LC Ridgefield Then & Now

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RIDGEFIELD:

THEN & NOWJacobus Pond... Then R.M.H.S.Now

Ridgefield: Then and Now is a collection of Ridgefields fine history and its present day outlooks. The LibraryCouncil has been working hard on this project by collecting data, taking pictures, and interviewing for the then sections.From Ridgefields ridges to its schools, you can say that it has a lot of history. The pictures above are of Jacobus Pondand Ridgefield Memorial High School. Many years ago where the high school was, there were many trees and the pond.The area was in a flood zone and thus formed this large pond. As developers would take over the land, the land wouldchange into the school and the pond would vanish.

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AcknowledgementsResidents of the Ridgefield Community:

Jack Lustman

Frank Quintano

Amelia Quintano

Anthony Pope

Rose Brockman

Ann Pecorino

Caryln Heath

Emma Fernandez

Joan Antonello

John Antonello

Ronald Williams

Florence Nolan

Members of the Environmental

Commission:

Karen Riede

Bruce Riede

Members of Library Council:

John Cahill

Yaritza Waddell

Julia Endow

Alison Kim

Karen Kim

Nato Ivanashivili

Ruby Song

Christina Choi

Leonel Aguilar

Ashley Vermeal


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Ridgefields Then and Now

CultureCulture has been in Ridgefield for many years, starting with its painting from the many different artists, to the various clubsand society members.

Art

Although it seems highly unlikely today, Ridgefield wasactually known as an artist colony during the late 1890s and early1900s. Back then, Ridgefield did not have all the houses andbuildings like it does today. In fact, the whole area was onlycovered in trees and plains. Furthermore, people would actuallytake the ferry across the Hudson River and then walk all the wayfrom Edgewater to arrive here. Some evidence of this period isStudio Road, where painters would go and build small temporaryhouses with spare wood, to live in while they painted landscapesand anything else they could see.

Some well-respected painters and writers that lived here were Man Ray, Marcel

Duchamp, William Sartain, Bernard Karfiol, Robert Martin, Manual Komroff, AlfredKreymborg, Floyd Dell, and Frederick Rockwell. William Carlos Williams also visited thecolony and Emma Goldman lived here for a short period of time. Man Ray had publishedone issue of a magazine called The Ridgefield Gazookwhich amazingly was consideredthe first Dada publication printed in the U.S.

Clubs

About 70 years ago, the Exchange Club in Ridgefield played a crucial part in its culture. Much like a service club,it was also a social club to a certain extent. Having its own executives and business men, the membership was definitelyexclusive. This club donated school supplies that were not being given by the Board of Education. With more peoplecoming to Ridgefield, those who were Germans created The Germania. This one was originally meant to be a socialorganization, but this club played a significant role when the elections came around. Over time, this exclusive group slowlybecame less inclusive as more people came into Ridgefield. The West Side Club was also similar to The Germania.

Political clubs such as the Republican Club were dominant. The Wilkie Club and the Young Democratic Club werentas dominant, but they did manage to somehow keep their head above water. There were also clubs such as the P.T.A.and the Womens Sewing Club. Lastly, the American Legion was crucial. They held an annual parade that was importantto the whole community.

Delinquency

It is said that in 1941 the borough of Ridgefield was fortunately free from crime, especially when compared toneighboring towns such as Essex or the Hudson countiesRidgefield was believed to be more residential, withpeople taking pride in their communitys activitiesincluding the whole work in cooperation with the policedepartment. There were no murders whatsoever.

However, a few robberies, assaults, and rape cases hadbeen recorded. If the law-breakers were caught, theywere most likely from out of town. Robbers were rarely, ifever, from Ridgefield. In 1939, there was a rape case inwhich a married man had raped a girl. It is said that thegirl had fought back and recommended to him that heread a Bible which she was carrying in her purse. Therewas also an incident where the well-known paintings ofMr. Neandross were stolen. Other than that, there were

usual cases involving motor vehicles. The people involved in these incidents were from out-of-state or out-of-town.There werent murders like there are today; however, gangs and shooters were common.

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Ray

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Music

People listened to the radio for everything from the 30s on. The radio had news, stories, and music. The newsconsisted of breaking news, weather, and events. People listened to the radio to hear mystery, adventure, and soap

operas. The music had livesinging and dancing. The musicpeople listened to was jazz,swing, classical, blues, pop androck. There were many singersof the time, such as Frank

Sinatra, Dean Martin, GlennMiller, Perry Como, ArtieShaw, Elvis Presley, FreddieMercury, and The Beatles.

Behavior of Local TeensThe following content is according to several elderly residents ofRidgefield. (See the acknowledgments page)

Teens were more polite backthen. They werent allowed to curse orswear. Students were loyal toteachers, and stood up when spokento. Teens were more respectful, and itwas common to hear kids respond toadults as Yes, Sir ,or Maam.Throughout time, no one called adultsby their first names, but called them"Uncle" or "Aunt." Parents were very

strict with their children. In those days, parents needed their kids to help out, so it was common for kids to go to school fora just awhile, andthen came back home to help out. Teens got their drivers permit at 17 instead of 16, like today.

Change in SocietyThe elderly members of Ridgefield told us some of the differences between the1940s and 2009.

Religion & Race

Ridgefield has had several nationalities: from early Dutch and Englishto the Irish, German, Italian, and Korean. There were few Koreans until about

75 years ago. The ethnic majority was white,and a fewHispanics. Thereligious groupswere Catholic,Jewish,Christian, andseveral others.Saint Matthews,a RomanCatholic church,was where manypeople went toschool andattended church.

The Co-Op sign is still there,

behind the Associated sign.

English Neighborhood Reformed

Shaler Ave-


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The church was located on Grand then, and had one nun teaching two classes. Across from Saints Matthewswas theEnglish Neighborhood Reformed Churchand its cemetery.

Buildings & Roads

There were no apartments or double houses back then. The roadswere more colonial style, and dirty; also horses were common on the streets.There wasnt much on Shaler Boulevard, except for a few stores. There wereonly four to five estate houses. The land near Wolf Creek, and where the highschool is now, would flood. The Five Firemen Field would be flooded also,and would freeze in the winter. This area was popular for ice skating. TheFive Firemen field is named that in memory of five Ridgefield firemen who losttheir lives putting out a dangerous fire.

Activity

There were no buses running through Ridgefield, and no crossing guards.For the people with cars, the gas was 17 cents per gallon. There were notelevisions, tapes, DVDs, computers, and cell phones. To have fun, people went to

drive-in-movies. Also, people didnt take as many security measures, such aslocking their doors.

SchoolThe elderly members of Ridgefield told us other differencesbetween the 1940s and 2009.

Students only needed a basic education back then.Many women also didntgo to college. The localpeople helped to makethe school function; for

example, the bell had tobe hand-rung to work,and mothers would taketurns cooking lunch atschool. The girls had towear dresses below theknees, and the guys had to wear collar shirts. There were no

pajama pants allowed, or other inappropriate clothing.

The grades varied from having 40 to 50 kids in each one. The boys and girls had separategym classes. The kids didnt live far away from the school, so they all walked and were never late. The kids had thebasic classes, with electives like type-writing, home economics, and wood carving for boys, and sewing for girls. Theyplayed sports like basketball, baseball, football, stickball, handball, tennis, and did activities like the Senior-Plays. Today

we have art classes, computer classes, film, and chorus.


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Environment

History of the Environment

The Lenni Lenape were the original people to inhabit Ridgefield andits many water resources. In 1603, there were early English immigrantscoming to the Ridgefield area. An English explorer, Robert Earle, came toRidgefield in 1650. In 1662, two Dutchmen, Lubbert Lubbertsen and WilliamVan Westervel moved their families to the banks of Overpeck Creek. In 1659,most of the settlers arrived by land. Some, however, traveled down OverpeckCreek which was navigable as far north as Englewood. Later on theOverpeck Creek was used to ship goods north, and for sailing excursions.The banks of Overpeck Creek were dotted with many cottages. People ontrains enjoyed the views of the creek and the hilly terrain.

The settlers got water from Overpeck Creek, Wolf Creek, and the dozens of small streams flowing through thearea. Many of the streams can still be seen such as Wolf Creek. Unfortunately, pollution has made the water from theancient sources undrinkable. Through modern technology however, it is hoped the rivers and streams may one day befreed of toxic wastes and once again be fit for human consumption.

Ridgefield has several geological distinctions. There is an eastern Palisade Ridge. In the west is a slope, abroad, level meadow of Overpeck Creek. In the south, the Overpeck and Hackensack streams are still present. Later,

the Overpeck became a border line of the town. Ridgefield was the center point of the English neighborhood whichstretched 10 miles from the Hackensack River to the Hudson River. From this long ridge of land, this town took its name

of Ridgefield. Ridgefield is divided up into three sections, Ridgefield Proper, Morsemere Park,and Ridgefield Heights. Ridgefield Proper is located near the junction of Edgewater, Broad, andGrand Avenue Morsemere Park is the northern part of the borough and is north of SlocumAvenue Ridgefield Heights is found on the second hill at the eastern end of the borough. Thereis also a fourth section (the valley). This strip of land is nested at the bottom of both hillsrunning north and south. Alexander Shaler has two parks named after him and is the reason forthe many trees in Ridgefield. Shaler wanted the future generation of the town to be amazed atthe beautiful trees.

To understand our environment around us, the Library Council interviewed, Bruce and Karen Reide, twomembers of the Environmental Commission.

The Environment

They volunteer to preserve the open space in our community. Karen andBruce feel that people need to speak out for the environment. They didnt choosetheir career, but love the environment and wanted to share it with others. Toexpress educational purposes and passion for nature is a goal of theirs, andinstituting changes because of the Environmental Commission. Together theyhave 34 years of preservation. Karen has house plants, which her mom startedwith an Aloe plant. The plant is a descendent for five generations. They have agarden which has daffodils, tulips, and trees whichBruce is trying to form a border with the flowers.

Being an Environmentalist

Being an Environmentalist is to share the great outdoors with others. said KarenMeasuring their success and seeing wild life as close to a natural state as possible is ontheir mind. They try to do good for the environment by telling others and being atenvironmental events. Going to the Nature Center is like an extension of their backyard.From an earlier age, they loved animals and cared for them. They werent as involved fornature earlier, but soon got involved as they are now. After they got married they got reallyactive in environment.

Bird House in Nature Center.Bruce and Karen Reide


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Monk parakeets and other birds

Bruce and Karen love the fact that we havemonk parakeets in Ridgefield. In their backyard, theyhave about 25 of them. The birds are not supposed tobe here, but they add to Ridgefields environment. Theparakeets can be a bit of pest, but they have learned tolive here. Karen and Bruce agree that a hawk is theirfavorite bird, for it has great vision, and has incredible

senses for beyond what humans can see.

Ridgefields Scenery

Nature Center

The Nature Center, is a 5.4 acremixed deciduous wood wetland in the middleof a suburb neighborhood. Inside this NatureCenter is Trinity Spring, the natural sourcefor Great Bear Spring bottled water. In 1920Great Bear Company started using thespring and used it for the next 35 years. In

1975 Great Bear closed and the Borough purchasedthe land. A few years later the nature trail was openedto the public. The area was closed in the mid 1850s

then opened, then closed from1997-2006. In 2006 it wasreopened and was dedicatedas the Ridgefield NatureCenter. The Nature Center hasvaries landscapes with hills,spring-fed pool, and manyvines and trees. During certainseasonsyou can

see themany birds stopping at the Nature Center, inorder to get energy for their migration. Even onan average Saturday from 8am-noon when theNature Center is open, you can see various

animals that may even surprise you.

Animals and plants found in the Nature Center vary. The animalsthat have been seen are gray squirrel, muskrat, opossums, raccoon, skunk,red fox, and woodchuck. Some many birds are seen like the American goldfinch, gray catbird, hawks, white-breastednuthatch, downy, hairy & red-bellied woodpeckers, and various warblers. There are so many trees, but to name a few,there are American chestnut, pine, holly, Norway spruce, cherry, and sweet gum.

Wolf Creek

The creek that runs through,is Wolf Creek. Is it possible thatthere were wolves near Ridgefieldwhen they named the creek? Yes,and no. there was a wolves den inthe tri-state area years ago but notany more. Maps have alwaysidentified the creek as Wolf Creek.The Creek starts at the top of thePalisades in the Englewood area

Monk parakeets home under

Hendricks Causeway.

Monk parakeets


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and runs down and through several towns until it reaches and ends in Ridgefield.The creek is from a spring and thus makes it freshwater. The Wolf Creek leadsinto Overpeck Creek and frogs and small fish have been spotted in the creekarea.

Overpeck Creek

Overpeck Creek isnt much of a creek but more of a small riverthat follows fromRidgefield and up toEnglewood. The Creektakes up .2 square milesof Ridgefield and is 8miles of fresh water. Manyyears ago, boats, canoes,and commerce boatswere allowed in the waterand along with piers. Thewater, however, became

too polluted from boats and factories in the area. Soon boats werentallowed and underwater gates were placed under what is now theturnpike to slow currents and pollution. There have been several typesof ecological animals like cod, perch, blue crab, and various small fish.There are many types of birds like double-crested cormorants, snowyegrets, gulls, and various ducks.

Skeetkill Marsh

Skeetkill Marsh is a wetland and is managed by theMeadowlands Commission. This marsh is 16 acres with tidal channels,open water, and low marsh habitat and upland islands. The uplandislands are really what makes the marsh perfect for birds to live on. Theislands have vegetation like water, pepper, insects, yellow iris, and softbulrush. The marsh is an undeveloped sanctuary for birds, andprovides a great view for bird watchers. Animals located near SkeetkillMarsh are ovenbirds, great egrets, kingfishes, fish crow, winter wren,Canadian geese, mallards, and several warblers nesting in trees. There

are small fish,turtles, andsmall bugs in

this wetland.


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Ridgefields True Thenand Now

Over looking Skeetkill Marsh.


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Where Broad Avenue and Edgewater Avenue meet there is Chase Bank. Back then it housed a luncheonetteand other banks. The building on the right is the A.W. Meyer Hardware Store, which is in the same location. Broad Ave-nue and Grand Avenue are where the center of Ridgefield was because of the stores and the train station. The center oftown now would have to be Shaler Boulevard, because its in the middle of town and has various stores and two mainschools. The train station was the Erie Station, which soon was discontinued and became a luncheonette, until that re-cently closed. There are still trains running through Ridgefield and hopefully the light rail will open soon. Our history ofRidgefield has changed, and will always change, because its a growing community.

Broad Avenue... Now

Broad Avenue...Then

RIDGEFIELD:

THEN & NOW

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LC Ridgefield Then & Now