Clifton Merchant Magazine - July 2006

July 2006_COVER 6/29/06 11:12 AM

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Enjoy our first of two editions focused on Clifton History...

Required Summer Reading...

Summertime. It’s a word to say slowly, a wordthat conjures visions of a glass of iced tea fol-lowed by an afternoon nap in the shade. It’s

a time when people grow lazy and nostalgic forsummers of the past. It’s a season whose sound-track is the wind blowing through maple trees lin-ing Clifton streets, accompanied by cricketssinging under hedges.

Its song is often punctuated by a car cruising bywith music blaring out open windows—young peo-ple headed to the Garden State Parkway to go downthe shore on a Friday night.

Summertime. It’s the fireworks show in CliftonSchools Stadium around the Fourth of July.

It’s the buzz of Main Ave. and the smell of WhiteCastle onions wafting through the air.

On our cover, it’s a look back at the 1 million gallon CliftonSwim Club on Main Ave., still owned today by the Bellin fam-ily. Above, a group of unidentified lifeguards at the pool andat left, William White, James Garner and Woodrow Garneras they took a break in 1940 from serving up White Castleburgers, which as you may note by the sign, were then just anickel. Photo at left courtesy of Walter N. Pruiksma.

Clifton Merchant Magazine is published monthly at 1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton • 973-253-4400

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...it’s the crowd outside Joeys’on Allwood Rd., hoping for a nightof magic as they walk inside.

After a year of politics, debatesover where to build a school,protests, hearings, speeches, elec-tions, victories and defeats, CliftonMerchant Magazine wants to kickback with its loyal readers, breathein that relaxing summer air, andenjoy a great best beach story:Clifton’s amazing history from the1600s to the brink of World War II.

Think we have problems, issues,heroes, and scoundrels today?Clifton had that in the past… andthen some.

From Revolutionary War stomp-ing ground to bucolic farm land toa town on the rise, the city namedfor the now disappearing cliffs tothe west (or so the legend says)boasts a history that typifies theAmerican Dream.

And perhaps nowhere is sum-mertime so special than at the placefeatured on our cover, the “CliftonPool” or Bellin’s Swim Club as it isknown today. Built in 1932 andcovering 2.5 acres, the pool hasserved Clifton families for genera-tions, first as a public pool and thenas a private swim club since 1970.

Located near the Passaic borderon Main Ave., it was originallynamed Rentschler’s Pool andwould sometimes attract up to2,000 people on a Saturday.Admission to the pool was a nick-el—an oasis in a town where theonly other relief from summer’sheat came from air conditioninginside the Clifton Theater.

July 2006 • Clifton Merchant 4

The entrance to the Clifton Pool, circa1969, and from the right, MargaretBellin, and bottom left, her husband,George with George Jr., circa 1980.Below right, a photo of George, Dianeand their son Christopher Bellin takena few years back.

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In 1942, the late George Bellin Sr. became the pool’smanager (son George Jr. was born that same year). Hepurchased the pool in 1965. After converting the poolto a membership-only facility in 1970, Bellin’s SwimClub has enjoyed both prosperous and lean periods.

Opening the pool to out-of-towners, Bellin’s drewnearly 800 members in the mid-1980s. But with leaneconomic times later in the decade and through theearly 1990s, membership declined.

Today, despite competing against backyard poolsand other summer entertainment options, membershipis on the upswing. “I estimate we’ll have 500 mem-bers this season,” says George Bellin Jr.

However, like summer, the family-owned and oper-ated Bellin’s Swim Club will not last forever. Since1999, there has been talk of the pool being a future sitefor senior housing or other projects.

“The sale for the place is in the works, that’s true,”says Bellin. “But we’ll definitely be here this summeruntil Labor Day. I can’t predict the future and when thesale will happen. There are always obstacles, and whenthey come up, you get delayed—sometimes six months,sometimes a year.” Bellin has mixed emotions aboutseeing the pool close. But at age 64, he feels it’s time.

“The people have been wonderful,” he says about hismany customers. “They come to grill, relax and enjoythemselves—from kids to grandparents. We put out115 outdoor sets with umbrellas and tables to makethem comfortable. But the pool is a dinosaur—theydon’t make pools like this anymore. But it’s a goodplace, one that’s enjoyed… then and now.”

When Bellin’s becomes a summer memory, it willjoin many others packed in this issue (and our Augustedition) of Clifton Merchant Magazine.

A view of the Clifton Theater, once at the intersection of Clifton and Main Aves. Photo courtesy of Mark S. Auerbach.

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Concentrating in the areas of...Real Estate, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Estate Administration

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If you’ve lived in Clifton yourentire life, the events and personal-ities captured in words and pictureswill make you smile. If you’re anewcomer, you’re in for a treat.

We’ll take you from the 1600swhen the Lenni Lenape lived here,to 1776, when General GeorgeWashington retreated throughClifton after seeing his rag-tagarmy bloodied near Fort Lee.

Washington would return, aswould his wife Martha, anotherfuture first lady Abigail Adams, hisaide Alexander Hamilton, andGeneral Marquis de Lafayette.

In the late 1800s, Scotto Nashgrew his prize American BeautyRoses in what is now Nash Park.

The Clifton Race Track (builtwhere Clifton Schools Stadium istoday—ever wonder why our sportsteams are called Mustangs?—would open, close, open again, anddie in scandal—much to the chagrinof its 10,000 daily patrons, manybrought in by train from New YorkCity. When the ponies were out-lawed, they raced bicycles andmotorcycles at the track, andBuffalo Bill performed in WildWest shows on the property.

The Morris Canal, the super-highway of its day, meanderedthrough Clifton, as did the trolleythat brought visitors to FairylandAmusement Park, a maze of elec-

tric lights, dance pavilions, circusattractions, and rides—all protectedby constables, the forerunners ofthe Clifton Police Department.

The great 1913 Silk Strike beganin Clifton, then a part of Paterson,at the still magnificent Doherty SilkMill on Main Ave. To help mendthe wounds from the strike, ownerHarry Doherty built a “field of

dreams” behind his mill, and aparade of baseball Hall of Famers,including Negro League stars,played in Clifton against his team,the Silk Sox.

In one game, the one and onlyBabe Ruth hit a mammoth homerun that caused a riot at the ballpark, and the Yankees and theBambino had to be rescued by afledgling police force from theiradoring fans.

The NFL’s New York Giantsplayed an exhibition game inClifton, the beefsteak dinner wasinvented here by Hap Nightingale,and the US Animal Quarantine sta-tion to inspect exotic animals oper-ated on the grounds of what is nowClifton City Hall.

America and Clifton went to warand the hundreds of our city sonswho sacrificed their lives for ourcountry are etched in eternal mem-ory on the War Monument in MainMemorial Park, erected after the“war to end all wars.”

A generation and another worldwar later, Clifton began transform-ing itself from a quiet farming com-munity to a thriving city, thanks inpart to the GI Bill, a housing devel-oper named Steve Dudiak, and afootball coach named Joe Grecco.

But that’s a story for an Augustsummer day. Enjoy Part I ofClifton’s history...

The late David L. Van Dillen, picturedhere, was the author of the 300 yeartimeline of Clifton History, whichbegins on the following page. Thanksare also in order to the Clifton Librarystaff, the authors of ‘A Clifton Sampler’and historian Mark S. Auerbach.


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1678: Hartman Vreeland buysDundee Island in what is now theMarket St. area of Passaic. Heestablishes a trading post for theexchange of goods with the localLenni Lenape Indians.

March 5, 1680: Two Labadist mis-sionaries explore the Passaic Riverby rowboat from Belleville to theGreat Falls.

March 16, 1684: An agreement isreached between 14 Dutch patent-ees and the East Jersey Proprietorsfor the purchase of Acquackanonk.Fourteen estates were laid out intiers between the Passaic River andWesel Mountain.

Dec. 4, 1692: Capt. John Bradburyestablishes the first grist mill at pres-ent day Delawanna’s Third River.

Dec. 4, 1693: The several countiesin the East Jersey province aredivided into townships. A newtownship in Essex County isAcquackanonk and NewBarbadoes. It extends from themouth of the Passaic River to theRamapo River at the New YorkState border. In 1707, this town-ship is separated into the separatetownships of the two names.


In the 1600’s, when the Dutchreached Acquackanonk, the firstpeople they encountered were theLenni Lenape tribe. HistorianWilliam W. Scott, who in 1922wrote the History of Passaic andIts Environs, calculated that theLenni Lenape, which means pureor original Indian, arrived in NewJersey around 976 A.D., afterthey had forced out the Mengwe,a previous tribe.

Scott writes that the Lenapewere a strong and healthy nationwhen the Europeans first arrived,and were willing to shareAcquackanonk,, which encom-passed modern-day Clifton,Passaic and Paterson. However, hestated, as a race, few lived past theage of 60. The Passaic River wasbountiful and the area near today’sDundee Dam—between Garfieldand Clifton—was a place for reli-gious services and also a prime fish-ing location. He also noted that theLenape regarded the turtle as ‘cre-ator of all things’.

They taught the Dutch how touse the so-called Lenape fish dams(called slooterdam by the Dutch)which was V-shaped, pointingdownstream with a sluice in thecenter where a woven basket wasset to catch the fish.

The Lenapes also made use ofthe fertile land near the DundeeDam where they grew maize andother crops. In fact, the PassaicRiver offered so much to thesepeople that it was home to a per-manent settlement, covering mostof the land east of Second St., into

present-day Passaic. They oftenlived in approximately 7x24 foot“longhouses”, which accommo-dated up to a 12-person family.

To the east of Sixth St., wherePassaic and Wall Sts. are locatedtoday, was where the homes ofabout 500 Lenape. Other publi-cations mention a trail from theriver to the Great Notch and on topresent day Rifle Camp Rd.where they had a spot to replenishtheir arrows. The greatest of allthe Lenape meeting places wherethey gathered after the harvestwas the dancing grounds alongthe Third River in Delawanna.

Eventually, the new settlerstook their toll on the Lenape. TheDutch introduced alcohol anddisease, which sent the popula-tion spiraling, and by around1700, the Lenape migrated west.

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April 10, 1693: King’s Highway is laidout along the Passaic River, from Newarknorth to Belleville, or to the ford of theSecond River.

1707: The first road from Newark to theinterior of the Province of East Jersey islaid out along the Passaic River as far asthe Acquackanonk Landing (Passaic) andthen along today’s Lexington Ave.through Wesel to Paterson.

1729: Stephen Bassett’s tannery and dis-tillery is established on today’s EastClifton Ave. near Nash Park, then Wesel.

1736: The Gysbert Vanderhoff house &saw mill is constructed in today’s WeaselBrook Park. The homestead still stands.

1740: A brownstone quarry is in opera-tion in today’s City Hall complex nearthe Colfax Ave. entrance.


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1726: Notch Rd. is laid out across Acquackanonk Township from thePassaic River to Wesel Mountain, now known as Garret Mountain.The illustration on page 6 was rendered in about 1857; the photo belowis of the Notch Brook in 1922 when a tavern and gathering place exist-ed and above is the location as it appears today. ☛


1745: An 18 by 22 foot school-house is built at today’s corner ofLexington and Clifton Ave’s. Itserves as a meeting place for theCommittee On Correspondenceduring the American Revolution.

Nov. 17, 1755: Bloomfield Ave. islaid out though today’s Allwoodfrom Acquackanonk Landing toStonehouse Plains.

1774: The Hoffmeier (CorneliusSip) house is built on 44 acres,from Pershing Rd. to Grove St.

1774: Abraham Godwin operates astagecoach twice a week betweenPaulus Hook (Jersey City) and theGreat Falls (Paterson) via WeaselRd. in Acquackanonk Township.

Nov. 27, 1776: Speertown (nowAllwood) is pillaged by Redcoats.

July 10, 1778: Gen. GeorgeWashington and aides, includingAlexander Hamilton, are visitors atthe Great Falls. They pass throughAcquackanonk en route toPreakness quarters.

Nov. 22, 1776: Gen. George Washington and the Colonial Army retreatedfrom Acquackanonk Landing through what is today’s Delawanna en route toNewark, Elizabethtown, New Brunswick and the Delaware River at Trenton.Essayist Thomas Paine may have accompanied the troops.

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Oct./Nov. 1780: The ColonialArmy camped at Totowa andGeorge Washington had his head-quarters at the Dey Mansion.AWOL soldiers were rounded up inAcquackanonk.

Oct. 23, 1780: Marquis de Lafayetteleads a Pennsylvania Line of theColonial Army through the Notchand to Stone House Plains Road(Allwood Road) on a sally towardStaten Island. The thrust falls and thetroops return to Totowa.

Aug. 21, 1781: The Colonial Armypasses through AcquackanonkTownship on Wesel Rd. (nowLexington Ave.) for the last time enroute from the Hudson Highlandsto Yorktown, Va.

Sept. 10, 1786: Kingsland Rd. islaid out, starting from theKingsland Paper Mill on YantacawPond to Bloomfield.

1796: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool 1 is erected on FranklinAve. (now Main Ave.), near StoneHouse Plains Rd. (Allwood Rd.)

May 13, 1796: Bloomfield Rd.(now Broad St. in Richfield) is laidout from Paterson to Notch Rd.(now Van Houten Ave.) to a point100 feet west of the log school-house on the south side of NotchRd. (near today’s Richfield Farms).

May 13, 1796: Hazel Rd. laid out.

Aug. 3, 1801: Essex County RoadOrders vacate, alter and relocateNotch Rd. and present-day VanHouten Ave. Paterson Plank Rd.(now Main Ave.) is also laid out.

1810: Melville Curtis starts a papermill beside Yantacaw Pond intoday’s Delawanna section.

May 1, 1813: James Shepherdbuilds the first cotton bleachery inNew Jersey, at a pond alongGarritse Lane (now Clifton andMain Ave.). It is sold in 1830.

After the purchase of the areaknown as Acquackanonk fromthe Lenni Lenape Indians in 1684for a parcel of blankets, kettles,powder and other various goods,the 14 Dutch proprietors fromBergen (now JerseyCity) who had boughtthe land each laid outtheir own homes andfarms along the Passaic River.

These houses were at the cur-rent location of Rutt’s Hutt to thebridge that crossed the river toWallington. These first settlerswere attracted to this region forthe same reason the LenniLenape were: the naturalresources.

With a majority of the first set-tlers coming over being farmers,it only made sense to start a com-munity on the fertile land inbetween the Passaic River andWesel (Garret) Mountain, whichformed the natural boundaries ofthe Acquackanonk territory.

The woods around the settle-ment provided fuel for fire andwere perfect for building the one-room homes where the Dutchlived, if field stones were notpresent.

The Passaic River was alsoimportant to their lives, offeringfish, another staple of the earlyDutch settlers, as well as provid-ing the fastest means of trans-portation to neighboring areas.That is, when the Dutch weren’ttending to their land, which oftenwas a sunrise to sunset job.

The one-room homes featureda large fireplace, which was usedfor warmth, as well as cooking.Early diets included a lot of salt-pork, beef, potatoes, cornmealand cabbage, as well as deer,turkey and fish, which was most-ly cooked in large iron kettlesover the fire.

Fruits and vegetables were alsocommon in warm months, as werespringhouses, where goods thatmay spoil in heat were kept coolin the ground.

For the winter, the smokehousewas often used, where meat couldbe preserved for a later time.

Items and food that were to bestored were either kept in thebarn, which also housed all thelivestock, or in the home’s cellar.

Life for early Acquackanonksettlers was certainly not easy.

Industrious & Crafty...

Dutch Settlers


...the timeline continues on page 18

When the yellow school buspulled into the parking lot of

the Hamilton-Van Wagoner Housemuseum on a recent spring morning,the 27 third-graders onboard, allfrom Clifton’s School 12, had cometo experience more than 200 yearsof local history on a tour of the 18thcentury gambrel-roofed homesteadlocated at 971 Valley Rd.

And experience it they did,thanks to generations of volunteersand Norma Smith, the curator of themuseum whose passion for sharinglocal history with her visitors isabsolutely contagious.

For the next three hours she heldthe third-graders and their chaper-ones spellbound, delighting themwith tales of the home’s formeroccupants, showing them dozens ofauthentic artifacts from its past, andengaging some of them in hands-ondemonstrations of that era’s every-day life while dressed in costumes.

The students were visiting undera program sponsored by the CliftonBoard of Education that sends allthird-grade classes to the museumeach year as part of its curriculumon civics and local history.

Students get to experience first-hand what it was like to live here inthe 18th and 19th centuries, ratherthan just reading about it in books.The Hamilton Van-Wagoner house

was scheduled to be razed 34 yearsago when Harry Hamilton passedaway at age 92. Up to that time,three generations of Hamiltons hadcalled it home for more than 100years.

But Harry had stipulated in hiswill that the house was to be torndown, or moved, before the proper-ty on which it stood could be soldto anyone outside the family.

March 4, 1980: The Van Wagoner-Hamilton House was relocated by truck from the Notch on Valley Rd. and moveda few hundred feet up the street to its present location at Surgent Park. These days, the Hamilton House is Clifton’sliving history museum. Curator Norma Smith and volunteers keep the Hamilton House vibrant and relevant by offer-ing tours to school kids, sponsoring events and other activities. For info on the activities there, call 973-744-5707.


Story by Joe Torelli

Our Valley Rd. local history museum was built in 1817...

The Hamilton House Museum


From most accounts, Harry wasa strong-willed, fiercely independ-ent man. His only offspring, daugh-ter Caroline, herself admitted thathe was “impulsive,” and “a charac-ter from his early days on” wholoved the land and its history, espe-cially around Clifton’s Notch areawhere the house stood.

So, it surprised few people thathis will called for the demolition ofthe homestead. Family friend andlifelong Clifton resident, WalterVan Leeuwen recalled how manypeople considered Harry an odd-ball—a strange man from a strangefamily that had a reputation forkeeping to itself.

According to the 88 year-oldVan Leeuwen, Harry had inheritedthe house from his spinster sister,Clara, who had owned it along withthree other unmarried sisters. They,in turn, had inherited it from theirspinster aunt, Susan, who had livedthere with her two unmarried sis-ters, Bridget and Margaret. “Mostpeople thought the Hamiltons werepeculiar and unfriendly because thewomen never seemed to marry andnone of them socialized much,”said Van Leeuwen. “And they wereconstantly saying how Harryalways seemed irritable and didn’ttrust anybody.” But Van Leeuwenknew differently.

Built in 1817 by Anna and JohnVreeland, in the Notch, west oftoday’s Valley Rd., the HamiltonHouse was purchased in 1856 byHenry Hamilton and remained inthat family until 1972, upon thedeath of their son, Harry, shownbelow. Pictured at right areHarry’s sisters, Laura (1882-1955), Emma (1873-1955), Clara(1877-1967), and Addie (1875-1957, who also owned and residedin the Hamilton House from 1928until their deaths, prior to Harry.

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His parents, who were immi-grants from Holland, settled inClifton in 1921. They leased fouracres of property from theHamiltons on land adjacent to theirhouse. Today, that property is aparking lot for Alexus Restaurant.“Aunt Susie was always real nice tous,” said Van Leeuwen, referring toowner, Susan Hamilton.

He told of how she performedone particularly extraordinary actof kindness shortly after his father,Seiman Van Leeuwen, was killed ina tragic automobile fire in 1925.

“My mother was suddenly awidow with five small children andno one to help her pay the lease. SoAunt Susie deeded all four acres toher for a single dollar. Imaginethat,” said Van Leeuwen, in a voicestill awed over 80 years later.

“After my father died, Harrybecame a second father to me andmy four sisters,” he continued,insisting that stories of Hamilton’squarrelsome nature and his mistrustof others are greatly exaggerated.To emphasize his point, VanLeeuwen told of how Harry and

Blanche (Harry’s wife) ran a farmstand on Valley Road that they leftunattended much of the time.

“Customers would just come up,take what they wanted, and leavethe money in a box on the table,”

he said. “Harry never questionedtheir honesty. Now, why would hedo that if he didn’t trust people?”

Van Leeuwen, who remained afriend and confidante to Hamiltonuntil the day Harry died, said thathe wasn’t surprised by the will’sstipulation. “Harry loved farmingand he was attached to that proper-ty,” he said. “I guess when the landfinally left the family, he wantedthe house to go with it.”

When word of Harry’s deathreached the fledgling CliftonHistorical Commission, theyapproached the City Council seek-ing help to save the house so itcould be turned into a museum.

Becker and Becker Associates,the local business which purchasedthe property and its buildings fromthe Hamilton estate, presented thefarmhouse to the Commission.

One year later, the Hamilton-Van Wagoner House was liftedfrom its foundation on theHamilton property and transportedseveral hundred yards across ValleyRd. to its present location in city-owned Surgent Park. Harry’s willwas honored, and Clifton saved anirreplaceable treasure.

Today, the house is maintainedjointly by the Hamilton Van-Wagoner House RestorationAssociation, which cares for thebuildings and furnishings, and thecity, which maintains the grounds.

And it has grown into more thanjust a museum where visitors cometo view relics from the past.

Thanks to Smith and her prede-cessors, curators Elvira Hessler,Jule Olczak and Gen Generalli,along with the museum’s board ofdirectors and volunteers, the muse-um now offers a wide array of pro-grams, events, and opportunities


Walter Van Leeuwen, an 88-year oldClifton resident who recalled HarryHamilton as a second father.

The Hamilton House Museum today.

June 2006 • Clifton Merchant 15

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for anyone who has an appreciationfor Clifton history and art.

In addition to being part of theClifton’s third-grade school curricu-lum, the museum has active Boyand Girl Scout programs and helpsboys reach Eagle Scout status bycompleting projects to benefit thehouse and earning badges.

Throughout the year it plays hostto dozens of craft fairs, art exhibits,

poetry recitals, and workshops ofall kinds, including classes on spin-ning, quilting, calligraphy, embroi-dery, candle making, and ginger-bread house construction.

And it is also the site of severalClifton holiday traditions, amongthem an annual Easter egg hunt, tacandlelight tour featuring the CHSMadrigal Singers, and an annualvisit from St. Nicholas.

Funding for the Hamilton Housemuseum and its programs is pro-vided mainly through modest mem-bership dues, sales from its giftshop, public donations and grants.

Membership to the HamiltonHouse Museum begins at just $5and checks can be made payable to‘Hamilton House’ and mailed to941 Valley Rd, Clifton, NJ 07013.For more info, call 973-744-5707.

From left, curators of the Hamilton House: Elvira Hessler, Jule Olczak, Gen Generalli and Norma Smith.


At Clifton Savings, it’s more thana slogan – it’s a commitment.Always has been, always will be. Our founders made thatcommitment more than 75 yearsago when they opened the doorsof our first branch. They werethere to serve their community’sbanking needs. They knew andcared about the financial andsocial well being of the peoplewho lived around them – their neighbors.

What was true then is just astrue today, and this commitmenthas been the key to our enduring success as a financial institution.

How do we achieve this enviable standard of service? By knowingthe people we serve. People whowant to work with a bank thatunderstands their needs andknows how to help them achievetheir dreams. People like you.

Clifton Savings. A bank that lives by the commitment that experience pays.

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A Proud History1928 Botany Building & Loan Association chartered on April 9 by the State of New Jersey. The principal office is located at 215 Dayton Avenue, Clifton, NJ.1930 The name of the association is changed to East Clifton Building & Loan Association.1933 The association becomes a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank. The officeis moved to 226 Dayton Avenue, Clifton.1940 Insurance of accounts up to $5,000 by the Federal Savings & Loan InsuranceCorporation is granted. [The association was one of the first to be approved by FSLIC,and one of the first to be given full insurance coverage.] The office is relocated to260 Parker Avenue, Clifton, and is opened for business on a full time basis.1941 The association merges with the American Building & Loan Association ofGarfield, New Jersey.1942 The association merges with the American Hungarian Building & Loan Association.1954 The name of the association is changed to Clifton Savings & Loan Association.1956 A branch office is opened at 1055 Clifton Avenue, Clifton.1968 A branch office is opened at 595 Van Houten Avenue, Clifton (relocated in1981 to 646 Van Houten Avenue).1970 A branch office is opened at 325 Lakeview Avenue, Clifton (relocated in 1976to 319 Lakeview Avenue).1971 A branch office is opened at 246 Edison Street, Clifton (relocated in 1991 to387 Valley Road).1975 The first branch office outside of Clifton is opened at 255 Palisade Avenue,Garfield, NJ.1977 A second branch office in Garfield is opened at 359 Lanza Avenue (relocatedin 2000 to 369 Lanza Avenue).1981 Another Clifton branch office is opened at 1433 Van Houten Avenue (this officebecomes the association’s main office in 1998).1989 The name of the association is changed to Clifton Savings Bank, S.L.A.1998 The first drive-up automated teller machine is installed, at the main office.The bank’s web site comes on-line.2001 The second drive-up automated teller machine is installed at the Lanza Ave. branch.2002 The Richfield office located at 1055 Clifton Ave is remodeled.2003 The Botany Village office is remodeled. A branch office is opened in Wallington,at Maple Avenue & Union Boulevard. A branch office is opened in Wayne, at 1158Hamburg Turnpike. The first walk-up automated teller machine is installed at the Wayne branch.2004 Clifton Savings Bank, S.L.A. reorganized from a New Jersey chartered mutual savings and loan association to a New Jersey chartered stock savings and loanassociation in the federal mutual holding company format. In connection with the Planof Reorganization and Stock Issuance, Clifton Savings Bank formed a new federal mid-tier stock holding company, Clifton Savings Bancorp, Inc., and sold a minority of the common shares to the public in a subscription and community offering. Amajority of the mid-tier stock holding company’s common stock was issued to a federal mutual holding company, Clifton MHC.On March 4, 2004 Clifton Savings Bancorp, Inc. began trading on the NASDAQ NationalMarket under the symbol “CSBK.”A drive-up window and automated teller machine were installed in the brand newoffice located on Palisades Avenue in Garfield. A drive-up window and walk up automated teller machine were installed in the brand new office located in Wallington.2005 The Lakeview Office branch is remodeled and a walk-up automated tellermachine is installed.


1818: The Van Riper general storeestablished on present: day BroadSt. near Hepburn Rd. andBloomfield border.

1820: The Isaac Sip (Doremus)house is built on Broad St. An orig-inal wing may have been erected asearly as 1740.

Dec. 17, 1824: Speertown(Allwood) and part of Bloomfieldare united in a special school dis-trict. Children from both municipal-ities attended school in Bloomfield.

1824: The Morris Canal is extend-ed into Acquackanonk Townshipalong Broad St. and put into earlyuse as constructed.

1826: A Centerville real estatedevelopment called Canalville islaid out near Broad & Grove St.’sin Richfield.

1828: Wesel School is moved fromLexington to Lakeview Ave’s.

Aug. 16, 1831: The 102-mileMorris Canal is finally completed.

May 28, 1832: The Paterson &Hudson River Railroad is put intoservice between Paterson andPassaic. During this time, it wasconsidered a luxury to ride a train.The fare fluctuated in the earlydays, ranging from 15 to 25 centseach way, with children under 12riding half off. The train’s coachesoften jumped track, but since theywere so light, it was not of concern.Passengers would get out to lend ahand and put it back on. Trains ranfrom 7 am to 7 pm, beginning inPaterson. In 1834, the first steamengine appeared on the roads andfrom there, everything expanded.The line then extended to JerseyCity and Suffern as a part of theErie-Lackawanna Railroad.

Nov. 6, 1833: The Postville Schoolopens in South Paterson, then partof Acquackanonk, not Paterson.

Feb. 7, 1837: New Jersey Legislatureestablishes Passaic County,byremoving it from Essex County.

1837: William P. Ackerman estab-lishes New Jersey’s earliest cottontannery on a pond near Clifton andMain Aves. A new chemical

process is used in the tanning.

Oct. 6, 1837: Henry F. Piagetacquires and begins to operate the18th century tavern at Notch, firstlicensed in 1797. It is named: “TheUnion Hotel at Great Notch.”

1840: The first Sunday School isopened in present-day Clifton isopened in Van Winkle’s barn atBroad St. & Van Houten Ave.

1847: A great pearl “rush” forpearls from fresh water musselsoccurs along Pearl Brook below theNotch. Some quality pearls arefound but the largest is destroyedby cooking (see page 23).

Dec. 23, 1847: B’nai Jeshurun con-gregation acquires from Dr. JosephW. Ashman two small lots inCenterville for use as a Jewishcemetery, perhaps the earliest inNorth Jersey.

1849: A Methodist chapel, used pri-marily by circuit riders, is opened onVan Houten Ave., west of Grove St.(near the present Clifton MasonicTemple site). The earlier VanWrinkle barn Sunday School moveshere. Services cease circa 1855.

April 20, 1859: The cornerstone ofthe Dundee Dam across the PassaicRiver is set in place by Gov.William Newell. Joseph Scott,father of author/historian WilliamScott, is chief engineer for the proj-

ect, which includes theDundee Canal, a water

power source forPassaic’s mills.

1831: Long before automobiles & airplanes, there was the Morris Canal...

An undated photo of the Morris Canal. The section above is located where Route 19 today runs into Paterson.


1861: The Minette Varnish Co. at132 Delawanna Ave. is opened.The building and ovens are razedcirca 1955.

March 28, 1865: The 90-acreCedar Lawn cemetery is formallyopened. Burials and reinterring ofSandy Hill removals happen asearly as September 1857.

1865: George V. DeMott builds theClifton Grove Hotel at the corner ofMain and Madison’s Ave’s. He alsoopens a real estate office on the cor-ner of Madison and Getty Ave’s.

Oct. 1867: The Clifton Landing &Building Association commencesthe development of the Clifton sec-tion of Acquackanonk Township,west of Main Ave. from WeaselBrook to Union Ave.

1868: The Lotz Brothers’ Dairy isestablished on Piaget Ave.

March 31, 1868: Litte Falls isremoved from AcquackanonkTownship at the steep rocks facingWesel Mountain on the east.

1868: A branch of the PennsylvaniaRailroad System is constructedfrom Newark through Highland(Allwood) and Athenia to Paterson.This branch railroad fails in 1871.

June 8, 1869: The Ninth Ward(South Paterson) is separated fromAcquackanonk Township tobecome part of Paterson.

1870: Acquackanonk Township’sweekly newspaper, The Item, ispublished.

1870: The Clifton Union SundaySchool (interdenominational) isorganized above the variety store at99 Florence (Getty) Ave.

July 3, 1870: Wesel School relo-cates to 99 Florence Ave.

1870: The Delaware, Lackawanna& Western’s Boonton branchbegins operations throughDelawanna, Passaic and Athenia.

March 21, 1871: The village ofPassaic splits from AcquackanonkTownship. Passaic becomes a sepa-rate city in 1973.

July 19, 1871: Delawanna resi-dents vote down annexation byPassaic.

Sept. 30, 1871: A railroad depot isopened in Arlington Ave. TheClifton depot on Madison Ave. wasalready opened in 1870.

1871: The Morris Canal is sold tothe Lehigh Valley railroad.

1871: George Hughes, a linen man-ufacturer, and his brother, John, landdevelopers from Cranford, purchaseland in Athenia, lay out streets andbuild 14 homes with a characteristicmansard roof. Six are still in use.

Oct. 21, 1871: Engine Co. #1 opensin a barn at Main & Madison Ave’s.

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When ‘oldtimers’ discussClifton’s neighborhoods,

genealogy or landmarks of histori-cal significance, the name WilliamW. Scott often comes up. That isbecause he is the authority on thehistory of the region, most specifi-cally the area known asAcquackanonk, which incorporatesClifton, long before it became acity on April 26, 1917.

Scott was the author of theHistory of Passaic and Its Environs,a thick and tedious three-part serieswhich was published in 1922. Theencyclopedic books detail the his-tory of the region, and offers histhoughts and observations on avariety of topics. On the followingpages are accounts of how varioussections received their monikers.

It was Scott’s opinion that theold names of these localities werefar more significant than “the pres-ent meaningless designations.” Hepoints out, for example, thatWeasel, “a corruption of Wesel”, atown in Holland, refers to the oldWorld home of the first settlers and“means infinitely more than thepresent name, Lakeview.”

Scott holds that Claverack, mean-ing clover fields, is “superior to theutterly meaningless, Athenia.”

What follows are the words ofthe author, which some of today’sreaders may not find politicallycorrect. But reading the copy willhelp further identify Clifton’sneighborhoods, which are men-tioned by several different names inour extensive timeline.

Weasel, taking the Weasel Brooklocality, was settle by Hollanders inthe early part of the eighteenth cen-tury. The first prominent settlerwas Gerrit Gerritse. The land orig-inally was used for farming; manyof the old farm lanes are nowstreets, such as Crooks Ave.

A grist mill once was locatedalong the Weasel Brook on the oldPost Farm, later taken over by theVan Winkles. The Vreelands alsoexercised considerable influence inthis locality. The brook also boast-ed on its banks at various times adistillery, a bleachery and a factorin which hoop skirts were made.

A portion of the Weasel localitynow lies covered by the waters ofthe Dundee Lake, under which liesthe remains of old houses. The lakewas created by Edward T.Christianson, a New York tea mer-chant, who surrounded the artificiallake with trees, shrubs, flowers andpalms. Water fowl then disportedon the surface of the lake, while atnight, the surrounded gardens wereilluminated by Japanese lanterns.

The old race track, on whichproperty (Christopher ColumbusMiddle School) stands, was origi-nally a part of a Weasel farm tract.

Negro slaves were used to do therough work on these farms; onefarm alone, owned by EliasVreeland, who lived at Lexingtonand Hamilton Aves, maintainedtwenty-five negroes.

A physically fit male negro slavecost him about $400; a wench, a lit-tle less that $300. It sometimeshappened that the slaves were

whipped on the bare back fro suchoffenses as pilfering, but as a rule,the Dutch masters were generallykind to their slaves. At Christmastime, they were given a week’svacation and allowed to go visitingin the neighborhood.

Albion Place, a part of the Notch,was formerly known as Postville,owned for the most part by the Postfamily. In 1833, it boasted aschoolhouse located on Hazel St.(The Driftway). Beantown andBricktown were also names for-merly applied to the northern sec-tion of this region.

The descendants of John R.Gould, an Englishman and ownerof much property here, named thedevelopment Albion Place in honorof their native land, Albion(England).

William W. Scott, author of‘History of Passaic and Its Environs’

which was published in 1922.

A noted historian explained the origins of Clifton’s districts...

Early Neighborhood NamesStory by William W. Scott, as published in 1922


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Most of the names of the streets inthis section are of English origin,such as Gillies St., in honor of JohnGillies, Scotch historian; LambertSt., in honor of John Lambert,English General; and Warren St., forSamuel Warren, London lawyer.

The Notch should not be confusedwith Great Notch in Little Falls; it israther the land this side of the moun-tains along Valley Rd. A great deal offarming was always done here, aswell a trap rock quarrying.

The Pearl Brook is namedbecause of the fact that a pearl wasonce found in a mussel shell in thebrook. A history of the Notchwould be incomplete without themention of the Old Notch Tavern.The tavern was built in 1783 byCornelius A. Vreeland, for the con-venience of team-drivers and trav-elers and often as a court house.

During the Revolutionary War,the homes of all residents werelooted by the British. A look-outstation was maintained at the south-

ern end of the mountain and hugestones were collected at the top toroll down on the British shouldthey attempt to pass through.

First called Speertown because ofthe predominance of the Speername among its inhabitants, thenHighland, then Peru, thenSomerset, this locality received itspresent name, Allwood, in 1882.

A mineral spring in this localityonce gave rise to the establishmentof a sanitarium known throughoutthe east. The first road through thissection was Bloomfield Ave., laiddown in 1755, which was thenchanged somewhat in 1803.Kingsland Rd. was laid out in 1786and Stone House Plains Rd. in1795. The Newark Branch of theErie was put through in 1868.

The development of this localityis due in no small measure to thework of William L. Lyall, underwhom the Brighton Mills werebuild, houses erected, streets laidout and a model community begun.

As Claverack, Athenia was a regionof clover fields from the early 18thcentury to the time of the Civil War,when the Sip family changed thename to Centerville because thenucleus of the settlement was in thecenter of their farms. The Hughesfamily secured much property hereand had the Erie Railroad Stationerected, as well as the station on theD. L and W. Houses were erected onClifton and Colfax Aves. (which wasnamed in honor of the Democraticnominee for the Vice-Presidency).

The property changed hands in thepanic of 1874, and a new resident, aMr. Hugh Cheyne, treasurer of theSinger Sewing Machine Company,suggested that the name Centervillebe changed so that a post office mightbe established. Previous applicationsfor a post office had been refusedbecause there were already too manyCentervilles in the State. Mr. Cheynesuggested the name Athenia in honorof the Greek goddess, Athene, whichwas accepted in 1882. ☛


There was once a very populartavern located on the banks of thecanal, a stopping place for boats.Hereabouts a settlement sprang upfrom the time that the Morris Canaland Banking Company put throughthe waterway in 1831. much jovial-ity and some carousing marked thedays of the old tavern, which is nomore. A whipping post was locatedhere in the slavery days, withinstances of cruel punishments beingrecorded in the local annals.

Richfield’s name is appropriate,for this region was reputed to be therichest truck farm land in NewJersey. The protection of the highcliffs on the northwest and the south-ern exposure permitted year-roundgardening. Vegetables were raisedhere by farmers and then transportedfor Newark and New York City mar-kets. These vegetable gardens werestarted by German settlers aroundthe late 1800’s. Foremost among theearly gardeners was George Plog.

The Indian name Kantacaw, alsospelled Yantacaw, meaning a danc-ing pace, was applied to this localityhundreds of years before whitescame. The present name was appliedby the Delaware, Lackawanna andWest Railroad in 1868, the newname a combination of Delawareand Lackawanna; 14 farms made upthe original white settlement.

The Yanticaw River providedpower for grist and paper mills.The Whiting Paper Company andother paper manufacturers, includ-ing Melvin Curtis, whose descen-dants owned the Saturday EveningPost, made paper at the old mill,which was destroyed by fire in1861 and was never rebuilt.

The reef neighborhood ofDelawanna, on the river bankbetween the Rutherford Bridge andthe Lackawanna Railroad, was thescene of much activity during theRevolution, because of the facili-ties on the old river and the fordingplace. Tradition tells of one settlerwho was hung from a sycamoretree for assisting the British across.

Clifton proper received its namefrom a development project whichwas named in an open air meetingheld under a tree on property nowoccupied by St. Paul’s School. Themeeting was held on Oct. 16, 1867.

After considering then disposing ofthe suggested names ofAcquackononk, Claverack andWeasel, Clifton was finally adoptedon a suggestion made by Mrs. CharlesD. Spencer. When asked where thecliffs were, Mrs. Spencer came outfrom under the boughs of the appletree and with a branch in her handpointed to Weasel Mountain (GarretMountain), saying: “There are thecliffs and the name shall be Clifton.”

Oct. 16, 1867: “There are the cliffs and the name shall be Clifton.”

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In 1847, a Paterson shoemakernamed David Howell, a collector

of wildlife from neighborhoodstreams, gathered some fresh watermussels from Notch Brook.

He carried home his shellfish anddeep-fried them. One of the musselscontained a pearl that weighed near-ly 400 grains (about one ounce).Unfortunately, the luster and thevalue was completely destroyed bythe heat and the grease of deep-fry-ing. Had the pearl been found intime, its value might have beenabout $25,000.

Following this experience, DavidHowell and others who heard of hisstory, began extensive mussel col-lecting. People arrived at NotchBrook from all parts of northeasternNew Jersey. The Pearl Rush in theNotch resembled in a small way thegold rush to California taking placeat the same time. The pearl rushlasted some 10 years, and then thepearls were gone.

During 1857, pearls from NorthJersey streams were sold for a totalof $15,000. Most were small and ofaverage quality. Only one wasfound that weighed as much as 93grains. This was purchased byTiffany & Company of New Yorkfor $1,500.

Later, this pearl from Clifton wassold to a French dealer and eventu-ally passed into the possession of

Empress Eugenie of France, a con-sort of Napoleon III. Because of itsremarkable luster, it became knownin the industry as the Queen Pearl.

Notch Brook now flows througha pipe under Route 46 in the Notchand emerges into Montclair Heightsin Clifton. It then flows into EssexCounty at Grove St. as Pearl Brook,a name the stream earned in themiddle of the 19th century.

Jimmy Sturr in Passaic’Jimmy Sturr in Passaic’s Third Ws Third Ward Parkard Park

The Jimmy Sturr concer t is made possible through the generosity of the following sponsors andsuppor ters: Wawel Savings Bank, Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, Passaic Mayor SammyRivera, Congressman William Pascrell, State Senator Paul Sarlo, Assemblyman Fred Scaleraand Freeholder Bruce James. This project is funded, in part by the Passaic County Cultural andHeritage Council at Passaic County Community College, through a grant from the New Jersey State Councilon the Arts, Department of the State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Bring your chairs and put on your dancing shoes to enjoy the BigBand sound of Grammy Award winner Jimmy Sturr and hisOrchestra -- called “the #1 Polka Band in the Country.” The con-cert is being hosted by the City of Passaic Recreation Department.

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Free Concert on Wednesday, July 19, 7:30Third Ward Park is at the corner of Van Houten and Passaic Aves. Rain or Shine

The Pearl Rush in the Notch...

A Tale of the $25,000 Mussel

Feb. 24, 1872: Lakeview Ave. linksthe Erie Railroad depot near CliftonAve. to Market St., Paterson.

June 20, 1872: The Paterson,Newark and New York Railroadreorganize through Allwood andAthenia as Newark Branch of theErie Railroad.

Sept. 21, 1872: Residents ofClifton form a village band.

Aug. 3, 1872: Orrin Vander Hovenstarts the Passaic Herald, a countytemperance weekly newspaper.

1872: A two-room school is builtin Richfield, west of Broad St. Itreplaces a one story frame buildinglocated close to where the New1949 Self L is located.

1872: Acquackanonk School #1 onFranklin Ave. is rebuilt on AllwoodRd. It later becomes part of St.Clares’s R.C. Church.

1872: The Fritzsche Co., manufac-turer of aromatic oils, is establishedon Weasel Brook near Third St.

1872: Albion Place is named byJohn R. Gourley, a resident of aprestigious home (Dollymount) onValley Rd.

1873: The Hughes Brothers erectrailroad depots around Athenia forboth the Erie Newark Branch andLackawanna railroads.

May 10, 1873: Henry A. Hudson’shotel in Delawanna opens.

1873/74: The 1740 brownstonequarry on today’s City Hall site onColfax Ave. is leased to AbbottMarble Co. of Passaic.

1874: Clifton’s third (William S.Davidson) and fourth (George V.DeMott) postmasters serve inoffices in the Variety Store at 99Florence (Getty) Ave.

May 9, 1874: Allwood is namedPeru by Erie Railroad.

1874: Acquackanonk’s School #3is built at First St. & Clifton Ave.

Aug. 1, 1874: Clifton Driving Parkis in the planning stage at the “toll”Road and Kip’s Lane (Piaget Ave.).A half-mile track for horse racingis to be constructed on 25 acres.

Nov. 21, 1874: Getty Ave. isopened from Clifton Ave. toCrooks Ave. Main Ave. ceases tobe a toll road. Too many crossstreets hinders toll collection.

Dec. 25, 1875: A stereopticon artlecture series by Prof. William H.Goodyear of Copper UnionCollege is moved from CliftonSeminary to Passaic due to thepoor condition of roads inAcquackanonk Township.

1875: The first ‘Clifton’ census.Acquackanonk Township populationfollowing removal of Little Falls in1868 and Passaic in 1871: 1,631.

1876: Capt. Joseph’s wife and aSelling child are buried in B’naiJeshurun Cemetery in Centerville.

1877: The Birch Lumber Co. opensat 38 Oak St., Delawanna.

May 11, 1877: Joe Goss, championpugilist, fights all-comers at thePassaic County Fair Grounds heldat the Race Track in Clifton.

May 11, 1877: A part ofCenterville takes the nameRichfield to get its own Post Officelocated at Kesse’s Hotel. TheAthenia part of Centerville didn’tget its own Post Office until 1883.

1880: Tyldsley’s Tavern opens onElm St. at the LackawannaRailroad tracks in Athenia. A gradecrossing which extended Fornelius(Central Ave.) toward Passaicexisted there. Ca 1922, an under-pass was constructed to completeClifton Blvd. between Clifton Ave.and the Passaic border.

1880: Peter & Israel Bennigan’sBroadsilk and Ribbon Mill openson Hazel Rd. at today’s GardenState Parkway ramp.

Winter 1881: The CliftonMethodist Chapel and the CliftonUnion Sunday School building atClifton Ave. and First St. burns tothe ground. No church buildingwas open in Clifton.


Located where Clifton Schools Stadium and Main Memorial Park are today, theClifton Race Track commences its first spring horse racing season on May 1, 1875.

☛

1880: Second Census of Acquackanonk counts 1,732 people.


Aug. 13, 1882: The new chapel atCenterville in Athenia opens forworship services. It is decided onOct. 5 as the Reformed Church ofCenterville. (Now Athenia wasReformed.)

1883: Names change: The landbetween the Lackawanna Railroadand the Newark Branch of the ErieRailroad along Claverack Road(now Clifton Ave.) takes the nameAthenia in order to secure a PostOffice.

1883/84: Isaac Van Dillen opens ageneral store in Athenia.

1884: Clifton Hard Rubber Co.replaces a lace mill on CliftonBlvd. on Post property opposite theLackawanna depot.

ca. 1883: Ferdinand Grossenbacherlives in a large home on CliftonAve., which later became CliftonElk’s first home, operated a silkmill on Post property opposite thedepot of Lackawanna Railroad atAthenia. In 1887, that mill wasdestroyed by fire.

1886: George, William and JohnEngemann, with approval of theAcquackanonk Township Council,expand their Race Track, completewith a hotel, betting ring and glass

enclosed grandstands to seat10,000 fans. An Erie Main Linerailroad runs directly up to theentrance to the racetrack, bringingin thousands of horse racing fans.

In 1892, Silk baron Catholina Lambert builds his castle on Valley Rd. The view here is of the Italian Garden. See page 76.

A photo at School 5, Valley Rd., circa 1904. (Photo courtesy Ralph Eodice).

1883: The current Allwood section is renamed Somerset in place of Peru...

1886: The Morris Canal reducesthe number of canal boats on water-way. Service ends inAcquackanonk ca. 1900.

1888: Thomas A. R. Goodlatteestablishes an oil cloth factory onCentral Ave. (Clifton Blvd.) &Highland Ave. By 1899, 1,800yards of oil cloth are produceddaily. In 1902, Goodlatte mergeswith Standard Oil Cloth, whichtakes over daily operations of thegrowing business.

1889: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool #5 is built on Gould St.

1889: The Botany Worsted Millsare established in Passaic. It origi-nated in Leipzig, Germany andemployed many immigrant work-ers. The Botany Mills becameoperational on Jan. 1, 1890.

1890: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool #6 opens in Athenia.

1890: The first trolleys operatethrough Clifton, starting with theRed Line, which ran along MainAve. between Paterson and Newark.

1890: E. Keller’s Grocery Storeopens. It is the first food storeestablished on Main Ave. in whatwas Clifton Center.

Jan. 9, 1891: The Clifton Race T-rack is closed by Court Order forpermitting illegal gambling. Trackpresident George Engemann isfound guilty of running a gamblingestablishment, is fined and sen-tenced to a year in prison. Despitecurrying favors with politicians, thetrack’s ownership came underattack from an unlikely trio: a localnewspaper, the efforts of localProtestant and Catholic churchesan New York City ‘pool halls’where gamblers went to place bets,not play billiards.

ca. 1891: Thomas Van Houten’sbaseball field on Main Ave. andWest Third St. is closed to permitthe construction of FairylandAmusement Park and Theater.

Oct. 19, 1891: A ChristianEndeavor Society is organized atthe Clifton Union Sunday SchoolChapel on Clifton Ave.

June 1893: The Union PresbyterianSunday School becomes AlbionPlace Presbyterian TownshipSchool 5 on Gould St.

Oct. 28, 1893: Manhattan RubberCompany is incorporated. It beganthe manufacture of rubber productson Jan. 1, 1894. Manhattan RubberCompany closes locally in 1942.

1894: White Line Trolleys beginsto operate from Paterson to theHudson River via Crooks,Lakeview and Central Ave’s.

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On Saturday, Aug. 25, 1894,Passaic City Herald readers

couldn’t fail to notice an enticingnews item featured on the frontpage. The “Tropical Wonders ofMr. Nash’s Aquatic Gardens atClifton” were outlined and the pub-lic received an open invitation tosee “...night flowers bursting out inall their glory.”

Nowadays, Nash Park occupiesthe Lexington Ave. site where acentury ago Scotto Clark Nashgrew the deep pink, 50-petal long-stemmed roses that earnedAcquackanonk Township thesobriquet “Home of the AmericanBeauty Rose.”

Nash was born in Pittsfield,Mass., on Nov. 5, 1841, moved toBrooklyn, New York and 28 yearslater settled with his wife, Aliceand son, George, in the farm com-munity of Acquackanonk, nowClifton.

At the time, Nash and his broth-er, Duane, operated a business inNew York manufacturing farmmachinery. They expanded andopened a branch in Harrisburg,Pennsylvania, and Nash and hisfamily lived in the Keystone Statefor a time.

The business was dissolved in1887 and he returned to Clifton,investing in real estate.

In a masterful biography pub-lished in 1976, Clifton historianWilliam J. Wurst traced Nash’sastonishing career. He noted that thefuture rose grower was a devotednaturalist and voracious reader as

well. Nash collected rare books:his library reflected eclectic tastesand, as Wurst indicated, the shelvescontained “books running thegamut from art history to science.”

Nash had capital available fromprevious business ventures, so hedecided to turn his fascination withflowering plants into a profitablebusiness. Eventually, the Nashholdings in Clifton near the PassaicRiver comprised more than 17acres. A 12-room mansion complet-ed the picture.

Directly behind the house, Nashbuilt 10 hothouses, each 100-feetlong. In 1894, the glass-enclosedstructures held 14,000 of Nash’sprized American Beauty roses.

On a portion of the property, adisagreeable swamp offendedNash’s sensibilities. Gradually, hereclaimed the mosquito-infestedarea at the cost of several thousanddollars and created a sunken gardenfor tropical plants.

Nash installed steam pipes thattraversed the garden and connectedto a boiler so the proper tempera-tures could be maintained.

Although “Nash’s Pond” wasoperating by spring, 1892, thewater garden was still a hobby. Butthe successful rose connoisseurhad a good sense of what wouldturn a profit.

In 1894, Nash and WilliamTricker (an Englishman who cameto the U.S. nine years earlier)formed a partnership to raise andmarket aquatic plants. “Trickerand Co.” transformed the Clifton

pond into the celebrated and soonnationally known aquatic garden.Tricker skillfully hybridized dif-ferent varieties of water lilies andthe results were amazing.

But it was the huge water lilycalled “Victoria Regia” that capti-vated the public and caused newspa-pers such as the Herald to enthuseover the plant’s exotic beauty.

Native to the Amazon, theRegia had handsome, pad-likeleaves that were a brilliant, deepgreen. The underside was a vividcrimson. When opened, the flow-ers of Victoria Regia measurednearly 12 inches and the petals ofpure white graduated to shades ofrose and red. The leaves werehuge—six feet in diameter—float-ing on the pond’s surface, theyresembled large green rafts. ☛

Imagine life along the Passaic River, back in the 1890’s...

Tropical Wonders of Scotto NashStory by E.A. Smyk, Passaic County Historian

1894: Scotto Nash opens an aquaticand tropical garden at Dundee Lakeand Lexington Ave., approximatelyacross from today’s Hot Grill.


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Local residents often gatheredat the pond’s edge at sunset duringthe summer months to see the dayflowers closing and the night onesopening.

Nash reveled in the publicity hisplants brought, and when peoplevisited the gardens he was oftenavailable to answer questions.When Mrs. G.D. Rogert of Garfield

heard about the huge plants she hur-ried over to the gardens on Aug. 28,1894, and according to the next day’sHerald “...went wild on what she sawat the Clifton gardens.” Her husband“really had to drag her away…”

When Nash announced hewould photograph his childrenstanding on the giant water lily, theevent made page one of Aug.

27th’s Herald. The plant probablycould have supported the weight ofa child unaided, but not an adult.When Emma Porter Nash, the rose-grower’s daughter, was pho-tographed in 1894, it appears aboard was placed beneath her feet.

Nash’s biographer believes theaquatic gardens were irreparablydamaged by the area floods of1902 and 1903, and the delicatetropical plants probably did notsurvive. Scotto Nash continued tocultivate roses until 1909 when heretired and spent his decliningyears managing real estate.

A quiet, genial man with a longflowing beard, Nash died of pneu-monia on April 22, 1920.

His name is immortalized byNash Park. It was dedicated byClifton Mayor Fred C. deVido onSept. 14, 1950.

Native to the Amazon, the Victoria Regia flourished here in Clifton...

It appears the Victoria Regia supports Emma Porter Nash but one would have to look closely to see a board beneath her feet.

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For some 33 years now, AnthonyA. Accavallo, shown here, hasbeen helping make the

American Dream become a reality,right here in Clifton.

As President of Federal Mortgage& Investment Corp. at 1111 CliftonAve., Clifton, he and his firm havewritten millions of dollars worth ofmortgages which have allowed peo-ple to purchase homes. And whilethat work has been fulfilling,Accavallo said he is getting hisgreatest satisfaction these days byhelping senior citizens with reversemortgages.

A reverse mortgage is a special kindof mortgage loan for seniors. “It is asafe, easy way to turn your home equi-ty into tax-free cash,” he continued.“Unlike a home equity loan, you do not

have to make monthly payments.Instead, a reverse mortgage pays you.More importantly, you do not have torepay the loan for as long as you live inthe house. It’s a great way to keep yourhome and get money from it at thesame time.”

The name “reverse mortgage”describes exactly what the mortgage is— it is the exact opposite of a conven-tional mortgage. That is, with a con-ventional mortgage the borrower paysthe lender but with a reverse mortgage,the lender pays the borrower.

In the past, a senior citizen in needof money would have to take out aloan against their house and immedi-ately start making monthly paymentsagain or sell their home.

But a reverse mortgage allows sen-iors to borrow against the equity they

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Each reverse mortgage candidateis required to attend a free counselingsession with a local independenthousing agency approved by FHA(Federal Housing Administration).Candidates are encouraged to bringother family members with them tohelp in the decision-making process.

“This process ensures that the bor-rower understands the program fullyand aides them in determiningwhether or not a reverse mortgage isfor them,” said Accavallo.

How do I qualify for a Reverse Mortgage?It’s simple. You and your co-borrower must be at least 62 years old. You must own your home free and clear or have just a small balance on your existing mortgage. Best of all, there are no income or credit require-ments to satisfy.

How can I receive my money?You can receive it in several ways:•Equal monthly payments as long as you live in your home•Equal monthly payments for a certain period of time•As a line of credit you can draw upon as needed, for whatever reasons•As a lump sum draw at closing•A combination of the above, to meet your requirements.

When must I repay the loan?You must repay the loan if you no longer live in your home. In the event of your death, your heirs can choose to repay the loan and keep the house or sell the house and repay the loan,

What are interest rate charges & fees?•An adjustable rate of interest is charged on reverse mortgages•Closing costs are typical for any mortgage closing and all may be financed•No out-of-pocket expenses at closing

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1894: Belle Vista Methodist Church,pictured right, opens on Valley Rd.in Albion Place. It is named forBelle Lambert, a financial supporterand wife of the Paterson silk baron,Catholina Lambert, who constructednearby Lambert Castle.1894: The Township Committee ofAcquackanonk expands to five vot-ing members.1895: New Jersey Flour Millsopens at Chester St. and Getty Ave.Today it remains as the only millerof western wheat in New Jersey.1895: William B. Lyall establishesa mill community in Allwood forBrighton Cotton Mills workerswith a school and fire company. Aug. 15, 1895: St. Mary’s Hospitalin Passaic is established.Jan. 8, 1895: A meeting is held toconsider the forming a DelawannaUnion Protestant Church.1896: Waldrich Bleachery opensnear Yantacaw Pond, Delawanna.

Nov. 18, 1896: St. Peter’s EpiscopalChurch is organized in the sameupstairs hall over the Variety Storeon Getty Ave., which CliftonReformed Church and School 3were started. On April 23, 1899,ground is broken for a new building.

1896: Pitkin and HoldsworthWorsted Mill is established onWeasel Brook near Main andHighland Ave’s.

1897: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool 7 is built on Parker Ave.

1897: The Richardson Scale Co.was established in Athenia.

1897: Sacred Heart of Jesus,Roman Catholic Church, opens inBotany. It mainly serves Italian-speaking parishioners. Today itremains a cornerstone of Botany.

1897: Sisco Dairy Co. founded atMt. Prospect & Colfax Ave’s.

In 1897, Acquackanonk Township School 7 was built on Parker Ave.While the school served Botany children for decades, the photo above is ofthe demolition of the building, circa 1960. The area today is a small park.In the background is Sacred Heart Church, also constructed in 1897. Photowas provided by Jim Marrocco. ☛

In 1897, Acquackanonk Township School 7 was opened on Parker Ave.


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1898: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool 2 in Richfield is rebuilt withadditional rooms. The old 1872building is moved and convertedinto a grocery store. It remains inuse today.

1899: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool 1 closes and the building isincorporated into the first St.Clare’s building.

1899: Fire destroys the grandstandof the Clifton Race Track.

Sept. 17, 1899: St. Peter’s EpiscopalChurch begins worship services in asanctuary on Clifton Ave.

1899: Peter Vander Hay operates adairy on Hadley Ave.

1900: Sam and Rosa Epstein opena department store for the sale offarm clothing on Van Houten Ave.in Richfield.

1900: Jacob Fishbach opens andoperates a blacksmith shop onBroad St. in Richfield. The busi-ness operates 40 more years.

April 1900: Alexander Purcell isappointed superintendent of thePassaic Alms House on Mt.Prospect Ave., Athenia.

1900: Clifton Fire Brigade No. 1builds a firehouse on Passaic(Harding) Ave. near Second St. Itlater serves a Masonic Club,American Legion Hall and as a res-idence.

1901: The US Government pur-chases 52 acres of farmland inAthenia for a Quarantine Station forimported hoofed animals. Eighteenbuildings are erected...homes, barns,workshop, garage and bungalow.

August 1901: The Albion PlaceChemical Fire Co. is organized.

1902: John Donkersloot & Sonestablish a truck moving companyfor dirt and rock on Second St. nearHighland Ave.

1903: St. Clare’s Roman CatholicChurch opens on Allwood Rd.

1903: William J. Vernay & Sons,Moving & Storage, is established.

1903: The Postville School inSouth Paterson is closed. Albion

Place children are transferred toSchool 5 on Gould St.

1903: Roy J. Schleich, Sr. opens aplumbing office in Clifton.

1903: Forstmann Woolen Mills openson Randolph Ave. in the Botany.

1903: Clifton Fire Company's No.2 and No. 4 open in Botany andWest Clifton, respectively.

1904: Gilbert Bird opens a fruitand vegetable wholesale businesson Peach Orchard Rd. (PaulisonAve.) in Dutch Hill.

1904: International Veiling Co.,which manufactures stockings andfinishing of lace, opens inBannigan’s Mill. (Hazel St.)

Circa 1900: St. Joseph’s Hospital from a turn of the century postcard.

1901: The US Government purchases 52 acres of farmland in Athenia.



The Acquackanonk TownshipBoard of Education announced

a referendum in 1905 to purchase16 lots on Clifton Ave. and First St.

On this property, a two-storybuilding would be constructed, withthe elementary grades housed onthe first floor and high schoolgrades on the second.

The referendum passed and con-struction of School No. 10 com-menced. On June 22, 1909, CHSgraduated its first class—NellieBrown, Grace Burroughs, MabelLibbey, Bessie Velders and AgnesWeller. (The school was named forthe section of the township in whichthe school was located, not for theCity of Clifton, which would notexist for another eight years.)

During those early years, beforea third floor and wings were added,gym classes took place inThorburn’s Hall, just a short walkup Clifton Ave. The latter building

still stands, at Clifton and MainAves., and now houses a nail salon.School No. 10 was razed in 1964 infavor of municipal parking.

In 1920, former Clifton RaceTrack property at Piaget and MainAves. was sold to the city forschool purposes and the construc-tion of a ‘new Clifton High School’subsequently began. On April 14,1926, the formal dedication andopening of the building took place.

Soon thereafter, on Oct. 4, 1927,the Clifton Board of Educationdonated to the City of Clifton a por-tion of the former race track prop-erty to be used as a park. Over thenext few years, Main MemorialPark became a reality.

As Clifton grew, so did the spaceneeds for Clifton’s students. Anorth wing, including a new gym-nasium, was added, circa 1945.

And under the coaching of thelegendary Joe Grecco, the CHSFighting Mustangs became a

The first graduating class had just five students (pictured below!)

The Evolution of Clifton High––– Story by David Van Dillon –––

☛Clifton High School, circa 1912, located at the corner of Clifton Ave and First St.


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football powerhouse—but the team did not have ahomefield to play on. Thus, on Oct. 14, 1950, withmuch fanfare, Clifton Schools Stadium was dedicated.

Seeing the need for an even greater expansion ofschool facilities, during the 1950s, the City beganacquiring land for the construction of the present highschool on Colfax Ave.

In 1956, the city purchased 15.5 acres of UnitedStates Quarantine land and an additional eight acreswas acquired by Clifton in 1959 to increase the proper-ty to 23.5 acres, a realistic acreage for a modern highschool campus.

On Feb. 4, 1960, the Clifton City Council voted toauthorize the issuance of $5.6 million in school bondsto finance the construction of a new 3,000 pupil highschool on Colfax Ave. Voters approved the high schoolbond referendum on May 23, 1960. The current CliftonHigh School was formally dedicated on April 29, 1962.

The southeastern, or the highest portion of the highschool property, marks the top of an 18th century sand-stone quarry from which brownstone for home buildingand other purposes was secured.

Little evidence of this quarry exists today, but earlywriters documented it. One poem mentions a visit to thesite a century ago, at which time the quarry walls werein evidence. This same location was used during WorldWar II by local residents for victory gardens. A varietyof vegetables was grown to conserve food in an effortto help with the war effort. A stairway was constructedover the Quarantine fence and small plots were laid out.

In the early part of the 20th Century, there was noquarantine as this part of the property was not used. Agrazing cow or two and some abandoned farm wagonsdotted the landscape back then.

And this writer remembers how neighborhood kidsplayed cowboys and Indians on the rocky hillside.

The second CHS, now Christopher Columbus Middle School, was opened in 1926 and used as a high school until 1962.


Opening day on Saturday, May 27, 1905

Fairyland Amusement Park

Did you know that just over 100 years ago, Clifton(then Acquackanonk) was home to one of the

nation’s first amusement parks? Fairyland AmusementPark, which was located where the Garden StateParkway crosses Main Ave., opened its doors for thefirst time on May 27, 1905.

This turn-of-the-century marvel was one of the firstof its kind anywhere. Even more amazing was that itwas not in New York or some other large city, but inAcquackanonk, which, with its 7,187 person popula-tion, was nothing more than a small farming town.

Visitors came by the thousands on the Red-Line trol-ley that ran along Main Ave. to the state-of-the-artattraction. Upon arrival, guests would run into the blueand gold Fairyland Girls, who sold tickets for 10 cents.

Inside, Fairyland offered just about the best deal thatyou could get for a dime in 1905. One of the mainattractions was the theater, a 1000-seat monstrosity thateasily dwarfed other similar structures at the time andstill had standing room for hundreds more. It even fea-tured electric fans, something unheard of at the time.

Performers were also treated well, with each receiv-ing a very high wage and having their choice of 15dressing rooms. On the forefront of technology at thetime, Fairyland executives also purchased a projectorand showed highly popular silent feature movies,which were changed three times a week.

For the youngsters, there were plenty of rides,including very early versions of the Ferris wheel, rollercoaster, circle swings and a merry-go-round. Childrenand their parents could ride on the Fairyland railroad, athree-quarters of a mile track, which featured canopieson the cars. There was also other things for children,such as the various circus acts, donkey rides, a pennyarcade and a skating rink.

Nighttime brought about some awesome visualsights. Once the last rays of sunlight descendedbeyond Garret Mountain around 9:45 pm, ProfessorRubino’s firework show began. For a full 45 minutes,roman candles, bottle rockets and larger and moreflashy fireworks filled the sky, much to the delight ofthe crowd.

––– Story by William J. Wurst from A Clifton Sampler • Postcards courtesy Mark S. Auerbach –––

☛


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Once the pyrotechnic displaywas over, the Prismatic cascadeswould awe the crowds once again.

This man-made waterfall wasone of the most scenic sights in theeye-opening park. According to thePaterson Daily Guardian, “it wasmade picturesque by thousands ofvari-colored lights thrown upon itfrom various points.” Behind theaquatic light show were femaleentertainers who sang and danced.

Guests always enjoyed their timeat Fairyland and eagerly anticipatedsummer, when the park was opendaily until Labor Day, after which itwas only open on Saturday andSunday.

Fairyland’s attendance recordwas set on July 4, 1907, when peo-ple began lining up more than anhour before opening to get into thefamous park.

By 9 pm, some 11,764 peoplehad entered the park—doublingAcquackanonk’s population for theevening—seemingly foreshadow-

ing years of good fortune for theamusement park down the road.

However, it was not to be. In1909, there was new ownership anda new name—Lakeview Park. Forreasons unknown, attendancedropped, revenues were minimaland the new management couldn’t

meet expenses. On July 6, thepark’s gates were closed and it didnot open for the rest of the season.It was reported several months laterthat legal action had been takenagainst the owners for overduebills, effectively ending the shortlife of Fairyland Amusement Park.

1905: Henry Mohlenhoff purchasesa farm at Broad St. and Colfax Ave.He sold his produce in markets inPaterson and Newark daily.

1905: Edward Jewett purchasesWestervelt’s grist mill located onWeasel Brook near Fourth St. intoday’s Weasel Brook Park.

1906: Acquackanonk TownshipSchool 8 opens as a wooden schoolon Oak St. in Delawanna.

1907: Public Service Railway Co. isestablished as a subsidiary pf PublicService Electric and Gas Co. It oper-ates a fleet of busses and trolleys.

1907: Thomas A. R. Goodlatteopens a new oil cloth factory inDelawanna, having sold his factoryin Athenia.

1907: James G. Sanders & SonsCoal Co. opens in Allwood. PublicSchool 11 is built on Merselis Ave.(Lakeview).

Jan. 1907: Plans are made bySwedish residents of Athenia toopen a rolling mill for flat steel. It becomes Athenia Steel Co. and a

large industry with 350 employees.

Jan. 1908: The AcquackanonkTownship Council appointedWilliam J. Coughlan Chief ofPolice. While the chief has no offi-cers, he has the authority to hirepolicemen per diem ($2 per day) inthe event of strikes, riots or emer-gencies. The Council also acquirestwo jail cells. Police Headquarterswas in a shed behind the CliftonHotel on Main and Madison Ave’s.

March 25, 1908: Berger’s DrugStore at Main and Clifton Ave’s. issold to Mr. John McHenry whoruns it for over 40 years.

1908: Montclair Normal School(now Montclair State University)opens on Valley Rd. Land is deed-ed by Acquackanonk Township to

the school to a Montclair address,so that Montclair’s city servicescan be used.

Jan. 4, 1909: AcquackanonkTownship Fire Company 3 is estab-lished on Mahar Ave. nearLexington Ave.

1909: Doherty Silk Mill is built onMain Ave. at the corner of West 4thSt. It is the largest textile weavingmill in the US. Some 1,000 skilledtextile workers are employed.

Fall 1909: An airplane makes alanding at Lambert’s Castle, nearValley Rd., on the Paterson-Acquackanonk Township border.

1909: Clifton Building & Loan isestablished in Clifton Center.

1909: School 4 is constructed nearWest Third St.

1905: Shareholders purchase land for the establishment of the East andWest Ridgelawn Cemeteries (the current photo above by BevCholweczynski is of the cemetery entrance on Main and Delawanna Aves.)

☛

A period of rapid growth in Acquackanonk (1910 population is 11,869)...


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1909: Clarence Finkle establishes Finkle’s Express formoving and storage. It later becomes Passaic Terminal& Transportation Co.

Nov. 27, 1909: The Italian American FamilyCooperative Association is incorporated in Botany. Itis a combination of two purchasers of commodities, theItalian Pleasure Club and the Holy Name Society ofSacred Heart’s Clifton Corp.

1910: The Grieder Brothers of Albion Place, bothbutchers, build and fly their own homemade airplane.

1910: Acquackanonk Township population is 11,869.

May 9, 1911: The Association of Exempt Firemen ofAcquackanonk is organized and incorporated.

1911: The Acquackanonk Township Council grantspermits for the showing of movies and the staging ofWild West shows.

March 14, 1912: The Acquackanonk Township PoliceHeadquarters relocates from a barn behind the CliftonHotel to a rented store at 695 Main Ave.

1912: The Olympic Park Rangers Soccer Team win theClan McDonald cup before 12,000 fans at the OlympicPark Oval on Main Ave.

1912: Alexander Smith announces he is a practicingmortician in Acquackanonk.

1912: Acquackanonk Fire Companies merged into aconsolidated fire department.

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Circa 1908: After the court-ordered closing of the Clifton Race Track, the 25-acre property was converted into avelodrome for bicycle and motorcycle races. The six laps-per-mile Clifton Velodrome burned down in 1914. Bythe 1920’s, the deteriorating facility—where Main Memorial Park and the Clifton Library stand today—was pur-chased, razed and used to build the ‘old’ Clifton High School (now Christopher Columbus Middle School).

☛


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The Village of Clifton Proper,centered around the intersection ofClifton and Main Aves., witnessedrapid real estate development fol-lowing the Civil War. Streets werelaid out, a train station was built atGetty and Clifton Aves., and in 1869a hotel was constructed at the inter-section of Main and Madison(where the new Clifton Post Officeexists today).

The Clifton Grove Hotel waspopular with patrons of the nearbyClifton Race Track, and, with its pic-nic grove at Madison and DeMottAves., it also served as a gatheringplace for locals as well.

While fire destroyed the originalstructure on Jan. 25, 1895, propri-etor Henry Hohenstein rebuilt andrenamed the structure the ‘CliftonHotel’ soon after.

“Although smaller than the origi-nal structure,” reported historianWilliam J. Wurst in A CliftonSampler, “a stately and fashionableinn had emerged from the ashes.

Three stories high and gabled andtrimmed in the ornamental fashioncharacteristic of the latter part of the19th century, the building containeda bar room, reading room, diningroom, two parlors and private bed-rooms.” With its hardwood floors,

wood paneling, brass finishes andother accents, the Clifton Hotel wasindeed the place to meet, greet anddo business for those conductingcommerce with the nearby BotanyMills, or Forstmann Woolen Mills.

“The reading room was a favoritegathering place at thehotel,” Wurst continued.“There were strong feel-ing against alcoholic bev-erages (but) it was notuncommon for theyounger men of promi-nent local families tospend a few hours in thereading room playingsome euchre or whistwhile sipping a glass ofbirch beer or sarsaparilla.

“Until AcquackanonkTownship’s first municipalbuilding was completedaround 1917, meetings ofthe Township committeewere often conducted inthe meeting room as well.”

1914: Construction begins for Acquackanonk Township Hall at the corner of Passaic(now Harding) and Main Ave’s. In April, 1917, this becomes Clifton’s first City Hall.


1913: The Robin Hood Inn openson Valley Rd. and is operated bythe Burns family until 1997. Theproperty is now the location for theAlexus Steakhouse.

May 1913: A Delawanna referen-dum rejects annexation by Passaic.

1913: The Robin Hood Inn opens.

June 8, 1913: The first Mass cele-brated in St. Paul’s parish is con-ducted by Rev. Father Flanagan for250 parishioners in the firehouse ofAcquackanonk Fire Co. No. 1 onPassaic Ave. (Harding Ave.)Services move to Fire Co. No. 4.

1913: Clifton Reliable Moving andStorage opens on Loretta St.

July 20, 1913: A Lakeview Ave.chapel is established as a missionof North Reformed Church ofPassaic. This mission churchbecomes the Lakeview HeightsReformed Church.

1913: Clifton Sheet Metal Worksopens for business.

Oct. 22, 1913: Saints Cyril &Methodius Roman Catholic Churchorganized for Slovak worshippersin the Acquackanonk Fire Co. No.2 building on Arthur Ave. and laterat the Holden building.

1914: The Hope Reformed Churchorganized in Dutch Hill homes.

1914: The Clifton Journal, a week-ly newspaper of the CliftonPublishing Company, is founded.

Proud to represent Clifton...Assemblyman Thomas P. GiblinState of New Jersey

1333 Broad St., Clifton, NJ 07013

Call my Clifton office: 973-779-3125 1814


1915: Dr. Jokichi Takamine, a suc-cessful entrepreneur and developerof Adrenaline, opens the TakamineLaboratory of Clifton on ArlingtonAve., on the Erie Railroad, havingrecognized Clifton as being at theforefront of industrial growth.

Takamine, born on Nov. 3, 1854in Takaoka City, Japan, had anextensive background in technolo-gy and fertilizer manufacturing,studying in schools in Japan andScotland. A good entrepreneur inJapan, his success in the States wasdue to reversing the usual culturalflow of technology and adapting aJapanese idea to a western industry.

In 1890, Takamine, picturedhere, arrived at Illinois and demon-strated a more efficient way to dis-till liquor using mold as opposed tobarley. Although his method wassuperior, he faced racism and thefactory he worked at was burnt tothe ground.

However, through his method,he extracted the Aspergllus enzymeand bought a patent and licensed itto Parke, Davis & Company, whichmarketed it as Taka-diastase, adigestive aid for starch.

Takamine was made a consultantand moved to New York, where heestablished an independent labora-tory and learned how to extractAdrenaline in 1900.

Adrenaline earned him enoughmoney to found the SankyoPharmaceutical Company ofTokyo, the International TakamineFerment Company of New Yorkand the Takamine Laboratory ofClifton, which primarily dealt withthe manufacturing of Salvarsan, thefirst true chemotherapeutic agent.

Takamine died on July 22, 1922after a life-long battle with a liverailment. His Clifton propertychanged ownership several timesbefore 1978, when the site was pur-chased by the Bayer Corporation,which eventually razed the lot andsold it for a sprawling suburbanhousing development. ☛


Perhaps in 1930, JosephDeLora Sr. did give a sec-ond thought to the fact that

the country was in the heart of theDepression. And yes, maybe, itwas a crazy time to start a drycleaning business. But that was afleeting moment and a detractionwhich would not allow him to strayfrom his vision of starting, what tomany, has become Clifton’s premierdry cleaning firm.

Over 76 years later, DeLuxeCleaners and Formal Wear, still inits Art Deco landmark building at1280 Main Ave., is now in its thirdgeneration of ownership and hasgrown to employ over 40 employees.

Since the founding of the firm,the DeLora family has added anumber of innovations to establishDeLuxe as a leader in the industry.Some were just slightly a head of itstime, such as the refrigerated furvault back in the early 1940’s.Other additions were also ahead ofthe curve, such as the 1955 opening

of DeLuxe Formal Wear. Andother ideas were as simple as keep-ing it a family business. That’s whathappened in the 1950’s, whenJoseph’s eldest son Patrick Sr.returned home from the KoreanWar and took over the daily opera-tions of DeLuxe.

By the 1960’s, Pat Sr. opened theDrapery Cleaning Department andDeLuxe Cleaners became special-ists in the taking down and rehang-ing of draperies and top treatments.The company’s Adjust-A-Drapeprocess guarantees a perfectly fin-ished drapery every time.

Thanks to wash ‘n wear, the1970’s were a difficult time for thedrycleaning industry. Yet, DeLuxesurvived these times and Pat Sr.learned lessons that he would passon to his own five children, two ofwhom, Patrick Jr. and Linda, whoare now in the family business.

It was in 1990 that they wouldintroduce V.I.P. Pick-Up & Delivery,a convenient service which allows

customers to use DeLuxe withoutever leaving their home. Today, theV.I.P. Service routes through threecounties and has become an invalu-able service to its customers.

In January 1996, DeLuxe’sfounder, Joseph DeLora Sr.,passed away at the age of 94. Inmemory of their grandfather thethird generation owners have com-mitted themselves to their familytradition of quality service estab-lished over 76 years ago.

Readers with any questionsabout the care of clothing or house-hold fabrics, can visit DeLuxe at1280 Main Ave., call 973-546-1105or visit www.deluxecleaners.comto get expert answers and advice.

The Deluxe Building has been a part of Downtown Clifton’s image for seven decades.

Part Of The Downtown Clifton Image...

Joseph DeLora Sr.

51July 2006 • Clifton Merchant

1915: Delancy’s Men’s Clothing Store opens in Botanywith entrances on both Parker and Dayton Ave’s.

1915: “Bub” Tramontin opens a bicycle and motorcy-cle shop on Lexington Ave., near today’s Nash Park.

1915: First Boy Scout meetings are held in homes nearClifton center. By 1917, 200 boys are scouts. In thatyear, Troop 1 schedules summer camping trips.

Dec. 2, 1915: Clifton Lodge 203, Free and AcceptedMasons, organized at Thorburn’s Hall, at Main andClifton Ave’s.

1915: Clifton Bank & Trust Co. opens at Main andClifton Ave’s.

1915: Over the course of April and May, William A.“Billy” Sunday’s Religious Crusade attracts 651,000witnesses to Broadway Tabernacle in Paterson.

1916: David Sussman opens a furniture business inPaterson then relocates to Lexington Ave. in Clifton.

1916: Wittman’s Flower & Gift Shop opens on VanHouten Ave. between Grove St. and Valley Rd.

1916: James. H. Hilton is active in real estate, first inLakeview and later at Main and Barclay Ave’s.

1916: The North Jersey District Water Supply is creat-ed by the State Legislature. It calls for the constructionof Wanaque Reservoir. In 1923, it becomes PassaicValley Water Commission.

1916: William B. Lyall, President of Brighton Mills,builds an English-style mansion on the Passaic-Allwood border. He names it Rosemawr, a name stillin use for the part of Clifton in which it is located, offBloomfield Ave.

Oct. 15, 1916: A Slovak Catholic Sokol is instituted aton Holden St. and Ackerman Ave. Founded at andsponsored by St.’s Cyril & Methodius Church, it is anearly Clifton fraternal organization.

March 20, 1917: Delawanna voters approve annexa-tion by Passaic.

April 24, 1917: Clarence Finkle is Clifton’s first mayor.

June 30, 1917: Andrew Borneman and David VanDillen sell their plumbing business to Louis Weigele &Jacob Van Houten.

1917: A Home Branch of the American Red Crossopens on Main Ave.

1917: The New Apostolic Church opens on CliftonAve. near Randolph Ave.

1917: Nelson P. Nelson founds Nelson Iron Works Inc.in Allwood.

1917: Wittie Electric Co., Inc. is established onLakeview Ave.

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April 24, 1917: Acquackanonk Township residents vote to incorporate as a city.

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On May 20, 1917 the New York Giants beat the Silk Sox, 7-3, before 6,500people. The photo above shows owner Henry Doherty jr. and brother Rayaddressing the fans at the Doherty Oval before that game. The DohertyOval is Clifton’s lost “Field of Dreams.” Once located behind the formersilk mill at 1550 Main Ave., across from the Passaic Valley WaterCommission, the Doherty Oval was probably the finest diamond in thenation until Yankee Stadium was built in 1923. Major leaguers who playedthere said it was superior to any big league ballpark field.

Harry Fabian, head groundskeeper of the Polo Grounds, designed thefield in 1915, and it was maintained and improved upon under Doherty’swatchful eye throughout the 1920s. By the mid-1920s, it held about 8,500fans with standing room for more. A game in 1923 against Babe Ruth andthe Yankees drew about 15,000 and ended after the Babe’s homer in the lateinnings caused a near riot.

The Doherty Oval was a field built for the people. All gate receipts fromSunday games pitting the Silk Sox against all comers were given to the RedCross. Every worker in Doherty’s mill was given a season’s pass to allgames. Clifton High was also allowed to use the field free-of-charge for theirfootball and baseball games, as did other schools and organizations.

Doherty operated the Oval until 1928 when his business turned sour andhe was forced to sell the Silk Sox. While the Doherty Mill building can stillbe seen on Main Ave., Getty Ave. soon cut through the center and right fieldportions of the Doherty Oval and a factory exists where most of the remain-ing diamond was located.

Bibbs Raymond was a standout player forthe Doherty Silk Sox from 1915-1927. Hehit the first home run at the Oval and wassigned by the Yankees but quit because hewas homesick for the fans of Clifton.

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1918: Jeremiah P. Quinlan opensthe Quinlan Funeral Home, Inc.

July 16, 1918: The Mayor and CityCouncil establish a paid fire depart-ment in Clifton. Adam Ritter isnamed Fire Chief.

1918: The Clifton LaundryCompany is established at 11Second St.

Nov. 11, 1918: Peace Chapter 98,Order of Eastern Star, is foundedon the day World War One ends. Itmeets in Thorburn’s Hall at Cliftonand Main Ave’s. Clifton HighSchool also uses the same hall forgym classes.

Dec. 18, 1918: Clifton Lodge 65Royal Order of Moose, is organ-ized. James N. Marsh is namedfirst ‘Dictator’.

1918: The Clifton Chamber ofCommerce is established.

1918: Henry Hohenstein gives upmanagement of Clifton Hotel.

Nov. 11, 1919: Quentin RooseveltPost 8, American Legion, is char-tered following organization inAug. 1919.

1920: The Ernest ScheidemannReal Estate Agency opens an officeat Main and Barclay Ave’s. It hadbeen James Hilton St. Agency.

After World War I, the publicbecame fascinated by flying feats.A barnstorming pilot visitedClifton and offered rides, using asingle landing strip at HighlandAve. and Clifton Blvd. Any planethat landed had to be turned around(probably twice) before it couldtake off, since planes take-off andland into the wind. Local ladswere readily available to executethis maneuver. Modest air showswere also part of the barnstormer’sroutine. The air shows ceasedwhen the popular pilot crashed at alocation away from Clifton.

1920: The former CliftonRacetrack property at Main andPiaget Ave’s. is sold to the City ofClifton for school purposes.

May 1920: August De Tone opensa Travel Bureau at 260 Parker Ave.

May 18, 1920: The Clifton CityCouncil passes an ordinance estab-lishing a free public library.

1920: A.G.L. Welding Supply opens.

1920: Stephen Gaal opens a paintstore on Parker Ave.

1920: The Delaware, Lackawanna &Western Railroad depot in Athenia isdestroyed by a derailed freight train.The depot is relocated to CliftonTerrace; an underpass is built.

1921: First National Bank ofClifton opens on Parker Ave.

May 7, 1921: John Parian opens ajewelry store on Dayton Ave.

1919: Barnstorming pilots aflight over Delawanna & Dutch Hill!

Located near the intersection of Market St. and Brighton Rd., Allwood Hose Co.No. 2 was organized in 1918, although this photo was taken circa 1932. In the early1970’s, the building was restored by Bill Hansen and today remains an office.


Send your historical tidbitsalong with your name and numberto [email protected].

55July 2006 • Clifton Merchant

1921: The Ashley Homestead for theAged founded on Paterson’s RiverSt. by Nathan Barnert in memory ofhis wife, Miriam. This facility laterbecomes Daughters of MiriamHome, on Clifton’s Hazel St..

Jan. 3, 1922: A plan for sanitarysewers for Clifton is presented tothe Clifton City Council. Bids forsewer construction are received bythe council on May 4, 1922.

May 16, 1922: Quentin RooseveltPost 8, American Legion, and itsauxiliary are granted permission toconduct a poppy sale.

1922: Alfred C. Sinn Insurance Co.is established on Main Ave.

1922: Eastern Corrugated ContainerCorp. opens on Clifton Blvd.

1922: De Mattia, O’Brien RealEstate & Ins. Co. opens.

Feb. 7, 1923: The City of Cliftonpurchases the Scotto Nash estate onthe Lexington Ave. at Passaic Riverfor $24,000. The land is nowknown as Nash Park.

1923: School 13 on Van HoutenAve. and School 15 on GregoryAve. are built from similar plans.

Dec. 20, 1923: The first meeting ofClifton Kiwanis is held in Brook’sAuditorium. It is chartered onApril 2, 1924. Circuit Judge JohnC. Barbour is first president.

Jan. 1924: Brighton Mills movesfrom Allwood to Athens, GA.

1924: Consolidated Bus Lineestablished by Dennis J. Gallagheris to serve Allwood from Passaic.

Feb. 5, 1924: Public ServiceElectric Railroad agrees to elimi-nate the “S” curve of the WhiteLine Trolley, between Lakeview,East Madison and Central Ave’s.,as it was a traffic hazard.

People moving machines! Above, John Zegal’s Red Star bus line, circa 1920, onClifton Ave near Sixth St. Below, the Red Line trolley rolling along on Main Ave.circa 1935, in Delawanna.

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July 16, 1918: A professional fire company is stationed at Main & Harding Aves.

Chief Adam RitterAug. 21, 1918 Aug. 11, 1930

Chief Romolo ZangrandoApril 1, 1960June 18, 1965

Chief Joseph ColcaNov. 12, 1980May 1, 1985

Chief Walter DeGrootFeb. 11, 1985Jan. 1, 1997

Chief John ZanetDec. 30, 1930

March 16, 1960

Chief Stephen J. LendlJune 20, 1965Jan. 1, 1981

Chief John E. DubravskyJan. 1, 1997

Current

The history of the Fire Department can betraced back to volunteer service as early asMarch 23, 1897, when 26 men met in a class-room at the old School 3, then on Clifton Ave.,and formed the first volunteer company.

They attacked fires with a two wheeled-handdrawn cart housed with a two and a half inchhose. Since there were no hydrants, they carriedconnectors which coupled the hose to housefaucets.

The first firehouse was completed in 1901 onHarding Ave. between First and Second Sts. Thestructure stored the apparatus and also served asa community social hall.

To call volunteers to duty, a large iron ring.located in Clifton Center, was pounded with ahammer. In later years this was replaced withbells, sirens, radios and plectrons.

Around 1900, a fire alarm headquarters wasestablished at the William C. Berger pharmacyat the corner of Main and Clifton Aves.

Berger was named Honorary Chief and wouldtransmit any alarms received to the engineer atthe Pikin and Holdsworth factory located atMain and Highland Aves.

The Clifton Fire Department came into exis-tence July 16, 1918 with a paid company at CityHall on Main and Harding Aves. Adam A.Ritter was appointed Chief of both the paid andvolunteer fire companies and served until hisdeath in 1930. The photos and dates of serviceof all of Clifton Fire Chiefs are shown here.



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Chief William J. CoughlanJan. 1, 1908

Dec. 13, 1931

Chief James N. MarshAug. 8, 1934June 1, 1955

Chief Edward J. KredatusMay 24, 1979March 1, 1990

Chief Frank J. Lo GiocoMarch 1, 1990May 31, 2002

Chief Tunis HolsterDec. 16, 1931April 13, 1934

Chief Joseph A. NeeJan. 1, 1959

Sept. 23, 1977

Chief Robert FerreriJune 1, 2002

Current

The Clifton Police Department can, to somedegree, trace its origins to the 1905 opening ofFairyland Park, which was located near the currentday Corrado’s. One of three amusement parks inthe state, this attraction created the dilemma of pro-viding protection to homeowners and the pleasureseekers. Security was handled by hiring constables,one of whom was a Bill Coughlan. On Jan. 1, 1908William J. Coughlan was named the first CliftonPolice Chief. But it was not until 1917, the sameyear Aquackanonk became incorporated as Clifton,that the first automobile, a Ford, was purchased forpolice work. Much has changed since then but toprovide some history, we present the dates of serv-ices and photos of all who have served as CliftonPolice Chief since our city’s incorporation.

Chief Paul DittrichAug. 2, 1955Oct. 31. 1957

1921: A Chevrolet police car is purchased but soon traded in for a Studebaker.


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Here is a complete list of all the Clifton Mayorswho served our community. Of the list, two ofthem did not complete full terms.

In 1945, William Dewey, Sr. was electedPassaic County Sheriff and resigned his office inorder to fill that county seat. Councilman MichaelShershin served out the term.

Anna M. Latteri, the first woman to be chosenby her peers as Mayor of Clifton, died in 1973,while still in office. Councilman Israel Friend wasselected to complete her term.

Under the existing system of government,adopted in 1934, the City Council consists ofseven members who are elected every four yearson an at-large basis, in non-partisan elections.

The Mayor is one of those seven and is notdirectly elected by the citizens. Council members,at their first organizational meeting (one was justheld on July 1), then select a Mayor from withintheir own ranks. The Mayor has no separate poli-cy-making power but presides over meetings andmakes appointments to the Planning Board andvarious commissions.

Clarence Finkle, Sr.1917–1918

George J. Schmidt1918–1920

George R. Connors1921–1924

S. Grant Thorburn1925–1927

William P. Jordan1927–1931

Wilson S. Brower1934–1938

Crine Kievit1932–1934

Godfrey M. Meyer1938–1942

Michael Shershin1945–1946

William Dewey, Sr.1942–1945

Mayors of the City of Clifton


Walter F. Nutt 1946–1950

John W. Surgent1954–1958

Fred G. Devito1950–1954

Stanley Zwier1958–1962

Joseph J. Vanacek1966–1970

Ira Schoem1962–1966

Anna M. Latteri1970–1973

Frank Sylvester1974–1978

Israel Friend 1973–1974

Gerald Zecker1978–1982

James Anzaldi Current

Gloria Kolodziej1982–1990

The Mayor is not directly elected by the voters but by his or her Council peers.


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1924: Thomas Coal Co., foundedin Paterson in 1903, moves toColfax Ave. near the NewarkBranch of the Erie Railroad.

1924: The Clifton VolunteerFirehouse on Harding Ave. is soldto Clifton Masons for use as aMasonic Club.

1924: Givaudan Corp. opens anaromatic chemical plant onDelawanna Ave. Hexachloropheneand some medications are made.

October 16, 1924: A new CliftonFire Headquarters is opened onMahar Ave., near the corner ofClifton & Lexington Ave’s.

April 1, 1925: Main Auto ElectricCo. opens at 397 Clifton Ave.

April 25, 1925: Clifton NationalBank opens on Main Ave. nearClifton Ave. It is moved to Main &Union Ave’s. in 1928.

1925: Bus Service from Clifton toNew York City begins. Riders canreach both intercity (via Main Ave.)or Manhattan (via Lakeview/Lexington Ave’s.)

1925: Clifton Engine Co. No. 4 isestablished on Delawanna Ave.

1925: New York Sash & Door Co.opens on Caroline Ave., borderingthe Erie Railroad.

1925: The Capitol Diner opens onMain Ave. near Memorial Park.

1925: N.P. Nelson Iron Worksmoves from Brooklyn, NY toBloomfield Ave. in Allwood.

Aug. 3, 1925: Reformed Church ofCenterville, established 1882, isincorporated as Athenia ReformedChurch and purchases church house.

Dec. 14, 1925: Manhattan Bus Co.requests that the Clifton CityCouncil allows four pick-up anddischarge stops in Clifton.

Jan. 5, 1926: A diagonal street 60-feet wide is laid out from Cliftonand Lakeview Ave’s. to East.Madison and Central Ave’s.

Jan. 25, 1926: Five hundred work-ers strike Botany Mills and fiveother textile mills, the first of15,000 total strikers.

April 14, 1926: The formal open-ing and dedication of new CliftonHigh School on Piaget Ave. takesplace. CHS had been relocatedfrom from School 10.

1926: The Clifton Democratic Clubis established.

1926: Henry L. Peto opens a RealEstate office in Passaic. In 1934,he relocates his office to LakeviewAve., Clifton.

1926: Beth Israel Hospital starts inPassaic on Madison St. in what hasbeen a single-floor old age home.

Jan. 15, 1927: Clifton Chapter ofthe Order of DeMolay organizes.

Jan. 30, 1927: Daughters ofMiriam Home on Hazel Rd. is relo-cated from Paterson.

Feb. 24, 1927: Clifton Chamber ofCommerce is incorporated.

April 17, 1927: First EvangelicalLutheran Church is dedicated.

June 11, 1927: Clifton Assembly16, Rainbow for Girls, is organized.

1927: Hird Park at Clifton andLexington Ave’s. is donated bySamuel Hird, textile magnate.

1926: The Clifton Leader is published by Gus LaCorte.

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1927: Plog’s Garage opens onPiaget Ave. and Seventh St.

Oct. 4, 1927: Clifton’s Board ofEducation transfers part of its landaround Clifton High School to thecity to build a park.

1928: Mahony-Troast ContractingCo. is established by Paul L. Troastand Arthur C. Mahony onBloomfield Ave., in Allwood.

1928: Tobin Paper Co., makers oftwine, bags and containers for gro-cers, opens on Lakeview Ave.

June 19, 1928: Post 8 installs threeelectric lamps at Central andDelawanna Ave’s.

1928: Botany Bldg. & Loan, laterClifton Savings & Loan, opens.

1928: The Diamond Real EstateAgency opens.

Oct. 30, 1928: The AtheniaSwitching Station of Public Serviceand Transmission lines is erectedon Mt. Prospect Ave., in Athenia.

Dec. 1, 1928: Falstrom &Tornqvist move from Passaic toCrooks Ave., Clifton and continuemetal fabricating.

Dec. 15, 1928: The Clifton PostOffice at Union Ave. becomes anindependent Post Office and is nolonger a branch of Passaic.

Jan. 1929: The Clifton PublicLibrary relocated to 68 Union Ave.

Jan. 29, 1929: Clifton Lodge 1569,Benevolent Protective Order of theElks, organizes with 64 members atBrook’s Hall. A lodge is purchasedat Clifton and Colfax Ave’s.

Jan. 1929: Charles Freshman-Freed Eismann operates a mergedRadio Co. in the old Brighton Millsbuildings in Allwood. Over a thou-sand radios per day are made by2,500 employees.

Feb. 12, 1929: The ClaverackChapter of the Daughters of theAmericans Revolution is organized

April 1929: Hoffman LaRochePharmaceutical Co. is set to open.

1929: Conveyor Engineering Co. isestablished on Hobart Place.

Oct. 1929: Charles Freshman-Freed Eismann Radio Co. goes intoreceivership due to 100 percentdrop in radio prices.

1929: The Allwood CommunityChurch is organized on the JamesP. Speer homestead, built in 1838,at the corners of Bloomfield Ave.and Brighton Rd. The church wasconstructed in 1932. The Speerhouse would eventually becomethe White House Coffee Shoppebefore being razed by AmericanColortype in 1950.

1928: Rutt’s Hut opens for hot dogs on River Rd. in Delawanna.

• Otitis media means inflammation of themiddle ear. Ear infections develop fromblockage in the eustachian tube due to a coldor allergies. This creates bacteria which thenleads to the accumulation of fluid behind the eardrum,which may rupture under the pressure. However,when the eardrum bursts, it may not fully drain due tothe inflamed eustachian tube, which can lead to fre-quent recurrences.• Ear infections are generally easily treatable. Symptomsfor infants include crying, fever, ear drainage, scratching atthe ear or hearing problems. Children and adults mayexperience pain, hearing problems, loss of balance, nau-sea, ear drainage or fever.• If you suspect an ear infection, you should contactyour doctor so he can properly diagnose the problemand remedy it.

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Nov. 11, 1929: The Clifton War Memorial on MainAve. is dedicated in honor of the Cliftonites killed-in-action in World War I.

1930: Peter Zarcone opens a shoe store in a garagein Lakeview.

1930: Rentschler’s Swimming Pool opens on MainAve. between Hadley and Highland Ave’s. It isadjoined by a large hall.

1930: Construction begins for School 1 on ParkSlope. It opens in 1931.

July 1930: Newspaper articles report recreationalactivities for the public such as miniature golf,endurance contests for bicycles and roller skates,tree perching, flagpole sitting and block dances.

March 20, 1930: Wanaque Reservoir is dedicatedand gates are opened to provide portable water.

Nov. 23, 1930: Trinity Methodist Church, organizedin Passaic in 1909, relocates to De Mott Ave. andSecond St. in Clifton.

Dec. 3, 1930: John Zanet is appointed Clifton’s sec-ond paid Fire Chief.

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1930: Avato’s Department Store opens in Albion Place. “Avato’s was justabout at the center of everything,” wrote Floyd B. and Rae Hill Vollinger, for-merly of Beantown and residents of Spring Hill, Florida, who asked us to pub-lish a note about the Aug. 31, 2004 closing of this unique store. Here it is...

Marion D’Ettorre of Avato’s (at left) has seen Albion prosper for overseven decades; she grew up in the apartment above the store her parentsfounded and then she and her husband raised their four girls there as well.

Over 74 years of service, Avato’s sold top quality men’s and women’sfashions as well as children’s clothes, shoes and an array of accessories. Itwas, she recalled, the place to shop for every season.

In the late 50s and early 60s, Avato’s stayed connected with Clifton bysponsoring fashion shows and Clifton Midget League baseball and bowl-ing teams. During the early 50s, the store became an official US PostOffice station. “The men came back from WWII and the town was grow-ing,” recalled D’Ettorre. “We needed a post office in Albion.” And beingit increased the foot traffic through the store.

Reflecting on the growth of mega-stores and big box retailers, D’Ettorresaid: “I couldn’t compete with the malls, discount stores and outlets. Butwhen people come here, they knew they were getting good merchandise.Over the years, I’ve had to cut a lot of my lines.”

Even though in the final years, Avato’s did not carry as many items asit once did, D’Ettorre saw to it that care was taken to provide high quali-ty merchandise at fair prices.

At the time of the closing, Avato’s joined a list of other classic Cliftonmerchants moving on. They include Jerry Posner of Starr Tire on Getty Ave.(which became a Commerce Bank) and the Cloverdale Restaurant, acrossfrom city hall, which was transformed into a Dunkin’ Donuts.


1931/32: Doherty Oval, the formerhome of the Doherty Silk Sox, isused for athletics by CHS.

March 1931: Two chapters of theOrder of Eastern Star,Acquackanonk Chapter 267 andClifton Chapter 269, are organized.

April 1931: Irving Kanter, formallyof Kanter’s Chevrolet in Passaic,opens Lexington Chevrolet, Clifton.

1931: Charles H. Reis begins con-struction of a large suburban devel-opment of 400 Allwood homes onthe former Brighton Mills property.

April 10, 1932: The CliffordLodge at Broad St. and Van HoutenAve. is gutted by fire, with eightbeing injured in the blaze. It is notrebuilt.

1932: Wilson’s Liquor Store opensat 117 Lakeview Ave.

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In August 1930, teams ofyouths organized to ride nightand day around selected blocksin Clifton. One such group, theClifton Corps of EnduranceBicycle Riders, was composedof Peter Kuczuda, Mike Boyko,John Milalko and Mike Yuhas.The Corps kept on riding afterpassing 938 continuous hours onthe saddle, thus becoming localchamps. A block dance wasorganized to raise funds in sup-port of the endurance effort. TheClifton Corps peddled on VanRiper Avenue and, despite the100 degree heat of those sum-mer days, the boys kept going...

1930: US Census counts 46,875 residents in Clifton.

John J. Majka Fuel Co. opens a coal yard at Svea and Colfax Aves in 1932. A photoof one of their first coal delivery trucks is shown above.


Clifton Police Motorcycle Squad, 1932: From left: Lt. Marino De Mattia, Ptl. R. Havenstrite, Ptl. John De Greet, Ptl.Benjamin Keller and Ptl. Joseph Diani on their Harleys.

April 13, 1932: Improvements on Weasel Brook Parkby the Passaic County Park Commission begin, startingat Lexington Ave. and extending to Paulison Ave. Ahalf-dozen stages are completed over several years.

1932: Wessington Stadium on Main Ave., oppositeDoherty Silk Mill, is completed and used for footballand special events. It is now the site of the PassaicValley Water Commission building.

1932: The Allwood Woman’s Club is founded with 50members. The book exchange program eventuallyleads to an Allwood Library.

Sept. 10, 1932: Post 142, Veterans of Foreign Wars, isformerly instituted.

1932: The Lexington Ave. Floral Shoppe opens.

1932: Sadewitz Auto Electric Service opens at 315Clifton Ave.

Dec. 24, 1932: The Richfield Firehouse is opened at theintersection of Broad St. and Van Houten Ave. Itbecomes headquarters on Nov. 3, 1950.

1933: Bashlow Brothers coal dealers opened a yard atCentral and East Madison Ave’s.

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The new Marrocco Memorial Chapel &Powell-Marrocco Funeral Home wasre-established in September of 2000,when James J. Marrocco had the fore-sight to completely renovate an

expansive building at 470 Colfax Avenue.

This welcoming and dignified facility—shownbelow—greets visitors with stately columns, a porticoto protect passengers in case of inclement weatherand a large adjacent lot.

Once inside, guests can’t help but notice the state-ly fireplace in the gracious foyer. From there, visitorscontinue into one of the four viewing chapels, three ofwhich can be transformed into one large room,depending upon individual needs.

Other thoughtful features include a handicappedaccessible entrance and restroom, a library resourcecenter and family conference rooms.

Marrocco Memorial Chapel recently launched anew Tribute Program, which allows the families to viewa DVD video tribute to their loved one during the vis-iting time. Within the next year, these videos will alsobe available on the Marrocco website for family mem-bers or visitors who could not make the viewing.

And finally, to celebrate four generations of serv-ice, Jim Marrocco has added representations fromeach generation to his Home.

Guests will see an oil painting of The Last Supper,created in 1951, by his great-grandfather Peter A.Marrocco, Sr. A painting of San Vito de Cadore, Italywas painted by his grandfather Henry F. Marrocco, Srand hangs in the the Lincoln viewing room. Andfinally, the third generation is marked by several stat-ues brought back from Florence, Italy by his fatherHenry F. Marrocco, Jr.

As a result, Jim Marrocco has created a warm, wel-coming Home that will make you feel comfortableand invited at a time when you need it most.

In January 2004, Jim’s daughter-in-law CaroleLazzaro joined the family business. Not only doesshe handle the day-to-day business affairs as officemanager, she also creates the increasingly popularVideo Tributes. Carole is currently enrolled at theAmerican Academy McAllister Institute, and is now aregistered Intern with Marrocco Memorial Chapel.

Whether your requirements include pre-planningso that your wishes are recorded and executed as youdesire, or at need services, the staff would be happyto discuss all your options.

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MARROCCO HISTORY

Peter A. Marrocco Sr. start-ed the Marrocco family in theFuneral Business on MillStreet, Paterson in 1899.

For 107 years theMarrocco name has becomesynonymous with superiorfuneral service in theNorthern New Jersey area.Peter A. Marrocco, Sr. beganwith a storefront and stable.

His sons Henry F. Marrocco Sr.and Peter A. Marrocco, Jr. beganthe second generation. At the turn of the century, theMarrocco family established storefront locations onHarrison Avenue in Lodi, State Street in Passaic andDayton Avenue in Clifton.

In the 1920's Henry F. Marrocco Sr. managed thePassaic and Clifton locations. He relocated theClifton location to a Parker Avenue store front andthe Passaic location to a store front on Passaic Street.

As the trend toward funerals in the funeral homeincreased and less often in family residences, thelocations were once again relocated to 326 ParkerAvenue in Clifton and Howe Avenue in Passaic.

The third generation of service to our area beganwith Henry F. Marrocco Jr. who was instrumental inthe continued growth of the family business. He

served as manager until hisdeath in early 2000.

In the 1970’s his son James J. Marrocco beganthe fourth generation of the Marrocco Family infuneral service. In 1986, the Marrocco familyacquired the Powell Funeral Home at 257Broadway in Passaic to form the Powell-MarroccoFuneral Home. Its founder, Mr. Vincent H. Powellmaintained an active involvement with the firmuntil his death in 2001.

The two funeral homes are under the direction ofJames J. Marrocco and are operated at the new facil-ity, 470 Colfax Avenue, at the corner of Broad St.

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At left, Henry F. Marrocco Sr, 1900-1971,and Henry Jr., 1926-2000.

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This mighty looking beast is a muskoxen.This shaggy, curly-horned creature can

weigh anywhere from 440 to 900 pounds and isideally suited to live in the brutal and unforgiv-ing conditions of the Alaskan wilderness.

So why were 34 of these rare animals inClifton during the fall of 1930?

In 1900, the muskox was thought to be extinctin our nation’s most northern state.

Realizing the impact that this could have onthe ecosystem there, the U.S. Congress decidedin May 1930 that it needed to repopulate Alaskawith muskoxen by taking some from Greenland.

The U.S Biological Survey was awarded with$40,000 to acquire a heard of muskoxen fromGreenland, one of the few places that these rareanimals still existed. The team captured 19female and 15 male muskoxen by August, 1930and the animals were taken by boat for the startof an incredible journey.

After a month’s voyage, the oxen passedunder the Statue of Liberty on Sept. 15, 1930.

What were 34 of these rare animals doing in Clifton in September, 1930?

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The next stop? The Clifton USAnimal Quarantine Station.

Established in 1884, the site onwhich City Hall now rests was oncehome to the nation’s largest USAnimal Quarantine Station.

Every foreign animal thatentered the United States had tofirst visit Clifton, where the crea-ture would stay until inspected andcertified. The station’s functionwas to prevent any disease out-break by properly inspecting andquarantining all animals.

All 34 muskoxen were housed inthe brick and wooden barns andwould be exercised on the sprawl-ing grounds of the quarantine sta-tion, at Clifton and Van HoutenAves. Reports from scientific jour-nals stated that the fall heat was

unbearable for these prehistoricbeasts, which panted con-

stantly and drank a mas-sive amount of

water. The oxenwere also givensalt licks to

rehydrate.

All the oxen ultimately survivedthe 33-day Clifton visit and werenext on a train to Seattle, wherethey then took a seven day voyageon a steamship to Seward, Alaska.

From Seward, the AlaskaRailroad transported the animalsto Fairbanks, arriving at theAlaska Agricultural College andSchool of Mines (now the

University of Alaska) onNov. 5, 1930, after

four days in a railcar.

The muskoxen remained at thecollege in a fenced complex for afew years as workers there tried toget the animals to reproduce.

Eventually, the oxen were againintroduced into the wild on theisland of Nunivak, where the ani-mals flourished. Today, the origi-nal herd on the island has grown toabout 620 oxen strong.

From that herd, several otherswere started at other locations, with23 located at the mainland east ofNunivak Island, 64 at the ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge, 72 at theSeward Peninsula and 70 in north-west Alaska. It is an incrediblestory of how humanity realized theerror of its ways and set out tothwart the extinction of a magnifi-cent animal. It was history in themaking and Clifton played a signif-icant role in this chapter.

These illustrations by Jack Tulling may remind readers that thousands of animal ofvarious species and sizes ‘visited’ Clifton before being shipped to various destina-tions across the nation. The US Quarantine Station officially closed in 1980.


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Sept. 1933: The old Public School3 at Clifton Ave. and First St. isclosed and becomes the CliftonBoard of Health. A new PublicSchool 3 is opened at WashingtonAve. and Seventh St.

Feb. 14, 1934: A record low tem-perature of -14 degrees is recorded.Frostbite is common among chil-dren walking to schools.

1934: Sisco Dairy Co. renovates itsmilk processing plant at Colfax andMt. Prospect Ave.’s. Those whopassed by could watch the cows asthey grazed here.

1934: Weston Biscuit Co. ofPassaic (near Manhattan RubberCo.) opens a new manufacturingplant at 2 Brighton Rd.

1934: The Passaic County ParkCommission purchases LambertCastle on Valley Rd. along theClifton-Passaic border.

1934: Joseph Mazzarino opens ajewelry store on Lakeview Ave.

1935: The Delawanna Post Officeon lower Main Ave. is designatedan independent post office.

June 19, 1935: Patrolman JosephSastic is honored for serving ashead of Clifton Jr. Safety Patrol.

Lambert Castle was built in 1893as the home of CatholinaLambert—the self-made owner ofa Paterson silk mill. After hisdeath in 1923, his family sold thebuilding to the City of Paterson,which in turn sold it to the Countyof Passaic a few years later. Belowis the Observatory Tower, today, itis in a sad state of disrepair.


☛

1934: A record 34 candidates run for City Council.

Clifton became New Jersey’s12th city when the citizens ofAcquackanonk Township voted toincorporate in 1917. They chose aMayor-Council form of govern-ment, dividing the city into fivewards with two Council membersrepresenting each ward.

Executive power was centered ina Mayor and terms of office forboth the Mayor and the new CityCouncil were set at two years each.Elections were conducted on a par-tisan (political party) basis andwere staggered, with five Councilseats up for election each year.

After twice failing to change thissystem of government during the1920s, Clifton residents in 1934vote to adopt a Council-CityManager form of government, asystem that is still in place today.

Executive administrative dutieswere transferred from the mayor toan appointed City Manager, and a

new non-partisan seven-memberCouncil (elected from among 34candidates), who will serve consec-utive four-year terms.

Clifton has had nine full-timeCity Managers since that time. Buthere is a little background onWilliam A. Miller, who wasappointed Clifton’s first CityManager on July 3, 1934 andserved in that position until 1951.

Miller was Clifton’s City Clerkin 1934 when the electorate voted toadopt the Council-Manager form ofgovernment.

Though a Clifton native who washighly respected during his 15 yearsin the clerk’s office, his appoint-ment was not without controversy.The newly formed City Councilapproved his selection by a 4-2 votewith one member abstaining.

Citing their disillusionment withthe city’s political environment,Miller’s opponents had sought an

impartial candidate from outside thecity to fill the post. The Councilallowed Miller to continue in hisposition as City Clerk while heserved as City Manager. He collect-ed a dual salary, with the clerk’s jobpaying nearly 60 percent more thanthe City Manager position, which isactually the city’s top job.

William A. Miller was appointedClifton’s first City Manager on July 3,1934 and served until 1951.

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1935: The Clifton’s Woman’s Clubis founded.

Sept. 1935: A rodeo is held atClifton’s Wessington Stadium.

Sept. 1935: The pilot of a lightplane that ran out of gas makes anemergency landing and subsequenttake-off at Nash Park.

1936: De Luxe Cleaners is foundedby Joseph De Lora on Main Ave.

1936: S. Ainsworth Hird opens theSamuel A. Hird textile mill in thePennsylvania Textile Mill onClifton Ave.

Feb. 8, 1936: President of the NJSenate, Clifton’s John C. Barbour,is sworn in as Governor of NewJersey during surgery for GovernorHarold G. Hoffman. Barbour was alawyer who served in the U.S.Army during World War I. Heserved as a member of NJAssembly, 1929-1932 and as a NJState senator from 1933-1936.

March 18, 1936: Cretona Print andDye Works is liquidated and assetsare sold to satisfy tax and otherliens. A federal R.F.C. loan of$450,000 had been converted byofficers to their own use.

April 25, 1936: The 16th annualClifton Fireman’s Mutual BenefitAssociation dance and reception isheld at Rentschler’s Hall.

May 8, 1936: The Kasper quadru-plets are born at St. Mary’sHospital in Passaic, America’s firsthealthy set of quads. The babieswere delivered by Dr. Frank Jani,Dr. John D. Calabrese and SisterFrancis Aloysius.

May 8, 1936: Clifton pugilistJohnny Rohrig, a former NJDiamond Gloves champion, makeshis professional boxing debut ver-sus Joey Ray of Trenton.

May 16, 1936: The Main CliftonPost Office building is dedicated atMain and Washington Ave’s.

June 16, 1936: Quentin RooseveltPost 8 of the American Legionwalkathon begin at WessingtonStadium and continues until Aug. 20.

June 3, 1936: Reigns of city gov-ernment are assumed by youthcounterparts as part of Boy’s Week.

June 27, 1936: Eddie Mayo Day iscelebrated at New York’s PoloGrounds with members of the NewYork Giants team.

July 15, 1936: The 8th annualunion Sunday School excursion issailed to Kingston, NY via JerseyCity and Poughkeepsie.

July 16, 1936: Clifton’s SilverGrill Diner opens at Main andMadison Ave’s. on the site of theformer Capitol Diner.

Next to today’s Garden Palace Lanes, on Lakeview Ave., was the HygradeSylvania Corp, shown during the era of fluorescent lamp development, whichwas 1935-1938. The company manufactured lamps under the Hygrade nameand radio tubes under the Sylvania name. Note trolley tracks on the road.

Dec. 10, 1936: Over 800 guestsattended a testimonial dinner forfreeholder Ernest Scheidemann atRentschler Hall. He is picturedabove in 1981 with his wifeFlorence. Scheidemann began hispolitical career as a Passaic CountyFreeholder in 1932 and won reelec-tion in 1937. He also served on theClifton City Council from 1950 to1954. In addition to being a politi-cian and active in real estate,Scheidemann has the unique distinc-tion of being the first and most like-ly the only Clifton Poet Laureate,earning that title in 1967.



July 26, 1936: The cornerstone ofSt. John Kanty’s Church is laid.

Aug. 12, 1936: John P. Hamil’sSilk Throwing Mill at 512 ValleyRd. is completely destroyed by asuspicious explosion and fire.

Oct. 10, 1936: City Post 142,Veterans of Foreign Wars, dedi-cates headquarters on Piaget Ave.,near Main Ave.

Oct. 17, 1936: Abe Sperber’s Grill& Night Club at 67 Center St. holdsa new grand opening of redecoratedfacilities. It originally opened in1918 and seats over 500 patrons.

Nov. 12, 1936: Foodland super-market formally opens at the cornerof Clifton and Lakeview Ave’s.

Dec. 2, 1936: Passaic offers itsAlms House on Mt. Prospect Ave.in Clifton to Passaic County andthen to the Y.M.C.A. for use as asummer camp. Local residentsobject to both arrangements.

Dec. 12, 1936: Clifton City Post142, Veterans of Foreign Wars,holds a beef stew supper usingmess kits at its headquarters.

Dec. 24, 1936: St. John KantyPolish Catholic Church, which islocated at the corners of Wesley St.and Speer Ave., conducts aMidnight Mass and a simple bless-ing of its new building. It is formal-ly dedicated April 25, 1937.

Jan. 1, 1937: New Jersey begins

semi-annual auto inspections.

March 1937: The old School 3 isconverted into a City Hall annex.

March 19, 1937: The last WhiteLine trolley makes the run fromPaterson to East Rutherford viaCrooks and Lakeview Ave’s.

March 1937: Plans are approvedby the Federal Works ProgressAdministration for the constructionof a Clifton Municipal Garage onWabash Ave.

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April 6, 1937: The City Council is to consider building an airport in Delawanna.

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March 25, 1937: Joseph & OscarConrad Hosiery Co. at 958 MainAve. announces plans to enlarge itsplant to house more equipment.

1937: The City of Clifton acquiresits first ambulance.

1937: The Clifton Republican Clubopens its new headquarters at thecorner of Piaget Ave. (then Route6) and Seventh St.

May 9, 1937: St. Paul’s R.C.Church breaks ground for a newbuilding at the site of its old church,which is to be razed.

April 16, 1937: Excavation beginsfor the $250,000 Clifton Theaternear Main and Clifton Avenues.

May 5, 1937: The Clifton Board ofEducation approves plans wherebyall grade 9 pupils would attendSchool 10, a High School annex.

May 18, 1937: Mayor WilsonBrower schedules Youth Week.

June 12, 1937: The renownBarnum and Bailey Circus pitchestent in Main Memorial Park..

1937: Peter R. Barna Real Estate &Insurance Co. is established.

July 4, 1937: A fireworks ban forindividuals is put into effect.

July 15, 1937: The 9th annualexcursion of Sunday School ofClifton, Garfield and Passaic visitsRye Beach, New York.

July 22, 1937: The 250-foot highchimney of the abandonedAmerican Colortype plant is dyna-mited by city officials.

Summer 1937: Clifton youths areaccepted as candidates in theCitizens’ Military Training Corps.program of the US.

Imagine a place where hamburgers cost a nickel,while John’s Delicious Clam Chowder and Helen’sFamous Rice Pudding were always fresh. For over 30years, Queen’s Diner, on Van Houten Ave. in Athenia,was once such a place. Owned and operated by John‘Mack’ Macaluso, his wife, Helen and their family, thediner offered many a good bite to eat and a place tocatch up on the neighborhood news. Their son, Joseph‘Smoky’ worked in the kitchen with Neil Sabitini,while Helen and her daughters were waitresses.

The business relied on the employees from ManhattanRubber, Veleray, Weston Biscuit, Reynold Springs andother factories. But many families also patronized thediner. During the war it was a place for a G.I. to catch upon old times over a steaming cup of joe. After WWII,the diner stayed open 24 hours a day and Smoky thenworked nights with short order cook Steve ‘Chic’Danchak. After 30 years, in 1968, John and Helen soldthe business and retired. Both have since passed away.Now, in its former location stands a Dunkin’ Donuts.


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June 22, 1937: The NJ Excavation Commission denies Delawanna an airport.

A no left turn restriction is put into effect on Oct. 28, 1937 for the intersection ofMain and Clifton Ave’s. Meanwhile work continues on the new $250,000 CliftonTheater with an expected opening of Dec. 30, 1937. Photo by Mike Corradino.

Readers & Advertisers: Nowthat we got your interest, weneed your help. We’ll continuethis historic timeline ofCliftoncentric events in ourAugust edition. We’ll publishphotos and stories on a widerange of topics. So if you’d liketo share photos or memorabiliaas it relates to Clifton from the1940s through the present time,please send it immediately.And advertisers... we need yoursupport so that we can expandour August edition and make itour largest publication ever.Please advertise with us...

Tom Hawrylko, Editor/PublisherClifton Merchant MagazineTomahawk Promotions1288 Main Ave., Clifton, NJ 07011Call us at [email protected]


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Thirty years have passed since the CHSClass of 1976 left the high school,going forth to make their mark on the

world. On these pages are photos of some ofthe grads who are still living or working intown, and, indeed involved in our community.

In that year—the nation’s bi-centennial—there was three wings on the high school andthree Vice Principals: Senior VP TerryHanner, Junior VP Severin Palydowycz andSophomore VP John Murphy.

Aaron Halpern was the Principal, and oneyoung anthropology teacher, Bill Cannici—who just this year retired as CHS principal—was in the early years of his career. TheFighting Mustangs, proved again they were aforce to be reckoned with on the gridiron,going 8-2 under legendary coach Bill VanderCloster. The CHS wrestling squad was alsosuccessful, going 8-6, with Joe Viola finish-ing as the runner up at 101lbs in the States.

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CHSClass of 1976 Reunion

John GeorgeJoseph McKennaJames Hill

Rickie Johnson

Gerald Wanio

Raymond Mauro


Anthony Orlando

Home grown garage bands were plen-tiful and two—Impact and God-Speed—were already gaining a reputation, beforerefining their sound and becoming today’shighly successful Flying MuellerBrothers. The Student Council Presidentthat year was Ed Kosis and the Senior

Class President was John George, thesame fellow who is the chair of the CHSClass of ‘76 30 year reunion, which willbe held over the Thanksgiving weekend,Nov. 24 and 25. For more info , call 732-617-1000 or request details by writing [email protected].

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The CHS Barbershop Quartet, from left Brian Grace, Vic Salvaterra and Charlie Potters. Layingacross them all is Allen Soroka. On the facing page, from top: Lisa Nash and Cheryl Angello.


On July 1, the members of thenew City Council were inaugu-rated at a ceremony at CliftonHigh School, sworn in by fami-ly and friends.Starting from topleft is Municipal Judge ScottBennion swearing in Mayor JimAnzaldi, flanked by his siblingsSal, Ross and Mary Jo.

At left is CouncilmanJoe Cupoli, who wassworn in by his sister

Lori Palmieri andhis dad, Joe CupoliSr. Also pictured is

Cupoli’s in-laws,Tony and Ann

DePasque and theirgranddaughterJacklyn Miller.

Bottom page left is CouncilwomanGloria Kolodziej, who was sworn intooffice by New Jersey AssemblymanThomas Giblin and her grandchildren,including Ryan and Joseph Lauritanoand Nicole and Tyler Coan.

Bottom facing page right isCouncilman Steve Hatala with his wifeEileen and their son, Steven Jr., whoread his dad’s oath of office.

At top left of this page is PassaicCounty Freeholder Terry Duffy, pic-tured with Councilman Frank Fusco,his wife, Nadine and their daughters,Sarah and Kaitlin.

Also at top right of page is CouncilmanPeter Eagler, with his parents David andOlga, and his sister, Virginia.

At right is Councilman Tony Latona,who is pictured with the Clifton FireDepartment Color Guard, and his nieceMarissa Ciccotti. He was sworn in byformer CHS Principal William Canniciand Maureen Powers. The seven mem-bers of the council will serve in officeuntil June 30, 2010.



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Lots to do this summer... as usual,the Clifton Recreation Departmenthas lined up a summer full of activ-ities, great for kids of all ages.Some programs are run directly bythe city, others are done in partner-ship with nearby organizations.Here is a run down of events...

The Girl Scouts’ Art to Wearcamp is Aug. 14-18 at the RecCenter in Downtown CliftonCampers will create puppets, masks,sets and act out their own plays. Forgirls in grades 1-5. Registration is$49. Call the Rec Department forinfo: 973-470-5956.

Day camp for girls: Your daugh-ter does not have to be a Girl Scoutto attend Lake Rickabear GirlScout Day Camp. Located inKinnelon, Lake Rickabear offers avariety of activities on a 40-acrespring-fed lake surrounded by 292acres of recreation area and wood-land. Girls at day camp explore theoutdoors through crafts, nature pro-grams, hiking and games. Eachsession has its own theme, andactivities relate to that theme.Transportation is included in thecamp fee but pricing varies, so callfor info: 973-248-8200.

Girl Scouts of Troop 46 remind readers: don’t let it swim with the fishes!’ From left:Beril Ozden, Taylour Mauro, Carly Hawryko, Jacqueline Grant and Leah O’Beirne.

The Girls Scouts of Troop 46,affiliated with First PresbyterianChurch on Maplewood Ave., and ledby Cheryl Dick-Mauro, remind resi-dents to think twice before dumpingmotor oil and paints down the sewer.

As part of a stormwater qualityeducation program run throughClifton’s Clean CommunitiesProgram, the scouts have been sten-ciling catch basins in various neigh-borhoods. The strategy is to createawareness and address stormwaterpollution where it often starts—in ourstreet’s stormwater collection system.

“By teaching our communityabout stormwater pollution, and bylabeling the catch basins with thesestencils, the girls provide a messageof the eventual destination of thewaste—the Passaic River and theAtlantic Ocean,” said Al DuBois,Clean Communities ProgramCoordinator. “One of the most com-mon causes of urban stormwaterpollution is the disposal of materialssuch as used motor oil, paints,antifreeze and pesticides. We need toremind residents that dumping haz-ardous materials into storm drains isharmful to our environment.”

For more on this program, callDuBois at 973-470-2239.

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Skateboard camp is being held at Clifton’sSkatezone. Anyone ages 6 and up can come tolearn how to skate or to refine their skills. Theadvanced camp is held on Aug. 14 to 18, with abeginner's camp from Aug. 21 to 25. Price is$79. Camp runs from 9 am to noon. Skatersare encouraged to bring their own gear, oth-erwise rentals are available for an extra fee.Call the Rec Department at 973-470-5956.

Have a sport minded child? Send them tothe Clifton and US Sports Institute multisports camp. Participants will experienceover 15 sports, including soccer, pillo polo,bocce, field hockey, lacrosse and muchmore. The camp will be held from Aug.21 to 25. Children ages 5 to 14 willattend 9 am to 1 pm for a cost of $115,and kids ages 3 to 5 will go from 2 to3:30 pm for $65. All activities takeplace at Sperling Park. For moreinfo, call 973-470-5956.

Summer tennis lessons are offeredby the Rec Department. The sixweek program is broken down by skilllevel and age. Beginner is $45,Intermediate level one $55,

Intermediate level two $75 andIntermediate level three $85. Classesbegin July 24. Call 973-916-1882.

Swimming lessons at Bellin’s Poolwill be offered by the Rec Departmenton Tuesdays from July 11 to Aug. 15.

This youth course is designed for ages 6and up. Groups are broken up by water

experience. There are two sessions, from 9to 9:30 am, or 9:30 to 10 am. Cost is $35.Call 973-470-5956.

Karate lessons are offered by the MartialArts Training Academy, 35 Harding Ave. For

children ages 6-8, classes run from July 12 toAug. 16 on Wednesdays from 4-5 pm. Classes

for ages 9-12 run from July 14 to Aug.18 on Fridays from 4 - 5 pm. Fee: $35.Call 973-470-5956.

Clifton SkateZone is near WeaselBrook Park, in Dutch Hill.

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Art Camp for children in grades 2-5 is Aug. 14-18,from 9 am to noon or 2 to 5 pm at the Clifton ArtsCenter. Campers will be introduced to various medi-ums. Cost: $79. Call 973-470-5956.

Crafty Kids Day on Aug. 5, from 10 am to 2 pm at theRec Center, 1232 Main Ave. Come make a variety ofcrafts, including beads, painting, wood projects, clayand more. Tokens, which sell for $.25 each, will beused to pay for each project. Children are able tochoose which projects they like. Call 973-470-5956.

The Space, Science and Rocketry Camp will be heldon Aug 21 - 25 from 9 am to noon. Campers will makemodel rockets and learn what it is like living and work-ing in space. Registration is $125. Call 973-470-5956.

Summer Fun With Science Camp for kids in grades1-3 is Aug. 14-18 from 9 am to noon. Engineering,chemistry, machines, cameras and coded communica-tion are just some of the topics covered in a fun andpractical way. Registration is $99. Call 973-470-5956.

Radical Robot Camp runs from Aug. 14-18 from 1 to4 pm and is open to children in grades 4 and up. Kidswill build robots and then have the opportunity to runthem in Robot Races. Fee $125. Call 973-470-5956.Is your kid a clown? Check out Clowning AroundCamp, which explores the world of professional clown-ing. Learn the history of the profession, skills such asplate spinning and how to apply make up. Chips theClown of the Zerbini Circus will teach the course,which is held at the Rec Center, 1232 Main Ave. Ages8 to 12. The camp runs from Aug. 21 to 25 from 9 amto noon. Cost is $79. Call 973-470-5956.

From Suzuki violin courses to afirst-of-its-kind Field Music pro-gram, the teachers at MenconiMusic Studio on Lakeview Ave.can help train or sharpen the skillsof a budding young musician. Forinstance, students ages 8-14 willlearn fife & drum music ofRevolutionary and Civil War peri-ods in the new Field Music pro-gram. Other courses offeredinclude Broadway Jr., CliftonIdol, guitar groups, flute fest,orchestra prep, drums and trom-bones. Prices and hours vary.Group and individual lessons. Formore info, call 973-253-7500.

Kids and teens enrolled in theAction Theatre Conservatory’sSummer Workshops and NYCShowcase (pictured above) willperform scenes, songs and dancesat the Producers Club (Ninth Ave.

between 43rd & 44th). Eveningperformances are for kids on July24 and 25 and the teens on July 26and 27. Family and friends areinvited to the showcases, as areNYC agents, managers and cast-ing directors. Following the finalperformance, the entire cast will

party at one of the theatre district’srestaurants, giving the kids andteens time to re-live the excite-ment of their successes. ATC isbased in Downtown Clifton. Call973-772-6998 for upcoming class-es or tickets to the NYC showcaseor go to: [email protected].

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CHS Cheerleading car wash: The girls of the CHScheerleading squad will be holding car washes onJuly 15, 22 and Aug 26 in the Christopher ColumbusMiddle School parking lot. They will be there from10 am to 4 pm and will wash cars for $5. Bring outyour wheels and support the girls!

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Join your neighbors aroundthe campfire to toast marshmal-lows, perhaps play fiddlesticksand have some family fun at thesixth annual Family Camp Out.This ingenious Rec Dept. spon-sored activity lets us citydwellers set up tents and com-mune with nature and our neigh-bors in this Beantown park.Beginning at 6 pm on Aug. 25,families can help build a real bigcampfire and then share tall tales,or take part in one or more of themany organized activities goingon that evening. The next morn-ing, Aug. 26, share a breakfastand then take part in more campstations, from knot tying to tocompass reading. Activity fee is$8 for a family of four or $3 perperson. This award winningevent is sponsored by the CliftonSpecial Police, the Clifton FireDepartment and the CliftonRecreation Department. Registerin the Rec Dept at city hall.

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CHS Track & Field Camp:Coaches Andrew Piotrowski andJohn Pontes hold camp on July 3, 5,6 and 7, July 10-14, July 17-21 andJuly 24-28. For ages 7-13, emphasisis on fundamentals of running, intro-duction of track and field and devel-oping speed and stamina. For ages14-18, camp is 4 to 7 pm. There willbe pole vault, sprints, hurdles, dis-tances, throws and jumps. Camp is9 am to noon. Price is $120 for ages7-13, or $400 for all four sessions.For ages 14-18 the camp is $140 or$500 for all four sessions. For moredetails call 973-473-5060.

Introduction to ice hockey isoffered in a four week programgeared towards youths age 4 to 10.The program teaches fundamentalssuch as skating, stick-handling andshooting. Dates for the classes areas follows: July 3 to 24, July 5 to26, July 31to Aug. 21 or Aug. 2 to23, on Mondays or Wednesdays.The entire program is $64. Formore info, call 973-470-5956.

The Clifton/Nutley Junior IceHockey Program has begun its lat-est session but other programs andcamps are scheduled for the nearfuture. Geared towards kids ages 8to 14, the instructional programs arefor all levels. For info, call DennisFitzpatrick at 973-773-0019.

Hockey Camp at Floyd HallArena for kids aged 5-12 runs fromAug. 21-25, 8:30 am until noon andis $105. Kids can bring their ownequipment or use the rental servic-es. Call 973-470-5956.

Former CHS B-Ball Coach PeteVasil’s MVP Basketball Camp forboys and girls ages 7 to 15 will runfor two weeks, Aug. 21 to 25 andAug. 28 through Sept. 1. Held in theair conditioned St. John KantyChurch auditorium, the camp willwork the basics and run two gamesa day. Campers must bring theirown lunch. Cost for one week is$135, two weeks is $225. Vasil isnow head coach at Plainfield High.Ask for family or group pack-ages. Call 973-569-0407.

Garden Palace Lanes on Lakeview Ave. has a number of deals andprograms this summer. From July 11 through Aug. 29, there is a youthbowling camp for ages 8 and up. The eight-week program includes twogames of bowling and instruction, pizza and soda every week and eachperson will receive their own custom-drilled target zone ball. The campoffers group and individual instruction and is $10.50 a day per person.Garden Palace Lanes is also a party place with packages that costs $10per child. The price includes bowling by the hour, free shoe rental, achoice of hot dog, hamburger or a slice of pizza, soda or juice and freeparty invitations with mailing envelopes. The birthday child alsoreceives a t-shirt. For more info, call 973-478-5750.

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Debbie Oliver, John Biegel, KeithOakley and the CHS Jr. ROTC werehonored on June 11 at the CliftonOptimist Club Awards Dinner.

Above is Cadet Major MichaelPagani of the ROTC, pictured withthe family members of the late JudgeJoseph J Salerno, who the Respectfor Law Award is named for.

To the left is John Biegel and KeithOakley, pictured with OptimistClub President Bill Bate. Theywere honored with the StanleyZwier Community Service Award.

Below is Debbie Oliver, recipientof the 2006 Clifton Optimist Friendof Youth Award, and her family.

Optimist Club Awards 2006


July kicks off with fireworks to commemorate ourIndependence Day. We here at Morre Lyons are

creating sparks of our own - as we commence ourbuying in preparation for the 2006 holiday season.

We know it can be difficult to picture Christmas withthe blistering summer heat still in full force, butSwarovski’s 2006 Christmas Ornaments are alreadyhere! Make an early dent in that long holiday shop-ping list - they make wonderful gifts and help yourholiday decorations really sparkle.

A round of exciting jewelry shows will preview thecoming fall and holiday season merchandise. Wehave already begun making purchases and eager-ly anticipate their arrival.

We always enjoy seeing what each coming seasonhas in store and so far we’ve seen some definitewinners. Highlights include round link necklaces,pearls in every color of the rainbow and large dia-mond hoop earrings. Stainless steel will also make itsway into the Men’s department. This is just a smallpreview of what’s coming soon to Morre Lyons.

The New York Jewelry Show will take place at theend of July.

We look forward to viewing all the new and excitingdesigns available this year. It will be our job to selecta variety of styles sure to please every taste. Thesebeautiful collections will be here in plenty of time forearly holiday shopping.

July’s birthstone is ruby. The ideal ruby’s color is aperfect red and variations may show some shadesof pink or brown. It has long been believed that toown a ruby insures one a healthy, safe, peacefuland content life.

Have a Joyous July andwe’ll talk to you next month.

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1295

This column was originally started by ourfounder, the late Murray Blumenfeld.

In his spirit, we continue its publication.

Ever been to a drive-in movie? If not, now’s yourchance. The Rec Dept. and CASA—Clifton AgainstSubstance Abuse, host a drive-in movie night on July20 at Main Memorial Park, with a rain date of July 27.The feature presentation will be Chicken Little, whichwill begin 30 minutes after dusk. A $1 donation isrequested. Drinks and snacks will be available for pur-chase. For more info, call 973-470-5956.

Youth Weight and Fitness Camp: Campers will learnnutrition, exercise sciences, skills and how to preparemeals and snacks to stay healthy. The instructor is aprofessional nutritionist and campers will receive a bal-anced diet and will get a minimum of 60 minutes ofphysical exercise. Camp runs from Aug. 14 to 18 at St.John Kanty School, 37 Speer Ave. Ages 8 to 12 willattend from 9 am to noon and ages 13 to 17 will go from1 pm to 5 pm. Cost is $90. Call 973-470-5956.

The New York Red Bulls Soccer Camp is Aug. 14-18in Clifton at Robin Hood Park. For ages 10-14, camp isfrom 9 am to noon and costs $106. This age group is acompetitive program, while the others are not. Ages 6to 9 is also 9 am to noon and costs $106, while the 5 and6 year old camp runs from 9 am to 0:30 am and costs$66. Fee includes a Red Bulls ball and t-shirt, evalua-tion and a ticket to a Red Bulls game. For details, callthe Rec Center 973-470-5956.Day at Camelbeach Waterpark: For $22.95 per per-son, Cliftonites will receive admission to the park andbus transportation in the supervised trip on July 22..Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.Pre-register is required by July 17. Bus leaves City Hallat 8:30 am and returns at 7:30 pm. Permission slipsrequired. For more info, call 973-470-5956. Volunteers are always needed at the Clifton RecDepartment, especially during the busy summermonths. If you’re looking to get involved in yourhometown, this is the way to help make a difference.To help out, call 973-470-5956.

The Clifton Optimist Night with the Jackals is onAug. 8 at 7 pm at Yogi Berra Stadium. Tickets are$4.50 per person and includes a free raffle ticket andJackals souvenirs. In addition, this year there will bea baseball buddy contest. To be eligible, submit aposter collage with the theme “Baseball: the GreatAmerican Past-time.” Submit entries to Rec Dept. byAug. 1. Nine winners will have their art displayedduring the game. Call 973-470-5956 for info.

☛


SSSSaaaa ffff eeee ttttyyyy TTTToooowwwwnnnnSafety Town is an annual pro-gram for children entering kinder-garten which teaches little onesthe basics on how to keep safeand healthy on the street, as wellas at home and at school. Aminiature town, complete withstreets, buildings and traffic signs,is created behind School 2. Theprogram, a Clifton institution inexistence for nearly 30 years, isconducted over two weeks, from8:45-11:30 am, Monday throughFriday, and this year will be heldfrom July 17 through July 28.Safety Town is run at School 2 at1270 Van Houten Ave., and,thanks to community support andvolunteerism, the fee for SafetyTown is still only $20. To register,call 973-470-5853.

Safety Town is is open to kids enter-ing kindergarten this fall or thosechildren going into first who have notyet gone through the program.


The National Night Out AgainstCrime, which is held by the CliftonPolice Department’s CommunityPolicing Division in MainMemorial Park, seeks sponsors todefray costs for the event, whichwill be held on Aug. 1. Theevening will consist of an antiquecar show, a free 50’s concert, chil-dren’s games and prizes. For info,call 973-340-5151.

The Athenia Business Associationcontinues its advocacy for about100 merchants on and around VanHouten Ave. The group’s next bigevent is the Athenia Street Fair onSept. 17. This is the fourth year ofthe Street Fair and it has become anew Clifton tradition. PresidentMatt Grabowski said vendors andsponsors are welcomed. Call himat 973-473- 0986.

The Phenomenal GrandmothersClub of Clifton held a dual cele-bration on June 11 for PresidentColleen H. Murray and NationalFederal Grandmothers Clubs ofAmerica President Sharon Mineo,both who will be leaving office thisOctober. The event was held at the

Senior Center on the City Hallcampus, complete with a hot buf-fet. The club, which has only beenin existence since 2004, is onewhich regularly donates holidaybaskets, gifts and sometimes acheck to help needy children andtheir families. Call 973-253-9579.

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Have an old American flag? TheLakeview Civic Association hasrefurbished a mailbox to collect oldtorn or worn flags so they may beproperly retired by the AmericanLegion. The box is located at therecycling center, behind city hall.Call 973-478-1185 for info.

Before motion pictures and televi-sion, America was entertained by livetheater in the form of stage plays,operas, vaudeville and the circus.Costumes played a major role in cre-ating the desired illusion or effect forthese theatrical performers.

The wearing of masquerade cos-tumes allows people to step outside ofthemselves and become somethingunusual or otherworldly. That’s whyDressed in Character: Masquerade& Theatrical Costumes withPhotographs is such an interestingexhibit, now on display at the LambertCastle Museum, through Aug. 27.

Costumes on display include thosefrom stage plays, operas, vaudevillefrom the 1920s to more recent Easterparade-goers with their flamboyanthats. There is also Victorian-era nov-elty ‘artistic’ photography in whichmodels were adorned in costume forthe camera, like the one shown here.

Admission to Lambert Castle, onValley Rd. at the Clifton-Paterson bor-der is $5 for adults; $4 for senior citi-zens; and $3 for kids Parking is free.Call 973-247-0085 ext. 200.

Grammy Award winner JimmySturr and his orchestra will performa free concert in Third Ward Park,Passaic, on July 19 at 7:30 pm.Called America’s polka king, Sturr,at left, will perform at the band shellat the corner of Van Houten andPassaic Aves., across from the trainstation. It is a fun night so come outto polka. Free. Call 973-473-5111.

Bob Obser—Clifton’s MusicMatador—and the impresariobehind many of our city’s con-certs—has published the 15th annu-al directory of free summer concertshappening in northern New Jersey.To receive a copy of the guide, senda donation of $3 or more to BobObser, 6 Grant Ave., Clifton, NJ07011. Call 973-772-5291.


The Clifton Association of Artists held its 43rdannual show, Sunday in the Park with Art, onJune 4 at Jubilee Park, at Allwood Rd. andClifton Ave. There were 42 artistswho came to display their work,which was then judged and topartists in each category received anaward. Winners are as follows: Oil/Acrylic: First place, Josef Konopka,Airport; Second, Cathleen McBrady, Still Life-Oil;Third, Nicholas Pellicani, Still Life; Honorable Mention,Lou Pounds, Snow in the Mountains.Water Color: First place, Helen Hauser, Irises; Second,Michael Gabriele, Mix and the Men; Third, Theresa

Ruffo, Spring Flowers; HonorableMention, Zigmunt Cichy, Spider.Mixed Media: First place, Eugenia Gore,

Shining City (collage); Second,Villo Varga, Ghost (mixedmedia); Third, Charlene Cheng,

Birds & Flower (colored inks onsilk); Honorable Mention, James

Janey-Trenton, Christmas (pen and ink).The Clifton Association of Artists is comprised of

both amateur and professional artists and meets the firstMonday of every month, Oct. through May in theSenior Citizens Center on the City Hall campus.

For more info, call 973-472-8858.

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A Nice Neighborhood Tavern & Family RestaurantThe Passaic County Cultural &Heritage Council (PCCHC) atPassaic County Community Collegewill collaborate with the Clifton ArtsCenter, 900 Clifton Ave., to host anADA Workshop on Aug. 22, from10 am to noon entitled ProvidingArts Access For All.

The workshop, conducted by JohnMcEwen, Founder and Chair of theNew Jersey Arts Access Task Force,will focus on the importance of inte-grating persons with disabilities andolder adults into all aspects of cultur-al organizations and programming.

A panel, to include Linda Cronin,PCCHC Advisory Board memberand poet, and Marilyn A. Gelman,writer, poet and advocate for personswith brain injuries, will discuss thechallenges that persons with disabil-ities face in attending arts and cultur-al events and offer suggestions formaking these experiences moreenjoyable for all.

Addtionally, participants will learnhow to effectively serve persons withdisabilities in the areas of communi-cation, accessible programs and serv-ices and marketing.

To register for the Aug. 22nd ADAWorkshop, contact Amy Birnbaum,Local Arts Outreach Coordinator atPCCHC at 973-684-6507 or write [email protected] by Aug. 15.


The Clifton Arts Center, locatedon the City Hall grounds, presentsPaper & Ink, an exhibit and sale ofartwork relating to the use of paperand different mediums in ink. Theexhibit will run until July 22.Gallery hours are 1 to 4 pm.,Wednesday through Saturday. The July 21 Healthy Art Seriesat the CAC focuses on aginggracefully. Upcoming datesinclude a headache workshop onSept. 29 and on Oct. 20, the focuswill be keeping your spine fit inthe workplace. Lecture presenta-tions begin at noon and include acatered reception. Tickets are$12 for adults and $10 for seniorsor students. Sun & fun summer craftsworkshop is on July 17 from 1to 3 pm at the Clifton ArtsCenter. Those enrolled will cre-ate summer-themed projects,including sun visors, beach bags,fans, sunglasses and more. The$15 fee includes craft supplies,snacks and a craft goody bag.Call 973-472-5499 for info onany of these events.

The Clifton Community Band,an all volunteer group under thebaton of Bob Morgan, will performon July 15 at 6 pm the third annualfree outdoor concert on the slopinghills near the Clifton Arts Center.Bring your lawn chair or blanket.

In case of rain, the concert will beheld in the CHS Auditorium. Tosupport the Clifton CommunityBand, or for more info on member-ship, call Alan Paris at 973-777-1781 or write to him [email protected].

The Clifton Arts Center is located behind City Hall, at the cornerof Clifton and Van Houten Aves. (Photo by Suzanne Duke Bujara.)When at the Clifton Arts Center, take the time to tour theSculpture Park and see works such as ‘Resettlement’ byJudith Peck, shown below, which depicts the terror of a familyon its way to the gas chamber of a Nazi concentration camp.


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The Hawthorne Caballeros returnto Clifton Schools Stadium onPiaget Ave. for the 42nd annualDrum Corps Grand Prix on July15 at 7 pm. A total of eight

drum and bugle corps will per-form. Reserved seats are $18. Call

973-423-9702 for group discounts or go to www.cabs.org.

The 3rd Annual Passaic County Fair is July 19-23 atGarret Mountain Reservation. The goal is to showcasethe cultural diversity of the county’s 16 municipalities.In addition to amusements and rides, there will also bemusical entertainment, multi-cultural performances anda 4-H exhibit. Artists and performers interested in partic-ipating may call 973-225-5382 or go to www.passaic-countyfair.com. The event is presented by the PassaicCounty Freeholders and Passaic County Vision 2020.

The 15th Annual Labor Day Parade, co-sponsored bythe American Labor Museum/Botto House NationalLandmark, Borough of Haledon and City of Paterson, willcelebrate the labor movement and organized workers.

The parade, on Sept. 3, will step-off at the AmericanLabor Museum/Botto House National Landmark inHaledon at 1:30 pm and finish at the Great Falls inPaterson, where a festival with food, fun and entertain-ment will be taking place.

Grand Marshal Lois A. Cuccinello, AssistantCommissioner for Disability Services in New Jersey’sDepartment of Labor and Workforce Development, willlead this year’s salute to working people.

Community organizations, unions, businesses, cultur-al groups, and individuals interested in joining this his-toric march can contact the museum at 973-595-7953 orby e-mail at [email protected] Parade sponsorswho donate $100 can have their names recorded on aCommemorative Mug. Contributions of $200 willenable a donor to have a listing on the parade T-shirt.

The deadline to register to participate in the paradeand/or to become a sponsor is Aug. 11th.

Applications for the 2007 PCCHC arts grants pro-gram are due Aug. 3 New applicants and regranteesfor Local Arts Program Grants must be Passaic Countybased, tax-exempt, non-profit organizations or educa-tional, social service or municipal organizations thathave an arts project (dance, music, theatre, media arts,visual arts, etc.) planned to take place in 2007.Applicants must match every dollar of the grant withone dollar of their own. For info, call 973-684-6507.


The Clifton Summer Concert Series now enters its10th year, during which they will celebrate their 100thconcert. The free concerts are presented on eight con-secutive Sundays, starting on July 9 and ending on Aug.27 at Main Memorial Park at 7:30 pm. The series kicksoff with the James L. Dean Big Band with ‘singingangel’ Keaton Douglas. On July 16, Nick James and theAmarillo Country Band perform and on July 23, there’s

a tribute to Frankie Valli/Four Seasons. On July 30 theBlue Smoke Band and Tony Liguori host an Elvis night.It’s polka time with The Ablemen on Aug. 6. On Aug.13, The Andy Ray Party Band liven things up while onAug. 20, it’s Total Soul, R&B and Motown. The seasonconcludes with the Boisterous Banjos on Aug. 27.Parking is available at CCMS or school one. No raindates. For more info, call Bob Obser at 973-772-5291.


The James L. Dean Big Band opens the 10th year of Sunday night concerts in Main Memorial Park on July 9 at 7:30 pm.

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The Downtown Clifton Salsa Night is on July 14, from7 to 11 pm in the Municipal Parking Lot 8, off MainAvenue on the corner of Clifton Ave. and First St. It’sfree and the rain date for the event is July 15. The head-liner will be the seven-piece Larry Umana Band. Thefemale salsa-singing trio Fatima will also perform andJersey City disc jockey Ray Colon will get the party

started. Early in the evening, free salsa dance lessonswill be offered by Continental Dance Studio, which willalso run a dance contest starting at 9:45 pm. While someDowntown Clifton shops and services will be open, therewill be vendors around the main stage selling food andother goods. For more on the Salsa Night and otherevents, call Angela Montague at 973-253-1455.


The Famous Midtown Grill in Downtown Clifton hosts a weekly outdoor summer djand barbeque event every Wednesday in July and August, from 4 to 8 pm. Proceedsfrom beverage sales and all additional sponsorship funds will be donated to the RecDept to support their summer youth programs.

Ben Capobianco, right, and

John Tajerian, below, of

Xcalibur Custom Cycles

by Joe Hawrylko

Most people in Clifton, bikers and non-ridersalike, have seen in person or on tv the eye-catching, large customized bikes madeby famous builders such as Jesse

James and West Coast Choppers, Orange CountyChoppers, Exile Choppers and Indian Larry.However, did you know that here inClifton, we have two of our ownnotorious bike customiz-ers? For the past twoyears, Ben Capobiancoand John Tajerian havebeen producing whatthey call rolling art atXcalibur Customs,on Piaget Ave.Dealing only withHarley Davidsons,their shop is theplace to check out


some of the hottest custom-made bikes in New Jersey.“We don’t have metric tools, so we can’t do imports,”said Tajerian, a Hog enthusiast who previously workedat a Harley dealership, where he met Capobianco. “Wedon’t want to learn either.”

Their love for the American-made bikes is whatbrought together their business. A welder by trade,Capobianco got into repairing motorcycles when hisfriends that rode needed stuff welded onto their bikes.

“I played with motorcycles my whole life,” he said ofhow he got involved in Harley repairs and customiza-tion. “One thing just led to another.”

With Capobianco’s expertise in welding, plus hisyears of riding, and Tajerian’s street and textbookknowledge of Harley’s, the two found that their skills

overlapped and learned from each other to the pointthat now either one can handle any job in the shop.

Xcalibur Customs can fix just about anything relat-ed to Harley’s, including both mechanical and bodyrepairs, maintenance and performance. However, theirreputation is built on the incredible custom bikes thatthey roll out.

“We take your ideas from mind to metal,” saidCapobianco. Basically, if you can dream it, they canbuild it. Xcalibur can modify an existing bike—addingchrome, giving it more horsepower and pushing the lim-its of street legal. They’ll also custom build a bike fromthe ground up, which can take up two four months.

At Xcalibur Customs, Capobianco said the only limi-tation is your mind (and maybe your budget).

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by Joe Hawrylko

Eric Krofchak is a sorta-kinda scientist. “I justdesign stuff,” said the 1988 CHS grad, who nowresides in Cedar Grove but has worked at the

Clifton Post Office as an electronic technician foryears. “I like to make things more efficient.”

Krofchak has been fascinated with electronics froma young age. “I was playing with wires when I wasabout 7 years old and got a shock,” he laughed. “That’swhen it probably started.”

Since then, much of his spare time would be takenup by his new hobby. Krofchak would spend hours tak-ing apart appliances, machines, toys and anything elsehe could get his hands on.

“My parents hated it at first because I would ripapart everything,” said Krofchak. “But slowly they did-n’t mind once I actually learned how to fix things.”

Krofchak credits the ‘old school vo-tech’ electronicsprogram at CHS for ‘sparking’ his interest. A stint inthe US Navy’s nuclear power technician’s school fol-lowed and that gave him much more knowledge.

Since becoming a civilian, Krofchak’s interest inelectronics flourished which led to experiments withmany new ideas. His home uses the sun as a source of


Since 1957, we’ve serviced allyour automotive needs.

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No tailpipe, no gas nozzle, no emissions. The only noise you’llhear from Eric Krofchak and his electric powered 1987 ChevyS-10 pick (facing page) is the whine of his transmission—andperhaps a chuckle as he never visits a gas station

Running on Empty

energy. He also has a water wheel that is waiting to beset up to bolster the power supply to his house.

Krofchak has also devised a way to cut down hisheating expenses by diverting waste energy from the topof the water heater and using it so it preheats the waterentering the unit. He calls this a basic regenerative heatexchange unit. “It’s actually more of a recapturing sys-tem then a regenerative system,” he said.

However, there has always been one thing thatKrofchak wanted but was not able to create.

“As long as I could remember, I always wanted toown an electric car,” said Krofchak.

The day finally came a while back when he had thefunds and Krofchak hopped on the opportunity to buyone, purchasing a 1987 Chevy S-10 pickup truck withan electric motor conversion.

His pet, as Krofchak and his friends refer to it, ismuch different then a normal pickup truck. Most notice-ably, the flatbed is covered with solar panels, which givethe truck much of the energy it needs to function. Nogas is needed at all to propel this vehicle and mainte-nance is usually minimal, due to the limited movingparts in the engine.

Last year, Krofchak upgraded the batteries to high-voltage types and reduced the weight of his car by 500pounds. The upgrade added efficiency and the vehiclenow has better acceleration.

“It weighed in well over 4,000 pounds before,” notedKrofchak, who said that the extra weight took its toll onperformance. “My wife didn’t mind the truck excepthow slow it accelerated. It’ll go as fast as a normal carit just takes longer to get there.”

Krofchak was quick to stress that while some may seehim as crazy for wanting such a car, he believes he is astep ahead of the crowd.

“Oil energy has just about peaked,” he predicted.“We have taken most of the fields and we have maybe10 or 20 years until the supply is low. Electric motorswill be the future, no way around it.”


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Amanda Di Angelo. . . . 7/3Jackie Alectoridis. . . . . .7/3Chris Torrao. . . . . . . . . . .7/4Alex Alectoridis. . . . . . . .7/5Kayla Ann Ferro. . . . . . . 7/5Frank Rando. . . . . . . . . .7/5Kayla Ann Snell. . . . . . . .7/5Lori Lill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/6Ron Curtiss. . . . . . . . . . . .7/7Angelo Grippo. . . . . . . . .7/7

David Patrick Doremus willcelebrate his 1st birthday onJuly 22 with parents Lee andPatrick and his big brother

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Joyce Sunshineturns 67 on July 8.

Sal Latteriturns 83 on July 22.

Edward Sepulveda. . . . .7/7Carine Ohannessian. . . .7/8Kristi Schopfer. . . . . . . . 7/10Anthony Zaccone. . . . 7/13Alyssa Marie Misyak. . . 7/14Ann Schamble. . . . . . . 7/15Michelle Ann Snell. . . . 7/15Derek Dobol. . . . . . . . . 7/16Jessica Dobol. . . . . . . .7/16Joanne Gursky. . . . . . . 7/17Carrie Szluka. . . . . . . . .7/18Alexander Razvmov. . .7/19Ryan Saccoman. . . . . .7/19Cocoa Saccoman. . . .7/19Ashley Jacobus. . . . . . 7/19Megan Suaifan. . . . . . .7/20Kaitlin Vinciguerra. . . . .7/22Harry Quagliana. . . . . .7/23George Shamar. . . . . . 7/23Eva Gasporowska. . . . .7/25

Joseph Lopez. . . . . . . . 7/27Ornella Ganoza. . . . . . 7/27Gina Oliva. . . . . . . . . . .7/28Amanda Fabiano. . . . .7/29Steven Camp, Sr.. . . . . 7/30Mary T. Mancin. . . . . . . 7/30

Natalie Pych wisheshappiness and health to hergrandma Stella, who cele-brates a birthday in July.

Olivia Grace Moore was bornto Rob and Pam Moore

on June 20! Grandparentsare Rob and Sandy Moore

and Burt Gomery.

Happy Belated Anniversary!Margaret and Albin Zwiazek

celebrated 64 years of marriage on June 21.

Jenna DeLibertoturns 12 on July 8.


Elizabeth Drozdowski andChristopher Perro, two of the 19Paramus Catholic HS graduatesfrom Clifton, were among thosehonored at the school’s recentSenior Awards brunch. Drozdowskireceived the Edward J. BlousteinDistinguished Scholar Award, asdid Perro, who was also honoredwith the National Merit for his SATscores, in addition to being namedSalutatorian. For more info aboutPC, call 201-445-4466.

The 2006 recipient of the JosephGrecco Scholarship is CHS seniorMarco Cvetic. Joe Grecco was thelegendary Fighting Mustang foot-ball coach, who stressed athleticsand scholarship. The $2,000 schol-arship was awarded to Cvetic, oneof this year’s Mustang captains.

The Dutch Hill Association, agroup of 60 families from one ofClifton’s oldest neighborhoods,presented CHS seniors and DutchHill residents Kathryn Suffern,Elizabeth Sinski and RoxanneJensen with scholarships. TheAssociation meets from Septemberto June, the third Thursday of themonth. For info on the Dutch HillAssociation, call President JoanSanford: 973-778-8337.

St. Peter’s Haven, 380 CliftonAve., seeks community support forits annual backpack collection forfamilies who cannot afford to givetheir children the necessary suppliesfor school. Backpacks for grammarschool students may be filled withnew school supplies, such as pens,pencils, crayons, markers and note-books. For middle and high schoolstudents, items should include pens,pencils, loose-leaf binders, calcula-tor, three-subject notebook, a dic-tionary and a thesaurus. Backpacksshould be dropped off in the St.Peter’s Haven office on July 24. Ifyou cannot get out to shop and wishto donate, a $15 or $30 donation isrequested. For more info, call TheHaven at 973-546-3406.

Cliftonite Christopher Perro was theParamus Catholic High SchoolSalutatorian. His 9.69 GPA and SATscores of 1900 earned him $48,000 inscholarships and grants which he willuse to attend Manhattan College.

Scholarship recipients Kathryn Suffern, Elizabeth Sinski, Roxanne Jensen, DutchHill Association Scholarship Chair Elaine Hayes and President Joan Sanford.

SACRED HEART SCHOOLSACRED HEART SCHOOL43 Clifton Ave. Clifton • 973-546-4695

Continuing a Half Century of Quality Catholic EducationPre-School to 8th Grade • Middle States Accredited

www.sacredheartclifton.com 1154

Still Taking Registration for our Summer Camp

• Hot Lunch Program• Modern Air Conditioned Facilities• State of the Art Computer Labs

• State Certified Child Care (all year round, 6:30 am- 6 pm)

• Full Day Kindergarten• Full Day Pre Kindergarten – Pre-School


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St. Nicholas UkrainianCatholic School

223 President St., Passaic, NJ 07055 • 973-779-0249 • email: [email protected]

web: home.catholicweb.com/stnicholasukrainian

• Pre-Kindergarten – 8th Grade• Small Class Sizes• Dedicated Teachers• Religion Classes• Science Lab• Computer Classes

• High-Speed Internet, Cable TV’s & VCR’s in Every Classroom

• Library Program• Music Program & School Choir• Physical Education• After School Program for Working Parents

Registration for new studentsentering Clifton Public Schools thisfall is at the Administration build-ing, 745 Clifton Ave. on July 10-13,17-20, 24-27 and Aug. 14-17 from9 am to 1 pm, except on July 19and 26, when it is 1-5 pm.Registration is also at CHS on Aug.22-24, from 1-7 pm. The followingdocuments are needed to register:• An original birth certificate, pass-port or other legal document show-ing the child’s date of birth.

• Immunization records along withproof of a physical examination bya doctor within the past 365 days.• School transfer records, if appli-cable, transcript or report card, or astate or district transfer card.• Three original proofs of Cliftonresidency, such as DMV documents,utility bills, proof of home owner-ship or rental (mortgage statement,tax bill, title, formal lease) oremployer’s letter or pay stub).• Questions? Call 973-458-6709.

Give your child or grandchild the priceless gift of a Catholic School education.

See what a difference we can make in your child’s life.We offer a progressive educational experience:

Troop 3 Scout Kurtis Wiersma ishosting a blood drive and organ dona-tion awareness conference on Aug. 5 atthe Clifton Elks Lodge, 775 CliftonAve., 9 am to 4 pm, as his project tobecome an Eagle Scout. Wiersmachose this as his project in memory ofhis friend, George Contreras, at right,who passed away due to kidney fail-ure. Appointments are necessary togive blood. To donate, or to help out,email [email protected].

A 73-year old family bassinet isstill rocking babies in Clifton. Itmade by Virginia La Corte for herdaughters Dorothy La Corte Schotzand Madge La Corte Zellmann, whoprovided this info. It was used byZellmann and Schotz to care fortheir kids, Richard Zellmann andRobert and Debbie Schotz. They inturn used it for their kids, includingDenise Zellmann Briguglio who justhad Alexis on May 7. In total, 15decedents of Virginia La Corte haverocked in the family heirloom.


Twenty-eight CCMS students and faculty members from across the district donated 481 inches of hair to Locks of Love, a not-for-profit organization that provides children that have lost their hair through illness or injury with a hairpiece. The group,organized by sixth grade math teacher Kim Dreher, at left, announced last month that they would hold the drive on June 19.Having set the donation goal at 100 inches of hair—or 10 individuals at the minimum of 10 inches each—Dreher was morethan happy to collect about 40 feet of hair for the charity. The staff at Salon Ilona, on Clifton Ave., voluntarily came to CCMSto cut and package the hair and a local Subway franchise donated sandwiches. For more info, visit www.locksoflove.org.

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Visit Dr. David Moore’s new location...850 Clifton Ave. • Clifton • 973-253-7005

Some of the services we offer at

On Track Rehabilitation• chiropractic services• all new state of the art equipment• on-site x-ray facility• licensed physical therapist• personal training• state of the art rehabilitation gym• ample parking

Let Us Help You Get Back On Track!Pictured from right to left, Jenan Aburomi, Alison Jonkman,

Dr. Moore, Natalie Kasak and Rania Abughanieh

East Ridgelawn Cemetery......invites you to visit our Mausoleum on Main Avenue to see theinspirational art adorning our new building. Within theMausoleum, our artist has painted a serene and peaceful view,entitled ‘Eden’, where visitors can pause to celebrate the lives of those who have passed.

At the Mausoleum...Visits are unlimited and unaffected by the weather. Crypts arelocated in the building and convenient for elderly andhandicapped. Mausoleum entombment provides greaterPeace of Mind & Security.

• non-sectarian• niches

• mausoleum• garden graves

monumental graves • no obligation pre-need counselingfinancing available one-year at no interest on easy monthly plans

East Ridgelawn Cemeteryfor more information with no obligation call:

973.777.1920

255 Main Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07014

Service to Our Community

years of

Est. 1905

July 2006_COVER 6/29/06 11:13 AM Page 3

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July 2006_COVER 7/3/06 4:25 PM Page 4

Clifton Merchant Magazine - July 2006

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Transcript of Clifton Merchant Magazine - July 2006