Category Archives: NJ Cities Gates services

Glen Ridge, New Jersey

In 1666, 64 Connecticut families led by Robert Treat bought land from the Lenni Lenape Native Americans and named it New Ark to reflect a covenant to worship freely without persecution. The territory included the future towns of Bloomfield, Montclair, Belleville and Nutley. When Bloomfield was established in 1812, Glen Ridge was a section “on the hill” composed mostly of farms and woodlands with the exception of a thriving industrial area along Toney’s Brook in the glen.[20] For most of the nineteenth century, three water-powered mills produced lumber, calico, pasteboard boxes and brass fittings. A copper mine and a sandstone quarry were located on the north side of the brook.[21]

Mansfield Township, Warren County, New Jersey

What is now Mansfield Township was formed on May 30, 1754, as Mansfield-Woodhouse Township from portions of Greenwich Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County, and was incorporated as Mansfield Township on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey’s initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. The township became part of the newly formed Warren County on November 20, 1824. Portions of the township were taken to form Franklin Township (April 8, 1839) and Washington Township (April 9, 1849).[20] The township was named after William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield.[3]

Plumsted Township, New Jersey

Plumsted Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1845, from portions of Jackson Township, while the area was still part of Monmouth County. Plumsted Township became part of the newly created Ocean County on February 15, 1850.[21] The township was named for Clement Plumstead, an English Quaker who bought a large parcel of land, but never set foot in the area.[22][23]

Westampton, New Jersey

Westampton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1850, from portions of Northampton Township (now known as Mount Holly Township). Portions of the township were taken to form Eastampton Township on February 11, 1880.[20] Its name derives from its original location in the western portion of what was Northampton Township.[21]

Clayton, New Jersey

Jacob Fisler, who purchased much of the area that is now Clayton, acquired 6,500 acres (2,600 ha) of land after the American Revolutionary War. A settlement called Fislertown developed that had grown to 36 families by 1812.[21] The establishment of a glass factory in the 1850s by one of Fisler’s descendants led to the growth of Fislertown.[22]

Pitman, New Jersey

Until August 2014, Pitman was a dry town. Though the borough still does not allow liquor stores or bars, patrons can purchase wine by the bottle from local vineyards at select licensed establishments under the terms of a state law that bypasses municipal oversight.[24] In 2016, a pair of local breweries opened in Pitman’s Uptown business district under the terms of a state law that allows the sale of beer by the glass in tasting rooms.[25]