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Areas32 viewsAug 16, 2024
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1800 Large Detailed Map1334 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1800 Detailed Map1468 viewsThese maps were created by Charles McGrath, this is his explanation of how he created them:
The attached are two maps of the area of Newark called Vailsburg. The detailed map is what it looked like in the 1700's and early 1800's. The other map is for cross reference and shows what the former roads as they presently exist.
The area portrayed on both maps is approximately from South Orange east to the Garden State Parkway and from South Orange Avenue south to Springfield Avenue (this area is approximately two square miles).
Long forgotten roads like "Old Road" and forgotten areas like Flaggy Swamp, Brushy Plain, Dogs Misery and North Farms (part of Camp Farms) can be seen on the detailed map.
I began doing research on the history of Vailsburg in the early 1960's. At that time there were no complete maps of Vailsburg from the 1700's and early 1800's I tried to fill this void by generating a map of Vailsburg from that period. The description of land on a deed would contain coordinates, landmarks and the names of adjacent neighbors.
Through extensive research of land deeds at the Essex County Hall of Records I became very familiar with its residents. This was essential because there were no street names or house numbers.
The map was created like someone trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle. The main difference being that the puzzle pieces also had to be made. I would make a jigsaw piece from a known deed to a common scale of 1" = 300'. This piece would be compared with countless others to find it's location on the map. As a result, after many years of research, I developed a map of Vailsburg which reflects the area from the 1700's to the early 1800's.
Each parcel of land on this map has the following information:
The name on the property is that of the grantor (owner) who sold the land to the grantee (buyer).
The year on the property is when the grantor sold it.
Directly below the year is the letter (or prefix) which indicates the Grantor book and the number represents the page in that book.
The above mentioned information was obtained from the Grantor Books at the Essex County Hall of Records. For an example look at the upper left hand portion of the Vailsburg map. The property with road frontage on the west side of the Road to Connecticut Farms (Stuyvesant Avenue) was sold by Doctor Bonnel to Jabez Baldwin in 1811 A.D. In Grantor's Book T, located on page 367. The following is a description of that parcel of land on this map as copied from the above deed:
On the northwest side of the road that leads from Captain Eleazer Hedden's to Connecticut Farms. Beginning at the southeast corner of Jonathan Lindsley's orchard at a white oak stump.
(1) N68 Degrees W 17 chains and 4 links to Nathaniel Tichenor's.
(2) S14 Degrees W 3 chains to a stake.
(3) S65 Degrees E 17 chains and 78 links to the end of a stone fence.
(4) S11 Degrees W 6 chains and 57 links to Denises Gutter.
(5) S44 Degrees E 3 chains and 90 links to a stake at the corner of
Moses Roberts.
(6) N23 Degrees E 5 chains.
(7) S68 Degrees E 6 chains and 86 links.
(8) N27 Degrees E 7 chains and 27 links.
(9) S78 Degrees E 1 chain.
(10) N26 Degrees E 1 chain and 19 links.
(11) N83 Degrees W 70 links.
(12) N21 Degrees W 2 chains.
(13) N5 Degrees E 1 chain and 54 links .
(14) N63 Degrees W 2 chains and 54 links.
(15) N78 Degrees W 2 chains and 79 links.
(16) N62 Degrees W 2 chains and 52 links.
(17) N82 Degrees W 2 chains and 78 links.
(18) S25 Degrees W 2 chains and 33 links to the beginning.
(total area = 19 acres)
Note One chain equals 100 links or 66 feet
Jun 26, 2020
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Vailsburg circa 18002610 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1800 Deed1051 viewsAaron Baldwin
to
Jabez B. Baldwin
Lying in West Farms lying west of Dennis Patent
__________
Coordinates
_________
37 acres
__________
Fourteenth day of April in the twentieth year of American Independence
and in
the year of our lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and ninety six.
signed
Aaron BaldwinJun 26, 2020
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18812101 viewsMap Legend
(1) Lydia Lindsley's House
Lydia Lindsley's house was built around 1760 A.D. It was a local tradition that George Washington used it as his head quarter's during the Battle of Springfield in 1780 A.D. This house was located on Stuyvesant Avenue near Silver Street. It faced east and was 300' from the Elizabeth River (Brookdale Avenue). Around 1900 A.D. a Mr. Weeder owned this house. He was the old lamp lighter who traveled by horse and wagon throughout the streets of Vailsburg tending the the gaslights. It was torn down in 1965 A.D. and was replaced by a small apartment complex.
In the late 1940's as a young newspaper boy for the Newark Star Ledger I visited this house many times. It was a one story building and the main entrance was around 6 feet above Stuyvesant Avenue. The living room floor was made of 6" wide wooden planks. The kitchen had a large brick oven (used for baking) in it's fireplace.
When it was torn down 37 years ago I tried to salvage portions of it. I retrieved two large beams and a portion of the brick oven. I have a portions of the pegged beams (tendon and mortise) with roman numerals carved on them. The roman numerals were evidently used to identify each beam. I never seen this done before because the beams were made on site. There would be no need to identify them during construction. It's my contention that this house may have been moved to its present location in the early 1700's.
(2) The first school in Vailsburg
The first school in Vailsburg was a one room school house built in 1850 A.D. when this area was still part of South Orange Township. It was called Columbia School. It was located on South Orange Avenue near Boylan Street Pool. The building was used in later years as Charlie's Bike Shop. The building next store to it was ABCO Auto Parts Store.
Another school was built on Alexander Street in 1895 A.D. This building was much larger and could accommodate more students ; however, it soon proved to be to small for a growing population. It was replaced by the present day Alexander Street School. The older building was moved to 128 Brookdale Avenue where it now serves as a two family house.
(3) The First Horse Car Line To Vailsburg
Shortly after the Civil War, Dr. Vail and several of his friends raised $50,000.00 and constructed a a horse car line (a trolley car pulled by a horse) on South Orange Avenue. The Car ran from Boston Street (three blocks up from High Street) to Munn Avenue. Dr. Vail was superintendent of construction and conductor on its maiden trip from Newark. The fair at that time was six cents.
While the Orange Horse Car Railroad was a progressive adventure it turned out to be a financial failure because it was ahead of it's time. James Boylan ( source of the name for Boylan Street ) took over the line and also failed.
It wasn't until John Radel bought it in 1877 A.D. that it proved to be a great success. By then the crowds from the lower portions of Newark had discovered Scheutzen Park (Vailsburg Park) and used the line to visit it frequently. This line was also primarily responsible for the rapid growth and development of Vailsburg. It provided a means of transportation for those who wanted to work in Newark and live in the suburbs. The original horse car stables were still standing in the late 60's. They were opposite Brookwood Street in the rear of a gas station.
(4) Scheutzen Park
Scheutzen Park or Shooting Park was a favorite picnic and outing spot for the people of other portions of Newark. Scheutzen Park which later became Electric Park was one of New Jersey's first and most important amusement parks. Electric Park was located on the present site of Vailsburg Park
(5) Washington Stayed Here
There is a tradition that Washington and some of his men stayed here during the Revolution. In 1797 A.D. (Battle of Springfield). Aaron Baldwin owned this property and willed it to his son Joel. The map at that time, dated September 7,1797 A.D., showed the old house on South Orange Avenue, which at that time made a north -east turn near what is now Munn avenue. The road was much higher than it is now. South Orange Avenue is referred to as "The Road "and Munn Avenue as " the road running from the main road to North Orange ."
In my research I came across this house many times. This area was also called "Dogs Misery ". The house was probably built prior to 1717 A.D. Aaron Baldwin owned slaves ( slaves in Vailsburg). Unfortunately this house was demolished in circa 1960 and replaced by Kravet's Pharmacy.
(6) Dr. Malcolm Vail
Vailsburg was named after Dr. Malcolm Vail. I believe he was a medical doctor. He was the first mayor of the Borough of Vailsburg and he lived on Vail Street near Kenmore Avenue. The area we know as Vailsburg was once part of Clinton Township and later it became part of South Orange Township. From 1895 -1905 A.D. this area became the Borough of Vailsburg. In 1905 A.D. it became part of Newark.
Joshua O. Baldwin's homestead
In 1881 Mr. Albert Smith who later became the Mayor of Vailsburg owned the property on the southeast corner of South Orange and Sandford Avenues. This was the homestead of Joshua O. Baldwin's. This house was built in the latter portion of the 1700's . Around 1900 A.D. It was known as the Raub Homestead. It's wide front porch and broad lawn containing a brook (branch of the Elizabeth River) faced South Orange Avenue. This home was the scene of many annual Fourth of July celebrations. These took place while Vailsburg was a independent borough (1895-1905 A.D. ). It was later remodeled although most of the old time charm remained. I'm sure many of us remember it as Burn's Funeral Home. Today it's a private residence?
Jun 26, 2020
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1800 Cross Reference1068 viewsJun 26, 2020
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19041696 viewsAlong So. Orange Ave. from Isabella to Clinton Street, showing Alexander Street School, German Zion Church & West End Hose Co. #2Jun 26, 2020
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Newark 1666 - 17132155 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1700 Lyons Farm and Woodruff Farm (updated 8/1/06)2586 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1670 Newark, lot's of the first settlers. (partial map)1651 viewsJun 26, 2020
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18361620 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1700 Lyons Farm and Woodruff Farm Narrative1613 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Newark Mountain 16962115 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1872 Essex County1204 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Newark Township ~17101039 viewsJun 26, 2020
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East Jersey (including Newark, Elizabeth, Woodbridge & Piscataway Townships)1135 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1747 Newark and Vicinity1169 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1850 Newark, west to first mountain1190 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1891 Essex County topographical map1283 viewsJun 26, 2020
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1614 Area map of North Eastern New Jersey950 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Tillinghast Street617 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Rose Street600 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Rose Terrace605 viewsJun 26, 2020
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South Tenth Street634 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Lyons Avenue633 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Nye Avenue907 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Edmunds Place608 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Clinton Avenue986 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Edwin Place837 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Clinton Avenue627 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Clinton Avenue916 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Bragaw Avenue534 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Bragaw Avenue551 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Waverly Avenue868 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Bloomfield Avenue764 viewsJun 26, 2020
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West Side Park626 viewsJun 26, 2020
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West Side Park551 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Springfield Avenue792 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Ashland Street541 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Woodland Avenue549 viewsJun 26, 2020
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German Street580 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Lister Street699 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Manufacturers Place821 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Horatio Street714 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Emma Street583 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Lister Street598 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Cornelia Street759 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Chapel Street978 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Brown Street591 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Chapel Street915 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Blanchard Street619 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Berlin Street628 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Plank Road711 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Barbara Street708 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Albert Avenue578 viewsJun 26, 2020
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New Street652 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Jefferson Street534 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Harper Street554 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Garden Street563 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Emmet Street486 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Emmet Street823 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Dawson Street570 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Backus Street470 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Clover Street479 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Avenue D508 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Wheeler Point Road503 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Wheeler Point Road528 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Wheeler Point Road504 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Vesey Street596 viewsJun 26, 2020
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VanBuren Street610 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Parkhurst Street500 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Lum Street510 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Jefferson Street608 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Murray Street508 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Renner Avenue595 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Stanton Street524 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Pennsylvania Avenue616 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Osborne Terrace524 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Peddie Street607 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Noble Street582 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Meadow Road526 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Marie Place543 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Meadow Road595 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Livingston Street667 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Lyons Avenue540 viewsJun 26, 2020
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King Street604 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Keer Avenue572 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Frelinghuysen Avenue614 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Earl Street509 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Conklin Avenue594 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Chancellor Avenue619 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Belmont Avenue591 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Chancellor Avenue578 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Wilbur Avenue492 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Wright Street523 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Vassar Avenue558 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Treadwell Street702 viewsJun 26, 2020
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VanWagenen Street633 viewsJun 26, 2020
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Warren Street877 viewsJun 26, 2020
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