South Orange Village
H I S T O R Y
South Orange is a quaint residential community boasting authentic Tudor, Colonial, and Victorian homes, streets dotted with gaslights, beautiful parks, and a bustling Village center. The history of our town dates back to May 21, 1666, when Connecticut settlers landed on the shores of the Passaic River. Guided by Captain Robert Treat and Lieutenant Samuel Swaine, the group purchased land, now known as Newark, from the Lenni Lenape Indians on July 11, 1666. Those families wishing to farm moved westward into South Orange and surrounding areas. In 1678, the Lenapes sold the settlers a second parcel of land running from the East Branch of the Rahway River to the mountain top.
South Orange Avenue, an Indian trail, served as the main thoroughfare. But in 1705, road statutes required landowners to maintain the first primitive highways. These included Main Street and Valley and Ridgewood roads. Washington and his troops often traversed the latter during the American Revolution.
The mode of transportation graduated from horseback, to ox-cart, to stage coach. Then in 1836, the Morris and Essex Railroad developed a single track between the Village and Orange and operated a horse-drawn cart. A year later the line was extended and two cars were pulled by a wood-burning steam locomotive. The advent of the railroad established South Orange as a suburb of Newark and a summer resort. Just after the railroad was continued through to Hoboken in 1868, the Village began its rapid transformation from a rude settlement of farms and mills to a polished residential railroad suburb of New York and Newark.
Swamps were drained, roads were constructed and gas lines were laid in the 1890s. Sewers and running water were later added. Street lamps in the town's center burned sperm oil until 1860 when gas service became available. Electric power was brought into the Village about 1888, although most of the streets are still lit by gas lamps. The first telephone exchange was opened in Orange on December 6, 1879. In 1899, a Village central office was established.
The transition of South Orange from vast farm lands to a prestigious residential community is due in large part to the vision of one man, New York attorney John Gorham Vose. Taken with the rich mountain scenery, he purchased a home on Scotland Road in 1858. In 1862, he began to buy large plots of land to begin his conversion. As building got underway, Villagers took great interest in the development of each magnificent home. In just a few years, 175 acres between Scotland Road and Center Street were complete. Vose christened the area Montrose. Other successful businessmen, Turrell, Kingman, Connett, Mead, Speir, and Mayhew, also bought farms, carved out streets, and helped change the face of the community.
The Village Hall, built in 1894, housed the fire department until 1930 when it was moved to Sloan and First Streets. The police department then moved from its 1872 building just west of the railroad into the newly vacated space in Village Hall. In March, 1972, a separate police station and Municipal Court building on South Orange Avenue was completed.
The first U.S. Post Office was opened in 1841 in Freeman's Store at 71 South Orange Avenue but the Postmaster reported "receipts so dreadfully small" that business was suspended. In 1843, another office was opened to serve the thirty families nearby. In all, six different sites were used until 1937 when our present first class Post Office was opened on Vose Avenue in a new building of its own. Free mail delivery started in 1899.
Built about 1680, the Stone House is the oldest in the Village and is still standing on South Orange Avenue near Grove Road. The colonial house at 167 North Ridgewood Road was built by Henry Squier in 1774 and acquired by William Redmond when he bought the Squier farm in 1850. Later the house was leased to a dairyman named Flood who pastured his cows in what is now Meadowland Park. Flood's Hill in the park, used for winter coasting, was named for this family. William Redmond built the brownstone mansion for his home which is used today by the Orange Lawn Tennis Club. Another landmark, said to have been built around 1830 and standing until after 1881 when it was destroyed by fire, was The Mountain House, a fashionable water-cure supervised by two physicians, where spring water piped down the mountain to it, was thought beneficial. A large wooden structure with two wings, set in spacious grounds on Ridgewood Road, at the foot of the present Glenside Road, the hotel accommodated 150 guests. Mr. Lord of Lord & Taylor owned it in 1850 and leased it to G. Baird. The Eclipse Stage Line operated in 1830 between the hotel and Newark. Today the sole reminders of the resort are Mountain Station and Mountain House Road, both established to accommodate hordes of visitors who once flocked here.
South Orange was part of Newark until 1806, when what is now the Oranges and Maplewood were set off as "Orange Township." The name Orange came into use in the second half of the 18th century, and was officially adopted by a meeting of the inhabitants in 1780. The name South Orange first appeared in print in a newspaper ad in 1793 in "Wood's Gazette." It replaced such old names as Chestnut Hill and the Mountain Plantation.
Village government has changed dramatically from theocracy to democracy since the 1600's. In 1776, there were only a cluster of houses, a grist mill, a black-smith shop, a store or two and a tavern but South Orange inhabitants were united in defense of home and country. In 1872, civic indifference reached a peak when only 235 votes were cast in a presidential election. Population has steadily increased: 7,200 in 1920, 13,000 in 1928 and over 16,300 in 1995. The creation of the South Orange Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1861, led to the granting of the Village Charter in 1869, but not until 1872 was it given authorization to levy taxes and borrow money. In 1904, complete separation of Village and Township was effected by action of the State Legislature, after South Orange had agreed to remain in the school district. A copy of the 1869 Charter and its amendments, variances and supplements was printed in 1906. In November, 1977, South Orange voters passed a new Charter for South Orange and changed its name to The Township of South Orange Village.
Fast Facts about South Orange
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Population (source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000) | |
| Total | 16,964 |
| Total Households | 5,522 |
| Male | 8,124 |
| Female | 8,822 |
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Public Works | |
| Streets | 181 Village Streets |
| 46 miles | |
| Shade Trees | Over 8,000 |
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Parks | |||
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Park |
Size: |
Location |
Facilities |
| Meadowland Park | 12 Acres | Mead Street (North Side) |
4 Softball/Little League Diamonds;8 Lighted Tennis Courts; Soccer & Field Sports; Jogging |
| Cameron Field | 8.44 Acres | Mead Street (South Side) |
Regulation Baseball Diamond; Playground Equip; 7 Lighted Tennis Courts; Field Sports; Jogging & Walking |
| Floods Hill | 14 Acres | Meadowbrook Lane | Winter Sledding; Soccer & Other Field Sports; Kite Flying; Jogging; Walking: Passive Recreation |
| Duck Pond | 8.56 Acres | Mead Street (South Side) |
Winter Ice Skating; Bocce; Horseshoes; Passive Recreation |
| Grove Park | 8.09 Acres | SO. Orange Ave. at Grove Rd | Playground; Jogging; Passive Recreation |
| Waterlands Park | 16.5 Acres | Third Street | Lighted Facilities Including 3 Softball Diamonds; Soccer & Football Fields; Jogging; Playgrounds |
| Farrell Field | 2.2 Acres | Walton Ave | 2 Tennis Courts; Playground; Half Court Basketball; Baseball Diamond |
| Memorial Park | 2.3 Acres | Valley Street | Playground; Passive Recreation |
| Third St. Playground | 4.71 Acres | Third Street | Playground; Half Court Basketball |
| Carter Playground | .39 Acres | College Pl. | Playground |
Education
Brief History
The first school, which was probably stone and consisted of one room, was located on the common where our present flagpole triangle stands. It was an obstruction in 1811 when a new toll road, including South Orange Avenue, was planned from Morristown to Newark. Therefore, a new two-storied wooden school was built on Academy Street in 1815, its trustees naming it "The Columbian School." Here tuition was fixed at $1.75 per quarter for spelling, reading, and writing, but $.25 was later added for arithmetic. Pupils shared the cost of firewood for the stove. One teacher received $75 for six months in 1827, his female assistant $48.
In 1867, county superintendents replaced township control and grading of classes was started. By Village election, tuition became free in 1870. In 1880, the old wooden school building was replaced by a two-storied brick building. In 1885, a kindergarten class was established. When a three-year high school course was established, the new school was called "Columbia High School." Between 1887-93, school supplies and text books were free. The township plan of administration to bring all schools under one control was adopted by the state in 1894. In 1891, the high school course was changed to four years which remained until 1927 when it reverted to three years because of the senior and junior high schools. The old Columbia High building became that of the South Orange Junior High School. End wings had been added to this old building in 1898 and 1900.
Marshall School was built in 1922; First Street School in 1923; Montrose in 1924; South Mountain in 1929 and Newstead in 1955. First Street School closed in the Fall of 1974. Columbia High School opened its new building in 1927 to serve both South Orange and Maplewood pupils. A west wing was added to this building in 1958, and further additions were completed in 1971. The new Junior High School on Ridgewood Road was completed in 1956; the old one on Academy was razed. The Clinton School was built in 1929.
General
Since its inception, the School District of South Orange and Maplewood has always been recognized for excellence in education because the residents of these two communities have made the education of their children a priority. From the days of the Revolutionary War, when the school district consisted of a one room stone school house, to the present, when we find that our student population of almost 5,000 requires nine schools, the district's success in educating its children has been evidenced by the many outstanding citizens and leaders it has produced. From business to politics to sports and the arts, district graduates are acknowledged leaders in their fields.
South Orange and Maplewood students continue to receive local, state and national recognition for their accomplishments in academics, the arts and sports. The many scholars artists, athletes and humanitarians that are found within our schools and community are a tribute to the tradition of exceptional staff members, a caring Board of Education and involved community members that pride themselves on maintaining an exceptional school district.
The communities of South Orange and Maplewood are united in one school district. The Board of Education is legally responsible for policy and supervision in all matters concerned with elementary and secondary education. The Board has no standing committees but rather delegates Board members, community representatives, and staff members to serve on committees as the need arises.
The Board of Education is composed of nine members elected for three year terms. These citizens serve without pay, assisted by the services of the secretary of the Board of Education. The superintendent sits with the Board in an executive capacity.
The Board meets on the first & third Mondays of the month and the public is invited to attend the public meetings, which are held at the Board of Education Offices, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood. Meetings begin at 8:00 p.m. and are announced in the local newspaper.
The superintendent of schools is appointed by the Board of Education. He is the operating head of the school system, as well as the official who puts into practical application the policies of the Board of Education.
Schools
The district consists of nine schools - six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school, for a total of almost 5,000 students. The elementary schools are currently adding additions which include classrooms, cafeterias and technology rooms.
** Columbia High School, 17 Parker Ave.
** Maplewood Middle School, 7 Burnet St.
* South Orange Middle School, 70 N. Ridgewood Rd.
** Clinton School, 27 Berkshire Rd.
** Jefferson School, 518 Ridgewood Rd.
* Marshall School, 262 Grove Rd.
* South Mountain Annex, 112 Glenview Rd.
** Seth Boyden School, 274 Boyden Ave.
* South Mountain School, 444 West So. Orange Ave.
** Tuscan School, 25 Harvard Ave.
* located in South Orange
** located in Maplewood
South Orange Village Revaluation
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Property Inspections to BeginBy order of the Essex County Board of Taxation, the Township of South Orange Village must revalue all taxable real estate for the 2008 tax year. The revaluation of all property, to insure uniform and equitable assessments, is required by state law. In complying with this order, the Township has entered into a contract with Appraisal Systems, Inc. The first step of the revaluation process is the inspection of all properties in the Township. Learn more about the process by reading answers to these frequently asked questions found below. |
South Orange Village Revaluation
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why is the Village revaluating South Orange properties?
The Essex County Board of Taxation and the State of New Jersey mandates that municipalities periodically revaluate local properties. The purpose is to make sure that all properties are assessed at 100% of their true market value. In South Orange , the majority of the properties are assessed at approximately 38% of their true market value. In addition, a revaluation ensures that the local tax burden is fairly and equally distributed among all property owners. The last revaluation in South Orange was in 1991.
How are values determined? Generally, values are determined by analyzing the sales of properties and current listings in a particular neighborhood. Also, land sales figures are collected, verified, and analyzed by zone.
How long is the revaluation period in South Orange? Revaluations will take place from February to October 2007. The seven-step process is as follows:
Who will be appraising the properties? Field inspectors from Appraisal Systems, Inc. (ASINJ.com) are conducting the inspections, which will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for approximately 15 minutes or less. All field inspectors have had background checks and will be required to wear a photo I.D. badge.
How will I know when my property is to be inspected? Letters will be sent to residents prior to the door-to-door inspections. If the inspector is unable to gain entry into the property, he/she will leave a card indicating a return time/date. If the new scheduled date is inconvenient, the homeowner must call the telephone number listed to reschedule. Appointments may not be made in advance.
What happens if the field inspectors are denied entry? The property will be appraised on the spot at the highest reasonable value and left on a blue card for the owner to review. If the owner disagrees with the assessment, he/she will still have the opportunity to call and reschedule an inspection so that the property can be more accurately assessed.
Why inspect each property? The interior and exterior of a property can significantly affect its value. When examining the interior of a structure, inspectors are looking for specific things that could affect the property’s value, such as interior wall construction, number of bathrooms, type of heat, air conditioning other than wall units, percentage of the basement area finished for recreation or apartment use, and, when appropriate, the percentage of finished half story and attic area. The exterior inspection covers the size, story height, roof structure, type of foundation, and outside walls of each structure on the property, including garages and any other additional buildings. The physical condition is noted to establish depreciation factors for age, use, etc. In addition, topographical features, such as views or proximity to a commercial area, are also taken into consideration.
How will home improvements in progress be handled? A field inspector will conduct a partial assessment initially and then return for a final assessment after the home improvements are completed.
Will it make a difference if home improvements are made after the revaluation period? No. Any new permits will be submitted to the appraisers for a future determination of assessment.
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Where Are The Inspectors?Door-to-door inspections will happen between NEIGHBORHOOD The Village is in the last stages of the residential property inspections. Currently, inspections are being completed in the Quarry as well as properties on the following streets: Mountain Drive, Crestwood Drive, Great Hills Drive, Hill Drive, North Woods Drive and parts of Glenview Road and Longview Road. This will then complete all residential property inspections. All condominiums and commercial properties have also been inspected. The next phase of the revaluation will begin the sales analysis as well as creating neighborhoods within the Village. Any questions please contact the assessor at 973-378-7715 x7729 |
Key Contact NamesA committee of volunteers are on hand to Tom Mehari Dan Rosen Karen Hughes Steve Schnall Don MacLeod William Blake Arthur Nisbeth Robert Klein Demaree Barnes David Schechner |
South Orange Village Redevelopment Projects
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Revitalizing the Central Business District
Concerned about the condition of its Central Business District, South Orange hired the Atlantic Group consultants in 1994 to determine how to best revitalize the CDB to better serve the public. Their assessment recommended streetscape improvements, more efficient land use for retail and residential use and amenities, such as a cinema and commuter parking. The Village deemed the area "in need of redevelopment" under New Jersey law to speed up the development process. The study recommended starting redevelopment with a group of empty stores on Sloan Street next to the NJT train station. An agreement was negotiated between New Jersey Transit, the developer, Locomotive, Inc. and the Village to renovate the seven empty retail stores with 12,000 sq. ft of retail and restaurant space. Sloan Street was completely renovated with new pavers, landscaping, lighting and pedestrian amenities. The storefronts have been fully occupied since the renovations. During this period, the Village committed to make major streetscape improvements to South Orange Avenue, starting with the section west of the train trestle. South Orange Avenue was narrowed from four to three traffic lanes, sidewalks were widened and "bumpouts" installed at key intersections to make the street more pedestrian friendly. Electrified gaslights replaced the old cobra head lamps, brick paver sidewalks were installed with extensive landscaping and sitting areas. After completion of the Western section of South Orange Avenue, streetscape improvements were extended eastward to Prospect Street. The Atlantic Group recommended development of new apartments in the CDB next to the railroad station to bring people to live and shop downtown. They identified a car dealership on Third Street as a prime candidate for initial residential development. In 1998, the Village received a proposal from the property owner/developer L_COR and named them developer to build 200 luxury one and two bedroom rental apartments and approximately 350 parking spaces in two four_story buildings with interior courtyards. Amenities include an outdoor pool, clubhouse and exercise rooms, a business center and concierge services. It is fully occupied. An additional 40 units of one, two and three bedroom luxury apartments were built by a private developer on two Church Street sites. Church Street Commons, located on the west side of Church Street, contains 16 units with 22 parking spaces. The second site, on the east side of Church Street, features 24 units and 35 parking spaces. This is a perfect example of how the Village's investment in the downtown has convinced property owners and developers to commit purely private money to our business district. Other major projects proposed for the CBD include the South Orange Performing Arts Center, the former ShopRite supermarket and the Beifus Mercedes dealer site. |
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South Orange Resources
