William H. Drescher

“ The members of this company have always been hustlers, and from the very beginning would leave no stone unturned to make a success of anything they undertook; and in a short time they raised sufficient funds to purchase a truck and house themselves in a little house on Syms street, near West street. They were the first company in the department to adopt the regulation blue cloth uniform. They immediately entered the social world, and some of their entertainments and receptions equalled, if they did not surpass anything in their line ever attempted in the town. ”

“ After the consolidation the company, in 1865, erected the car depot on Spring street, and a steam dummy was installed on the Palisade avenue line in Jersey City. This road was then extended up into West Hoboken, running as far as the Hillside road. In 1871 the tracks were extended to the car stables and the use of the dummy was discontinued, and the first horse car was run through our town. This road, since that time, has repeatedly changed hands, and all of us are acquainted with the facts concerning the passing of the old horse cars and the substitution of the more up-to-date trolley car. ”

“ The first inhabitants of our town were undoubtedly descendants of the early Dutch settlers of the aforesaid County of Bergen; it is not known exactly at what time the first house was erected within the present limits of West Hoboken. but it is very likely that it was in the last quarter of the 18th century; and when the town began to take on the aspect of a village, quite a number of French people settled here, and to-day some of our oldest inhabitants are numbered among our French population. ”

“ Let it also be remembered that the Ecclesiastical Society of West Hoboken, which was the beginning of the Presbyterian Church, was organized in 1844, and the Episcopal Church organized in 1846, two years later. A fact that is not disputed by anybody, is that the first church building in our town was the old St. John's building on Clinton avenue and Warren street, but that old building is now torn down and the oldest church building to-day is that of the Presbyterian Church. ”

“ If the fire was a bad one it would necessarily take a large amount of water to subdue it, and while the engines would be doing good work, the cry would go up that the well was dry, which would mean the moving of the engine to another well, and in nine cases out of ten when the engines could again be worked the fire would be beyond control. ”

“ The work of building was begun early in 1850, and Mr. Bradford being a member of the Third Presbytery of New York, assured the people that they would receive the sympathy and help from that body should they consent to become connected with the Presbyterian Church. Their assent was at once and heartily given, and their request to be organized as a Presbyterian Church was sent to the Presbytery and was immediately granted, and the organization was accomplished on the 12th day of June, 1850. Thus it was that this congregation became a Presbyterian Church. ”

“ We have a beautiful public park, which was given to us by the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company. The stores in our town can and do supply our citizens with their smallest and largest wants, at prices which compare favorably with those of the metropolis. ”

“ THE CHURCHES OF WEST HOBOKEN.
As regards our churches it appears, that there is no way in which we can decide which one is the oldest. It
is known that the First Presbyterian and St. John's Churches, beyond doubt, are our two oldest churches, but previous to the establishment of either, religious services were conducted in a silk factory, situated at that time on Hague street and owned by a person named McRea. ”

“ The Company maintains a library which at present contains 296 volumes.
It appears that each of the last three Companies in the department has a special offering for those socially inclined, with Americus their "trump card" in minstrel shows; with Friendship it is masquerade balls, and with Protection it is smokers and house parties. The smokers given by Protection are not equalled by any other town organization, and are looked forward to with eager delight by a host of Protection's friends. ”

“ Another old establishment is Cox's feed store on Hackensack Plankroad, near the Boulevard. The present building is 32 years old, but previous to the erection of this building, Cox kept a store on the corner, which was a starting place for all the travelers hereabouts, when a native of this town, living within a half-mile of Cox's corner, would give the direction of reaching his home to strangers, would invariably say:— "I live fifteen minutes north or south, east or west of Cox's corner." ”

“ After the installation of these electric lights the council gradually added more until all the gas and oil lamps were done away with, and to-day I do not think I exaggerate when I say that there is no municipality in the State that can lay claim to being better lighted than our town. With very few exceptions every street corner is adorned with an electric light. ”

“ At first the company was supplied with a hose jumper by the town, and a few years after its organization they were furnished with their present hose carriage, which was purchased from Lady Washington Hose Co. 1, of the Yonkers Fire Department.
The present house on Central avenue was erected in 1897. It is an up-to-date building of its kind and is fitted up with all modern improvements. The cellar contains a complete kitchen, where "the boys" prepare the various viands that are served up by them to their guests on all festive occasions. ”

“ From that time on the parish gradually grew, keeping pace with the growth of the town, until it completely outgrew the accommodation of the old building, and it became necessary to build a more suitable place of worship.
The present handsome stone building on Palisade avenue is one of the most complete buildings of its kind in the town. It will seat 500 people, and the hall below the church about as many more. ”

“ We have numerous large factories which give employment to a small army of our citizens. We have the largest silk factory, and the most up-to-date brewery in the State. Our rapid transit facilities are good, being able to reach Union Square, New York., in half-an-hour, and we have good streets, among which are 6 1-2 miles of Belgian block, 2 miles of asphalt and 2 1-2 miles of Macadam pavements, and to this list is constantly being added more, and in a few years all our streets will be improved. ”

“ There were only two roads leading from this corner, one, the old Weavertown road (now Boulevard) , running north and south, and the other the Hackensack Plankroad, running east and west, consequently the direction as above given, would suffice. The store spoken of above was kept by Mr. Geo. Cox (the present owner's father) , who purchased the building from Mr. A. Ross, and started his grocery store in the year 1837, 66 years ago, and I do not think there is another place in North Hudson where the same business has been carried on by one family for so many years. ”

“ John Syms reported that a fine spring existed near Union street and Clinton avenue, and advised the placing of a public pump there." It is not recorded whether the Township Committee placed a pump here or not, but I might mention that a pump similar to the one suggested by Mr. Syms existed on Paterson avenue, where the people, who did not boast of a well of their own, were in the habit of procuring their supply of drinking water. ”

“ Another drawback to that primitive mode of fire fighting was that the men were compelled to draw these heavy engines to a fire, and after reaching it, would have to set to work to man the pumps, and to let any other engine throw a better stream would mean disgrace to the company that was beaten. The present generation of firemen who do the work to-day know very little of the hardships gone through by their fathers in the old fire department. ”

“ Our town was now growing so fast that it became a standing puzzle for the Board of Education how to keep pace with the times and the rapidly growing host of little ones who were entrusted to their care. ”

“ It is perhaps proper to mention that some time in the year 1868, a grand scheme originated in the fertile brains of some of the wise men of Jersey City, whereby a bill was prepared and introduced in the Legislature, which provided for the holding of an election in this county, at which the voters were to determine whether or not the county would be consolidated into one city, and under the corporate name of Jersey City. ”

“ The Town of West Hoboken is 41 years old having been incorporated as a Township on February 28, 1861. Previous to its being incorporated, it was a part of the Township of North Bergen, which latter Township was at one time a part of the ancient County and Township of Bergen. ”

“ Since the water supply was first introduced many extensions of the system have been made in the new streets that have been opend, in order to provide for the rapidly growing population, until, at the present time, there are 21 miles of mains laid out, and 190 fire hydrants connected with the system. ”

“ Our public schools are acknowledged by authorities to be among the best in the State both as to buildings and as to the method employed in teaching. Our supply of drinking water is pure and wholesome. ”

“ Over this school presided a teacher by the name of Kelly, who was also the principal.
A few years after this another school was established on Ann street, and this school was in charge of a teacher named Kroh. Both of these schools were small one-story frame structures, containing one large room. About thirty children attended each, and previous to their establishment, scholars were compelled to journey to New Durham and to Hoboken, to receive an education. I am told by old timers that New Durham is one of the oldest school districts in this vicinity. ”

“ FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, CLINTON AVENUE AND SERRELL STREET.
the citizens to the fact that there were over one thousand scholars enrolled, and an average daily attendance of 900. Mr. Muendel went on to state that a new school would have to be procured or else some classes would have to be put on half-day sessions.
This resulted in the authorities making an effort to provide more room, and during the year 1888-89, a building on Syms street, between Spring and West streets, was hired and used as an annex. ”

“ Before this tract of land was settled there was a settlement made at Bergen, which is the oldest town in this State; it was
settled in 1616 by Dutch colonists, and the first house was located about where Bergen Square is now. Originally all of Hudson County, and the southern end of Bergen County, was included in this Township of Bergen, and although there were in latter years settlements in different parts of the county, they were all governed by Bergen township. ”

“ Andrew Carnegie, has recently notified the library trustees that he is ready to donate $25,000 for a new library building. The authorities have complied with the terms of his generous offer and have recently purchased the necessary ground on High street for the erection of the building, which, I suppose, will be erected and in operation by the time this history is given to the public. ”

“ The organization of the church took place through the kindness of the Presbyterians, in the basement of their church. Rev. Isaac Wescott, of New York, preached the sermon and Rev. Mr. Patton, of Hoboken, gave the charge. Mr. John Syms and wife, the organizers, were the first received in the church by baptism. ”

“ After Empire Engine Company was organzed there were then three engine companies and one Hook & Ladder Co. doing duty in the town, and they constituted the fire department until June 3, 1887, when a new company was organized in the first ward. This part of the town had grown considerably in a few years and the citizens came to the conclusion that a Hook & Ladder Company in that locality was an absolute necessity. Accordingly, on the date above mentioned, the following citizens met in Mr. Siler's hotel, corner Clinton avenue and John street and organized Americus Hook & Ladder Co. ”

“ The first meeting place of the Township Committee was in the office of Mr. John Hague, and after a while meetings were held at the houses of different citizens, but most of the meetings were held at Mrs. C. H. Piebes hotel, which was the old hotel on the Hillside road and Palisade avenue recently burnt down.
In 1868 the township erected a town hall on Palisade avenue, near High street. After a while they moved this building to Charles street, where it remained until 1888, when the present town hall was erected. The old building was purchased by Chas. ”

“ This charter provided for the election of a councilman-at-large and the establishment of not less than three wards, which are represented by two councilmen, making a board of council, consisting of seven members. Under this charter Mr. Charles J. Chandless was elected the first councilman-at-large.
In politics the town in its early history was non-partisan, that is, its citizens were elected to office in the majority of cases regardless of their politics. ”

“ On April 8, 1902, the church, as at present established, was organized. After due application of the classis of Bergen, the chapel, on the above date, was organized as an independent church with a membership of two hundred and three, to be known as the First Reformed Church of West Hoboken. ”

“ As the well could not be brought to the engine, the engine must be brought to the well. Now, wells as a rule are placed in the rear of the yard, and to get a ponderous hand engine near enough to the well to work it, a part of the fence would come down, and woe to the householder if his well was surrounded by a garden (which was generally the case.) ”

“ His farm and buildings were destroyed and burnt, and such was the fury of the Indians that the place was abandoned by every white settler.
The Indians must, at this time, have gotten complete control of this entire part of the county, for we find another deed, conveying this property to the whites, which is, in part, as follows:—
"On the 30th day of January, 1658, the Indians sold to the Noble Lord Director General Pieter Stuyvesant and Council of New Netherlands a tract of land lying on the west side of the North River. ”

“ This congregation's first house of worship was the old church previously occupied by the First Baptist Church congregation, corner Clinton avenue and Demott street. After meeting here for a number of years, the need of a larger and more up-to-date meeting house, on account of the fast growing congregation, soon became apparent, and in the year 1876 the present church building on Courtland street was erected. ”