[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[EXTE]
[Page 5165]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF DENVILLE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Township of 
Denville in Morris County, New Jersey, which is celebrating its 
Centennial on April 14, 2013.
  The area that has come to be known as Denville originated as 
travelling route and camping grounds for local Lenape Native Americans. 
As early as 1664, however, Dutch and English settlers began arriving on 
the shores of the Eastern Coast of the United States. Daniel Denton, a 
wealthy landowner, is believed to have led an expedition into the 
interior of Northern New Jersey, specifically the region of Morris 
County. His discoveries and descriptions of the area, along with its 
bountiful land and resources led people to populate the area as early 
as 1690. It is believed that The Great Daniel Denton's influence on the 
area gave Denville its name.
  Denville's earliest settlers contained a diverse group of individuals 
stemming from many different surrounding areas and cultures. These 
groups of people included the original Dutch and English settlers from 
Long Island, and Quakers from Philadelphia, and Germans who had 
recently arrived from Europe. Many businesses began to emerge over the 
next half a century as the population of the area began to grow. 
Between 1730 and 1760, many forges, mills, and ice-harvesting 
businesses had formed along the Rockaway River, making the town an 
economic focal point. Soon, neighboring communities such as Ninkey and 
Franklin, which had already established schools and businesses, were 
incorporated into the growing settlement of Denville.
  Through the establishment of the Morris Canal and the railroad 
systems in the 19th Century, Denville was able to create the well-known 
commercial core intersection of Main Street, Broadway, and Diamond 
Spring Road that has come to be the hub of the town. Yet, the area has 
not lost its historical charm through the years and continues to 
represent the vibrant history of Denville.
  With its popularity though the centuries, Denville has attracted the 
presence of four Presidents. This includes George Washington, Grover 
Cleveland, who stayed as a guest at the current Wayside Inn, Warren G. 
Harding, and George Bush Sr. in 1994, who visited St. Clare's Hospital.
  Additionally, in the early 20th Century, Denville became a tourism 
destination for those looking to relax and unwind. Most tourists came 
to the extremely popular lakes such as Indian Lake, Lake Arrowhead, and 
Cedar Lake or places like the St. Francis Health Resort and the Diamond 
Spring Inn. Based on its ever-growing popularity, Denville was formed 
as an official township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on 
April 14, 1913.
  Today, Denville boasts a population of over 16,500 people, a 
successful business district, and a top-tier school system producing 
over an 84 percent graduation rate. Moreover, the town is home to many 
attractions such as the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, the Wick 
House Herb Garden and the Rockaway River Country Club. Denville has 
continued to embody excellence and admiration, from residents and 
visitors alike as it continues to grow each year.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and your colleagues to join me in 
congratulating the Township of Denville as it celebrates its 
Centennial.

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