[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

                                  _____
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2018

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Township of 
Montclair, County of Essex, New Jersey, on the occasion of its 150th 
Anniversary.
  The story of Montclair as a settled community begins with the Crane 
family. Azariah Crane, his wife Mary Treat Crane, and their son 
Nathaniel, built a home in 1694 near the present intersection of Orange 
Road and Myrtle Avenue. Other pioneers arrived soon after, and the 
frontier settlement of Cranetown came into being in what is now the 
southern part of Montclair.
  During the Revolutionary War, First Mountain in Montclair provided 
observation points for following the movements of the British to the 
east. A strong tradition holds that both George Washington and the 
Marquis de Lafayette were in Cranetown briefly in October of 1780. The 
boulder at the comer of Claremont Avenue and Valley Road marking the 
site of ``Washington's Headquarters'' is one of Montclair's better-
known landmarks.
  Beginning about 1800, several developments led to the transformation 
of Cranetown into a small commercial center. One development was the 
opening of a general store by Israel Crane. Further, in 1806, Crane led 
a group of businessmen in obtaining a charter from the State for 
building the Newark-Pompton Turnpike. Constructed over the next several 
years, the turnpike came through Montclair as Bloomfield Avenue and 
vastly increased the flow of commerce. Israel Crane broke new ground as 
well in opening a wool mill on Toney's Brook. Other small industries 
followed. Also important for the economic development of the area was 
the completion of the Morris Canal in 1831. In 1812, the Bloomfield 
ward of Newark became a separate township, which included the future 
Montclair. The village of Cranetown now became known as West Bloomfield 
and a post office was established under that name.
  The most decisive event for the emergence of Montclair was the coming 
of railroads. By 1860 West Bloomfield was becoming a commuter town with 
its own marked identity and influential residents persuaded the post 
office to adopt the name Montclair.
  The population of the community grew rapidly as New York businessmen 
and their families began building homes along the mountainside. The new 
residents sought to create in Montclair a model ``country town'' with 
convenient access to the city. Their vision was shared by a notable 
artist colony that began forming in the 1870's. A central figure was 
the landscape painter, George Inness. Able and dedicated community 
leaders endowed the town with superior schools, an excellent public 
library, a distinguished art museum and many large and influential 
churches.
  By the opening of the 20th century, a richly diverse population 
characterized the community. A new influx of New Englanders was joined 
by African-Americans from the South and by Irish, Germans, Italians, 
Scandinavians and others newly arrived from Europe. Great mansions went 
up, but so did many modest homes. Between 1880 and 1930, Montclair's 
population leaped from 5,147 to 42,017. The period following World War 
II was marked by tremendous expansion of the metropolitan area. New 
suburbs popped up in the hinterland along with shopping malls and 
corporate offices.
  Montclair is home to New Jersey's second largest public university, 
Montclair State University. Building on a distinguished history dating 
back to 1908, Montclair State University is a leading institution of 
higher education in New Jersey. Designated a Research Doctoral 
University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher 
Education, the University's 11 colleges and schools serve more than 
21,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, 
master's and baccalaureate programs. Situated on a beautiful, 252-acre 
suburban campus just 12 miles from New York City, Montclair State 
delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public 
university in a supportive, sophisticated and diverse academic 
environment.
  Today Montclair is a community of about 39,000 inhabitants. Its 
heritage in education has been enhanced by its innovative public and 
private school educational programs and the expanded offerings at 
Montclair State University. Once again it has become a haven for 
artists and writers. This is a seasoned community whose many old houses 
enhance its charm, yet at the dawn of a new century, Montclair remains 
alive to the spirit of the times.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in 
congratulating the Township of Montclair on the occasion of its 150th 
Anniversary.

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