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THE STORY OF WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY
by Joel R. Simon
The Story of Weehawken, New Jersey is the title of a book now being researched and written by Joel R. Simon. He hopes to complete and publish the book in 2008. The purpose of this web-site is to introduce the book, share some information about the community, and invite input from anyone willing to share their own knowledge of this fascinating and beautiful place.
Joel R. Simon is a teacher and researcher who resides in Oceanside, New York. He is a graduate (B.A., M.S. in Ed.) of Hofstra University. For many years, he has had the ambition of writing a definitive book about all aspects of one community. He chose Weehawken NJ for many reasons, the first being that it was reasonably near his own home but was a place about which he had no previous conceptions, and thus could study it objectively. A frequent visitor to New York City, Mr. Simon often wondered what lay on the other side of the Hudson River. Weehawken is a relatively small community, and thus he thought that this would be a manageable project for one person, and a good starting point for later, possibly larger projects. Of course, a huge amount of "raw material" exists, once one learns where to find it, but Mr. Simon would rather have "too much" material to work with than not enough.
Mr. Simon's current plan is to self-publish the book and have a run of two-thousand copies. The book will be divided into sixteen chapters plus a biographical reference index. Chapter I will place the community in its geographic and political context. Chapter II will offer a physical description. Chapters III through IX will present a history of Weehawken. Chapter X will describe the local government and Chapter XI will focus on the public school system. Chapter XII will focus on religious life in Weehawken. Chapter XIII will describe the community's fraternal and veterans organizations, and other community institutions. Chapter XIV will explore Weehawken's place in the arts and literature. Chapter XV will summarize the rest of the book in Spanish, and Chapter XVI will return to English for a summary and conclusions as Weehawken enters the new Millennium. The book is planned to be both a reference source and readable narrative.
Mr. Simon welcomes your input in his research on the community. He can be reached by e-mail at nomisleoj@aol.com, or by "snail mail" at PO Box 201, Oceanside NY 11572-0201. Any material submitted will become the property of Mr. Simon to use or not use as he sees fit. Mr. Simon is neither employed by nor affiliated with the Township of Weehawken, the government of Hudson County, or the government of the State of New Jersey.
Weehawken NJ is in Hudson County on the west bank of the Hudson River opposite mid-town Manhattan, and is the location of the west end of the Lincoln Tunnel. Weehawken has existed as a place-name since colonial times, and was incorporated as a township in 1859. Neighboring communities are Hoboken, Union City, and West New York The township is divided into three wards and governed by an elected council headed by Mayor Richard F. Turner. The township has its own police department and pre-K-12 public school system. Those who have called Weehawken home include author John Erskine, painter John Marin, sculptor Karl Bitter, and choreographer Jerome Robbins. The community was once a major railroad center, and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line passes through a tunnel under the township. The Acting Municipal Clerk is Rola Dahboul.
An excellent site about the community on the web is the Weehawken Time Machine by Al Berg.
SOME HIGHWOOD TERRACE RESIDENTS IN THE 1930 U.S. CENSUS
On 2 April 1930, enumerator Edith Brennan recorded that the 8 homes on the north side of Highwood Ter. between Highwood Ave. and Nesbit St. housed a total of 70 souls divided into 18 family groups, with some 22 surnames among them. Only 3 of the 18 family heads were owners of their homes, the rest being renters paying between $25 and $57 per month. It appears that every family had a radio, and all 70 residents could speak English. The original data will be found in E.D. 9-411, p. 1A, lines 1-50; and p. 1B, lines 51-70. Please note that material in italics is from a variety of sources other than the 1930 Census.
Edith, a 41 year old native of Denmark who emigrated as an infant, lived right around the corner at 148 Nesbit St. with her husband Thomas W. Brennan, a bookkeeper, and their son George and daughter Edith Gertrude, who would graduate from Woodrow Wilson H.S. in 1933. She must have been well acquainted with the neighborhood as the family was already there by 1922.
The 8 houses between 42 and 56 Highwood Ter. are on the SE corner of the very large block which is surrounded by Highwood Ter. on the S, Highwood Ave. on the E, Liberty Pl. on the N, and Park Ave. on the W. Two cul-de-sacs, Edgar and Nesbit Sts., enter the block from Highwood Ter. It appears that Edith began her enumeration with 42 Highwood Ter. and went around the entire block before working through the rest of her district, finding about 386 residents. Nowadays, the main feature of the block is the Pathmark supermarket with its associated stores and parking field. The landmark Weehawken Water Tower on Park Ave. is the reminder of the reservoir which once occupied much of the block. Today, these 8 homes are within easy walking distance of the public library, Weehawken H.S., shopping, and easy public transportation to New York City. A block to the E is the cliff edge and terrific Manhattan views. One house, 40 Highwood Ter., sits at the corner of Highwood Ter. and Highwood Ave. There is no enumeration of residents in the 1930 Census, although it appears in the 1933 atlas.
42 Highwood Ter. housed 2 families. William O'Keefe, 58, a patrolman, resided at #42 with wife Mona M., 55, and his stepson Theodore H. Craig, 25, a fireman. Wm. was b. in NJ to parents b. in Ireland. Mona was English Canadian and her parents were b. in England and France. Theo. was b. in NJ. His father was b. in Canada and his mother in NJ. Wm. O'Keefe was b. on 4 Nov 1871. He married Mona Ashford (b. 17 May 1874) on 11 Oct 1922. He joined the Wkn. Police Dept. as a patrolman on 8 Feb 1905 and ret. at half pay on 16 Aug 1939. Perhaps Theo. was a son of Mona's from a first marriage, since Mona was 19 when first married and Wm. was 48. The other tenants at this address were Emilio de Guzman, 54, an accountant [actually an underwriter], and his wife, Helena A., 49, no occ., and a son, Paul V., 21, occ. illeg., and a dau., Muriel C., 19. In 1931, E. W. de Guzman was residing at 3A Bonn Pl., and in 1943 was residing at 150 Edgar St. When the Wkn. Free Public Library opened its doors on 2 June 1942, Helena de Guzman presided as librarian, having catalogued and arranged nearly 4,000 books in preparation for the opening. Emilio Guillermo de Guzman was born in Lima, Peru.
44 Highwood Ter. also housed 2 families. Andrew J. Sifflard, 47?, was a salesman for a brass foundry, a native of France whose mother tongue was, naturally, French. He was a W.W.I veteran. Wife Mary, 43?, was a native of Germany. Son Andrew J., 20, was b. in NJ. Last comes dau. Marguerita, age and birthplace illeg. In 1900, Laurent Sifflard res. on Sunnyside Ave (now part of Gregory Ave.). Andrew, a clerk, and wife Mary res. at 7 Ridgely Pl. in 1922. In 1943, we find A. Sifflard listed at 42 Highwood Ter. William W. Terns, 37, a railroad conductor, was b. in NJ to parents b. in NY. Wife Nellie Mc., 37, was b. in NY. They continued to res. at this address (with a telephone) in 1931. Their 3 children were Evelyn, 12; Loretta, 10, and Wesley, 8, all b. in NJ. Evelyn Helen graduated from Wilson HS in 1935; Lauretta Florence followed in 1936; and Wesley William in 1939.
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VFW Building at 309 Park Ave. Constructed in 1890, it served as the Municipal Building until 1928. [Photo by JRS]
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CHARLES F. KRAUSE JR. CENTENNIAL
Charles Krause was born 103 years ago, on 29 February 1904. Growing up on Palisade Av., he married the girl next door, Hilda Bauer. The Krauses and their four children lived at 50 Hudson Pl. An attorney, Krause was Mayor of Weehawken from 1951 through 1966, defending the rights of the township vs. the railroads and the Port Authority. Krause presided over Weehawken's 100th Anniversary in 1959. He passed away on 4 July 1977.
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View of Manhattan (42nd St.) from Hamilton Ave. [photo by JRS]
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1930 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE:
MAYOR Emile W. Grauert,
Thomas A. Donlan, James F. Healey, Louis T. Earl, Edward L. Koppe, Alexander Horner, and Martin Haas
WEEHAWKEN ZIP
CODE IS
07086
Earl M. Purdy (2 Dec 1898 - 6 July 1987) served on the Township Committee from 1951 through 1969.
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2 families occupied 46 Highwood Ter. Cyril W. Goldsack, 42, was the tenant. B. in England, he was a factory machinist who immigrated in 1911. Wife Eveleen M., 43, was b. in Ireland, and immigrated in 1910. Dau. Edna E., age unclear, was b. in NY. William E. LaClair [could be LeClair], age unclear, owned the house, valued at $12,000. A shipping clerk, he was b. in NJ. Wife Helen?, age unclear, was b. in NJ to German-born parents. Son Frank, 11?, was b. in NJ.
48 Highwood Ter. housed two families as well. Patrick Kelly, 40?, a patrolman, was b. in Ireland, as was wife Katharine C., 37?. Daus. Katharine M., 12; Mary M., 10; and Anna? T., 1-1/12, were all b. in NJ. In 1922, Patrick J. (an inspector) and his wife Catherine res. at 54 Hudson Av. Gustav Prange, 61?, a salesman, b. in Germany, came to the US in 1883 and was a naturalized citizen. Wife Dora?, 54, was b. in NJ, as was son Gustav Jr., 20, who was following in his father's footsteps as a salesman.
Harold C. Sheets, 34, headed one of the two families occupying 50 Highwood Ter. Although b. in NY, his parents were b. in VA. A bookkeeper, Harold was a WWI vet. Wife Helen V, 32?, was b. in NY. Son Orrain?, 7?, was b. in NJ. In 1922, they res. at 114 Shippen St. The other family in this house was headed by Louis Fendrich, a butcher b. in Czechoslovakia, as was wife Louise, age unclear. Son John, 23, b. NJ, claimed no occ. Dau. Josephine, 22?, was a "shirtmaker." Sharing the household were son-in-law Herman C. Schreiber, occ. illeg., b. NJ, and Fendrich dau. Marie C. Schreiber, 26, marr. at age 20 (and Herman was 27). Perhaps they were related to Dr. Adam Edward Fendrich, who was the owner and long time res. of 74 Highwood Ter., down the street.
52 Highwood Ter. was occupied by 2 families as well. Frank Kass, 29, was b. in Germany but seems to have come to the U.S. in 1922 (occ. illeg.). Wife Maria, 27, was also b. in Germany, as were dau. Ingeborg, 8, and son Karl Heinz, 7. Roomer William Burckhart, 28, was a fireman on the railroad, and like the others, was b. in Germany. Silas Clute, 55 was a patrolman with the Wkn Police Dept., b. in NJ to parents b. in NY. Wife Catharine, 54, was b. in NJ to mixed German and Irish parentage. They marr. at ages 22 and 21, respectively, and by 1930 were the parents of Sylvester, a machinist in the auto supplies business, single; Byron, 29, a music teacher; Hazel, 23, no occ.; Eunice, 19, no occ.; Leo, 17; and Leonard, 15. All the children were b. in NJ. Silas was actually b. 1 Jan 1873 and marr. Catharine on 28 Feb 1895. She was b. 15 Jan 1875 and expired in the summer of 1939. Hazel was b. 19 Nov. 1905; Eunice on 16 Dec. 1909; Leo on 23 Dec 1911; and Leonard on 17 Jan 1915. Silas Clute was appointed patrolman on 1 Jan 1906; promoted to sgt. 1 Sept 1921, and ret. on pension 21 Nov 1939. Apparently Silas was b. and raised in Wkn., the son of John and Martha Clute. The Silas Clute family res. at 546 Blvd. East in 1922. Eunice graded from Wilson HS in June 1929, Leo in Jan 1932 (having pursued a "general course"), and Leonard in June 1932.
3 Families occupied 54 Highwood Ter. Walter P. Edwards, 31, was a chemist, b. NJ. Wife Mary, 34, was also b. NJ, as was dau. Ruth, 4. they had moved to 23 King Ave. by 1943, and were still there in 1960. John Gilbert, 43, claimed ownership of the property, valued at $13,000. John, a NJ native of German origin, was a bus operator for the Public Service Company. Wife Katharine W., 44, was b. in NJ to a father b. in Ger. and a mother b. in NY. Children included Pauline, 19; and Ruth M., 17, both stenos; and Katharine, 14?, all 3 b. NJ. Pauline graduated from Wilson HS in Jan 1928. Apparently the family had moved to 303 Park Ave. by 1943. The 3rd family in the house were Otto Steffans, a waiter, and his wife Lucy, 37, a saleslady, both b. in Germany.
Last, before turning right down Nesbit St., Edith enumerated the 3 families at 56 Highwood Ter. The owner of the house was one Fred T. Bezer, 50, who valued it at $10,000. Fred, b. in NY to English parents, was a time lock mechanic. Wife Alma A., 47, was b. in NJ to German parents. Father-in-law Henry G. Eggert, 84, was the oldest person of the 70 described herein. This family res. here at least from 1922 to 1943. By 1960, Fred was res. at 90 Hauxhurst Ave., a short walk away. In 1922, Florence Bezer, prob. a dau., was also res. with them. The 2nd family in this house was that of Leeland F. Burt, 31, in the contracting business, and wife Florence E., 26, both b. NJ. The 3rd family was that of the wid. Minnie A. Bauer, 54 (1st marr. at 23), b. in NY to German parents. Presumably she was supported by son Charles W., 30, a salesman in the oil business, and dau. Mildred E., 27, a nurse. Charles Bauer, the father, a letterer, is listed with Minnie and Mildred at 68 Highwood Ter. in 1922.
Naturally (even if much of it was not illeg. anyhow), it will not be possible to include anything more than a few highlights of the 1930 Census in The Story of Weehawken, New Jersey, but the above will serve to illustrate the depth of research which is going into the book, as well as the importance of the 1930 Census as a source of valuable family information for Wkn and many other places.
Copyright 2002 by Joel R. Simon. All rights reserved.
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