West Orange

In 1678, a Dutch settler named Anthony Olive established a farm at the base of the mountains in what is now Llewellyn Park, West Orange. This marked the first European settlement in this area. West Orange, originally part of Newark township, has a rich history intertwined with Native American heritage and the ingenuity of Thomas Edison. The Hackensack tribe, the original inhabitants, considered the Turtle Back Rocks sacred. These rocks, shaped like turtle backs, are located in the wooded South Mountain Reservation and give their name to the nearby Turtle Back Zoo. West Orange’s strategic location atop the Watchung Mountains provided a vantage point for both the Leni Lenape warriors and later, George Washington’s troops during the American Revolution. The area known as “Tory Corner” on Main Street was once Williamstown, a Loyalist meeting place during the revolution. Mary Williams, whose farmhouse stood there, aided Washington’s troops while her husband and sons fought for the British. A plaque commemorates her bravery. West Orange officially separated from Newark in 1806, becoming part of Orange Township. It went on to become a town in 1860 and a city in 1872. However, disputes over municipal services led to the formation of smaller communities, and in 1863, West Orange, including the short-lived Fairmount Township, became a township. It briefly became a town in 1900 but reverted to township status in 1980 for financial reasons. The township’s name honors either William III of England or William IV, Prince of Orange. In the 19th century, West Orange became a popular resort destination. Visitors flocked to Rock Spring, located at the base of the Turtle Back Rocks, for its purported healing waters. The area boasted boating, fishing, and even an amusement park at Crystal Lake. The first uphill automobile test, the Eagle Rock Hill Climb, occurred in West Orange in 1901. Llewellyn Park, designed in 1857, stands as America’s first planned community and exemplifies the Romantic Landscape movement. Of course, no story of West Orange is complete without mentioning Thomas Edison. His laboratory, now a National Park, housed the invention of the lightbulb, stock ticker, and recorded sound. The Black Maria, America’s first movie studio, stood on these grounds, marking West Orange as the “birthplace of Hollywood.” West Orange was also once a hat-making center, with 34 factories in the Valley region. This area is currently under redevelopment as “Hat City” or “The Valley Arts District.” The Orange Quarry Company, which mined basalt, operated in West Orange until 2007. Post-World War II, West Orange experienced a housing boom. “White flight” in the 1960s and the construction of I-280 in 1970 transformed it into a commuter suburb, attracting a diverse population. While some industries declined, leaving urban blight in the Valley, West Orange remains a vibrant blend of history, innovation, and community.