Municipal Recreation, Interurban Improvement and Harbor Development. The Commission issued "City Planning for Newark" and "A Comprehensive Plan". Both are valuable documents and rich in Newark facts.
Civil Service Reform: The system by which public offices are filled and promotions made through competitive examinations held under federal, state or city government. ”

“ Since 1913, 4 road camps have been opened for employment of convicts on state roads and have proved a relative success. Farming has also proved profitable. This system not only aims to prevent waste of state resources but to provide industrial training for inmates of correctional institutions of the state. ”

“ To mark enrollment of the first draft army, 7,000 school children marched in the morning, 8,000 men, representing military, fraternal and civic organizations, in the afternoon.
Soldier's Day, April 27, 1918. 312th Regiment of Infantry of the National Army from Camp Dix entertained by the city. Escorted by thousands of civilians in line from Lincoln Park to First Regiment Armory. 16,000 in parade, 300,000 spectators. Greatest demonstration of the kind in Newark's history. ”

“ Members, girls between 11 and 13 years of age, volunteer to help care for city's babies. Each member undertakes the care of one mother and baby in her own neighborhood, visits them once a week and reports at consultation meetings held in the schools. ”

“ Rockwell Japanese Collection purchased for $10,000 and Museum formally opened in rooms in the Library lent by Library trustees, Feb. 24, 1910.
With annual appropriations, collections, cases and equipment have been acquired, valued at over $100,000. Paintings, sculpture, pottery, glass, textiles, bronzes, American Indian material, models of the habitations of man, and many examples of art and industry. Collections also include over 3,000 objects lent to schools for classroom use. Systematic lending of objects. for classroom use began in 1914. ”

“ Physical Training: Made an essential part of elementary school curriculum, Sept., 1904.
Playgrounds: Until July, 1919, there were 3 systems of playgrounds in Newark: 1. Under Control of Bd. of Education, conducted on school grounds; 2. Under control of Essex Co. Park Commission on playfields in all county parks; 3. Under control of Dept. of Playgrounds, under the Bd. of Recreation Commissioners. The last are generally called "City Playgrounds".
In July, 1919, control of the city playgrounds passed to the Bd. of Education, a transfer under active consideration for a number of months. ”

“ Acropolis, Barringer High School; Orient, East Side High School; The Pivot, Central High School; The Optimist, South Side High School; Polymnian, Newark Academy; St. Benedict's College Quarterly, St. Benedict's College; "Fratech", Newark Technical School; "The Worker", Boys' Industrial; "The Pioneer", Robert Treat School; "Lafayette Messenger", Lafayette School; "Cleveland Alternate", Cleveland Grammar and Junior High School; "Onward", Newark City Home, Verona, N. J.
Normal School, N. J. State: Formerly Newark Normal School. ”

“ Poor and Alms Department and Almshouse Survey: Made by Dept. of Surveys and Exhibits—Russell Sage Foundation under direction of Francis H. McLean, 1918-1919. Considers whole family welfare problem of the city,—poverty, relief and social agencies. $1,400 appropriated by Bd. of Commissioners for Work.
Population:
Port Newark: Development involved: (1) Reclamation of 4,000 acres of tide marshland on Newark Bay. (2) Construction of ship channel 7,000 ft. long, 400 ft. wide at bottom, and 20 ft. deep at mean low water, the channel to extend into marshland for a distance of 1⁄2 to 1 mile. ”

“ Committee of 100 offered $1,000, 1st prize; $500, 2nd; $300, Special, awarded by popular vote. 1st prize won by Adolph Treidler, New York City, "Robert Treat directing the landing of settlers in Newark"; 2nd, won by Helen Dryden, of New York City; Special, won by E. A. Foringer, of Grantwood, N. J.
4. New York Times Essay on Newark History. Open to pupils in public, private and parochial schools. $10 selection of books, prize for high school winners; Tiffany silver medals, prizes for grade school winners. 1,000 prizes awarded. ”