History at Home: Lost Traces of Old New Jersey

George Musser, Jr., as spent years poring over old wills, maps, and deeds to piece together a puzzle of what Essex County looked like hundreds of years ago. He's uncovered some fascinating things. Originally broadcast on December 3, 2020.

[@libertine40]

I'm a Montclair native. Being a child in Essex County during the mid-late '60s was awesome because there was such a myriad of footpaths, trails (walking, bike *and* horse), community gardens, parks, streams and brooks. My father and I hiked and walked some hidden gems like the wood behind Glenfield school - stream, train bridge and aqueduct - just filled with wonder and adventure for a father and daughter to explore. The woods next to Nishuane Park was also a favorite, even by myself. There's also great paths along cemeteries (I loved the one where Orange Rd curves into E Orange). My favorite reserves: S Mountain Res (I jumped for joy when Dad said we could feed the Deer) and Eagle Rock with that spectacular view of the NYC skyline (when they had working binocular stands, lol). Montclair is a beautiful place to just walk around leisurely. I lived in South End and would walk from High/Samuel Sts to Montclair Center with no problem in my pre-teens/teens ('70-'78) I remember just walking the length of Upper or S Mountain Aves just to look at the architecture and landscaping. A lot of those homes had carriage houses too. Thanks for this little trip down 'memory lane'. ----------

[@joannewall5499]

My ancestors are early settlers of New Jersey

[@staceyl3365]

We are probably related 😊 ❤

[@hellskitchenmusic]

When I was a child in Brookdale Park just south of the Parking Lot was a stone wall and I remember clearly being told is was an ancient “Indian Spring” this was approx 1966.

[@user-ei5kp4hr1d]

Yes I've explored there and filmed the megalith blocks. And clime on to the top and it gets even weirder

[@SoothingSounds-kq6yg]

Born in Orange; raised in Livingston. My family is of German descent and lived for many years in Bloomfield.

[@KZEE923]

Terrific!! I loved it! The sound gets warbly a lot but this is just brilliant and the amount of time and effort that George Musser Jr. spent researching this is just amazing!! What is so sad is that no one has ever been able to excavate the headquarters and camps before they were plowed over with modern macadam and businesses.

[@tamimateamrealtors]

Great discussion, thanks! learned a lot.

[@stewarttruncali4286]

I'm from Hackensack n.j. originally, but I now live in Barnegat n.j.

[@georgehays4900]

Good info, nice video, audio problems.

[@user-ei5kp4hr1d]

What's the history behind the underground of the train stations ,filled in, from Orange through East orange? I've explored there extensively.

[@davehughes53]

There is a few Clovis points amongst the arrowhead collection. I can’t state enough the historical value of the collection. The Clovis points could date to 10,000 years ago! The notched arrowheads could be around 1500years old. There must have been different settlements on the same area of the park in the different strata layers of the dirt. It is a shame an archeological dig did not take place , as the info gleaned would have been properly recorded and cataloged. I was born and raised in Bloomfield. Thank you for the presentation. My great grandma owned a tenement house, great grandfather worked for railroad , both in Newark. Grandparents lived and worked in Bloomfield/Newark NJ Bell. My parents lived on Essex ave Bloomfield and worked NJ Bell/ Bell Atlantic/ Verizon 440 broad st Newark.

[@staceyl3365]

Most of my ancesters from 1600-1700's are from New Jersey. I'm probably related to almost everyone in NJ lol😂😅❤. I have found ancesters buried in freehold cematary around 1700s, and pennington 1600s, Atlantic County 1700.

[@chaosoutoforder2969]

There's large foundations along the brook in Essex Fells, don't know what was there.

[@user-ei5kp4hr1d]

Yes!!! I've explored there. I found a whole underground in west orange , and Newark too

[@robsniffen7597]

Born in Montclair.✊🏻

[@chaosoutoforder2969]

I have discovered hidden ruins in east orange NJ all around the train tracks and there is clearly an underground level the the train stations, that has been filled in. They say wee built in 1890s I think . And there is a ton of old world ancient architecture and h a church every block going down main street into Orange

[@chaosoutoforder2969]

I have vids of it in this my channel ChaosOut oforder

[@mikewillett5076]

Seeing traces of old infrastructure fascinates me, I'll have to see that sometime if I'm ever near that area. I love old railroad traces and there's quite a bit still in parts of East Baltimore. Old bridges, (one partially hidden behind a building!) and some buildings and parking lots shapes are dictated by tracks that were decommissioned long ago. (Areil view on Google) I'll look up your video, thanks.

[@user-ei5kp4hr1d]

There are amazing old world buildings, and the train stations everywhere in East orange. It's my favorite town

[@thraciangrapes]

Tom Cruise lived in Glen Ridge and graduated from the high school there.

[@lesjones5684]

How about south Jersey 😂😂😂