The study area has been subject to a long history of redevelopment initiatives as indicated in the historic timeline below. Narrative: History and Development Background (Township of Montclair) Glenfield School – School Segregation & Integration in Montclair.Montclair’s Little Italy – the Italians in Montclair.Before ecological regulations, these mills discharged their waste into the natural waterways. In the 19th and early 20th century, Toney’s Brook supported several mills, which produced lumber, beer, calico, brass fittings, and pasteboard boxes. With the increase in the volume of water during storms in recent years the culvers reach their maximum capacity causing structural and material deterioration and pollution. Many roads have been built over the brook and in some places, it is covered up completely, canalized or culvertised. The Second River led to the Morris Canal in Bloomfield that was a means of transportation for the Underground Railroad. Locally, brooks were used as freedom routes for fugitive enslaved people. In Montclair, Toney’s Brook runs through Anderson Park, Edgemont Memorial Park, Montclair HighSchool and Glenfield Park. In Glenfield Park, the brook continues southeast into Glen Ridge, where it flows through The Glen (the glen for which that borough is named). It then flows into Bloomfield and, in Watsessing Park, joins the Second River, a tributary of the Passaic River. In Montclair it is joined by two tributary streams, both originally also called Toney’s (one called Tunnel Brook, arising from the cliff near Claremont Ave.). Toney’s Brook originates in Montclair northwest of the Upper Montclair railway station (originally north of the Montclair Presby Iris Garden), now with two branches, east and west of the elevated railroad tracks at Bellevue. Generally thought to be named for Anthony Oliff, a resident of West Orange (Newark in his time). Toney’s Brook is a tributary of the Second River in Essex County, New Jersey in the United States. Narrative: A glen is a secluded narrow valley often created by the flow of a brook. Toney’s Brook Trail: The Glen and The Brook The Crane House became the YWCA for African American Women inġ857 MONTCLAIR MAP WITH WATERWAYS – Toney’s Brook and Mud Lakeġ909 MONTCLAIR MAP – with Crane Park and the original site of the Israel Waterways were used as freedom routes for the Underground Railroad He projected the Newark and Pompton Turnpike which opened a large extent of country thereby enhancing the value of farm property and affording the farmers better facilities for transporting their produce to the market.” – Source: History of Montclair Township by Henry Whittemore 1894. He opened and developed an immense brownstone quarry in Newark, one of the largest in this part of the country, employing at times from 3 to 400 workers. He did more to develop this region of country than any man before or since. At the same time, he gave encouragement to and promoted every new enterprise that gave promise of success. He displayed wonderful sagacity and great executive ability. He controlled the waterpower on Tony brook and directed the first cotton mill on the stream which he afterwards sold to the Wilde family in the management of his extensive business interests. “Israel Crane was one of the first to utilize the immense waterpower of the Pacific falls near Paterson and directed there the second cotton mill. Visitors and people passing by will be able to listen or read this narrative after (Possibly a voice recording will be inserted here) Location #1: TONEY’S BROOK AT CRANE PARK – Street Sign Design The project is partially funded by the Essex County Department of Parks and Recreation and Cultural Affairs and has the approval of the Township of Montclair.Ī. The QR code will provide direct access to this information to anyone with a cell phone.Īlthough much of the history of Toney’s Brook has been documented by the Montclair History Center and local historians, this project aims to increase public awareness of the history of Toney’s Brook and of Montclair and other communities bordering the Brook in general by making this information accessible to a large audience in a simple way with the installation of the ten interactive signs in strategic locations. Each sign will have a scannable QR code connecting to our website to provide more detailed historical information about the project. Each of 10 locations will have a interactive sign showing the map and location (you are here) and the history of the neighborhood, covering pre-colonial history, colonial times, the American Revolution, the Industrial Era, and contemporary times as appropriate. The project will cover the route of Toney’s Brook through the township and into Glen Ridge and Bloomfield. TONEY’S BROOK TRAIL, MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY – Work in Progress TONEY’S BROOK TRAIL PROJECT
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