Doesn’t the name Montclair conjure images of clear mountains and bright vistas? It should because that’s precisely where Montclair, New Jersey gets its name. Montclair is a township in Essex County. It sits on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains.
Montclair’s story begins long before its official formation. The Lenape Native Americans roamed these lands. They hunted, trapped and crossed the mountains. They gathered shellfish at the shore. Place names like Watchung and Yantacaw echo their heritage.
The English from Connecticut founded Newark in 1666. Newark’s lands stretched west to First Mountain. In 1694, Azariah Crane built a home. It was near Orange Road and Myrtle Avenue. The frontier settlement of Cranetown emerged.
The Dutch acquired land west of the Passaic River in 1679. John Speer built a home in the early 1700s. It stands today on Upper Mountain Avenue. Other Dutch settlers established farms. This community became Speertown. Valley Road later linked the two settlements.
First Mountain offered observation points during the Revolutionary War. George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette were briefly in Cranetown in 1780. A boulder marks Washington’s Headquarters at Claremont Avenue and Valley Road.
Around 1800, Cranetown transformed into a commercial center. Israel Crane opened a general store. In 1806, he led businessmen in chartering the Newark Pompton Turnpike. This turnpike became Bloomfield Avenue. It boosted commerce. Crane also opened a wool mill on Toney’s Brook.
The Morris Canal’s completion in 1831 aided economic development. In 1812, the Bloomfield ward of Newark became a separate township. It included Montclair. Cranetown became West Bloomfield.
Railroads proved decisive for Montclair’s growth. In 1856, the Newark and Bloomfield Railroad Company began service to West Bloomfield. People traveled from Lackawanna Plaza to New York in 80 minutes. The country setting and views attracted city dwellers. By 1860, West Bloomfield was a commuter town. Influential residents convinced the post office to adopt the name Montclair.
Montclair formed as a township on April 15, 1868. This happened because Bloomfield refused to authorize a bond issue for another railroad. By 1873, the Greenwood Lake line was complete. It had five stations in Montclair. As many as six thousand people commuted daily via two railroad lines.
New York businessmen built homes along the mountainside. These residents sought to create a model country town with city access. An artist colony formed in the 1870s and shared this vision. George Inness was a central figure. Community leaders endowed the town with schools, a library, an art museum and churches.
By 1900, Montclair had a richly diverse population. New Englanders were joined by African Americans, Irish, Germans, Italians and Scandinavians. Mansions and modest homes went up. Montclair’s population leaped from 5,147 to 41,000 between 1880 and 1930.
After World War II, Montclair faced challenges. It preserved its character as a residential community. It also sustained its aging commercial centers. Montclair remains a family-centered town with a strong educational heritage.
Today, Montclair thrives with its innovative schools and Montclair State University. Artists and writers find a haven here. Montclair’s old houses enhance its charm. Montclair remains alive to the spirit of the times. Montclair’s blend of history, culture and natural beauty makes it a unique place to explore. It stands as a testament to clear mountain views and bright futures.