| Map & Legend from
Charles T. McGrath
Map Legend (click on map to the left)
(1) Lydia Lindsley's House
Lydia Lindsley's house was built around 1760 A.D. It was a local
tradition that George Washington used it as his head quarter's during
the Battle of Springfield in 1780 A.D. This house was located on
Stuyvesant Avenue near Silver Street. It faced east and was 300'
from the Elizabeth River (Brookdale Avenue). Around 1900 A.D. a
Mr. Weeder owned this house. He was the old lamp lighter who traveled
by horse and wagon throughout the streets of Vailsburg tending the
the gaslights. It was torn down in 1965 A.D. and was replaced by
a small apartment complex.
In the late 1940's as a young newspaper boy for the Newark Star
Ledger I visited this house many times. It was a one story building
and the main entrance was around 6 feet above Stuyvesant Avenue.
The living room floor was made of 6" wide wooden planks. The
kitchen had a large brick oven (used for baking) in it's fireplace.
When it was torn down 37 years ago I tried to salvage portions
of it. I retrieved two large beams and a portion of the brick oven.
I have a portions of the pegged beams (tendon and mortise) with
roman numerals carved on them. The roman numerals were evidently
used to identify each beam. I never seen this done before because
the beams were made on site. There would be no need to identify
them during construction. It's my contention that this house may
have been moved to its present location in the early 1700's.
(2) The first school in Vailsburg
The first school in Vailsburg was a one room school house built
in 1850 A.D. when this area was still part of South Orange Township.
It was called Columbia School. It was located on South Orange Avenue
near Boylan Street Pool. The building was used in later years as
Charlie's Bike Shop. The building next store to it was ABCO Auto
Parts Store.
Another school was built on Alexander Street in 1895 A.D. This
building was much larger and could accommodate more students ; however,
it soon proved to be to small for a growing population. It was replaced
by the present day Alexander Street School. The older building was
moved to 128 Brookdale Avenue where it now serves as a two family
house.
(3) The First Horse Car Line To Vailsburg
Shortly after the Civil War, Dr. Vail and several of his friends
raised $50,000.00 and constructed a a horse car line (a trolley
car pulled by a horse) on South Orange Avenue. The Car ran from
Boston Street (three blocks up from High Street) to Munn Avenue.
Dr. Vail was superintendent of construction and conductor on its
maiden trip from Newark. The fair at that time was six cents.
While the Orange Horse Car Railroad was a progressive adventure
it turned out to be a financial failure because it was ahead of
it's time. James Boylan ( source of the name for Boylan Street )
took over the line and also failed.
It wasn't until John Radel bought it in 1877 A.D. that it proved
to be a great success. By then the crowds from the lower portions
of Newark had discovered Scheutzen Park (Vailsburg Park) and used
the line to visit it frequently. This line was also primarily responsible
for the rapid growth and development of Vailsburg. It provided a
means of transportation for those who wanted to work in Newark and
live in the suburbs. The original horse car stables were still standing
in the late 60's. They were opposite Brookwood Street in the rear
of a gas station.
(4) Scheutzen Park
Scheutzen Park or Shooting Park was a favorite picnic and outing
spot for the people of other portions of Newark. Scheutzen Park
which later became Electric Park was one of New Jersey's first and
most important amusement parks. Electric Park was located on the
present site of Vailsburg Park
(5) Washington Stayed Here
There is a tradition that Washington and some of his men stayed
here during the Revolution. In 1797 A.D. (Battle of Springfield).
Aaron Baldwin owned this property and willed it to his son Joel.
The map at that time, dated September 7,1797 A.D., showed the old
house on South Orange Avenue, which at that time made a north -east
turn near what is now Munn avenue. The road was much higher than
it is now. South Orange Avenue is referred to as "The Road
"and Munn Avenue as " the road running from the main road
to North Orange ."
In my research I came across this house many times. This area
was also called "Dogs Misery ". The house was probably
built prior to 1717 A.D. Aaron Baldwin owned slaves ( slaves in
Vailsburg). Unfortunately this house was demolished in circa 1960
and replaced by Kravet's Pharmacy.
(6) Dr. Malcolm Vail
Vailsburg was named after Dr. Malcolm Vail. I believe he was a medical
doctor. He was the first mayor of the Borough of Vailsburg and he
lived on Vail Street near Kenmore Avenue. The area we know as Vailsburg
was once part of Clinton Township and later it became part of South
Orange Township. From 1895 -1905 A.D. this area became the Borough
of Vailsburg. In 1905 A.D. it became part of Newark.
Joshua O. Baldwin's homestead
In 1881 Mr. Albert Smith who later became the Mayor of Vailsburg
owned the property on the southeast corner of South Orange and Sandford
Avenues. This was the homestead of Joshua O. Baldwin's. This house
was built in the latter portion of the 1700's . Around 1900 A.D.
It was known as the Raub Homestead. It's wide front porch and broad
lawn containing a brook (branch of the Elizabeth River) faced South
Orange Avenue. This home was the scene of many annual Fourth of
July celebrations. These took place while Vailsburg was a independent
borough (1895-1905 A.D. ). It was later remodeled although most
of the old time charm remained. I'm sure many of us remember it
as Burn's Funeral Home. Today it's a private residence?
(The 1881 map is large. Please remember that the bar at the top
of the image allows you to place it anywhere on the page. The close
button is at the far right.)
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