To all your history buffs, please visit Bergen County, NJ for interesting experience of visiting our historical sites and restaurants. Check out our Team Project from Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. “From Revolution to Renewal-A Historical Tour of Bergen County”.
Professor Justin Watrel, CEO & Co-Founder Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.
I had the most interesting semester for Spring Term at the college where I work. Everything started off fine. We had classes in the the afternoon, good discussions on Marketing and had a very successful Team Project marketing the Lyndhurst Snack Shop, the new Bulldog Cafe, for business (See Day One Hundred and Fifty-Nine in MywalkinManhattan.com):
I had just handed out the next Team Project, “From Revolution to Renewal: Exploring the Historic Bergen County”, a major tourism project I wanted to the students to work on for the remainder of the semester the week before the break. I had the students to break up into groups and get to know one another and get their game plans…
The Aviation Hall of Fame Museum at 400 Fred Wehran Drive
The Wright Brothers display
The Welcome display when you walk into the museum.
The Aviation Hall of Fame Museum of NJ is a very unique museum if you are interesting in everything aviation from the history of flight starting with the Wright Brothers, the World War drama and battles and the influence of the NASA and members from New Jersey who have made a difference in the department.
NASA Display featuring Montclair, NJ resident Buzz Aldrich
There is a lot of interactive displays during “Open Cockpit Days” at the museum and equipment that you can walk into and explore from planes and rescue trucks. There is even a First Class section of a TWA flight. I was impressed that the airline even had a standard of dress for the flight.
The front of the TWA Flight plane
The TWA Display of items from the ‘Golden Era’ of flying
The History of the Museum:
(from the museum website)
Founded in 1972, the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey is dedicated to the preservation of the Garden State’s distinguished, two century aviation and space heritage. The men and women whose outstanding aeronautical achievements have brought world-wide recognition to the state are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
The Aviation Hall of Fame in the main part of the first floor
The inductees in the Hall of Fame
The Kelly Brothers from West Orange, NJ
Some of the most famous inductees
The recently expanded museum offers visitors an opportunity to view historic air and space equipment and artifacts, photographs, fine art and an extensive model collection. The library has more than 4000 volumes and hundreds of aviation video tapes. The New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum offers education programs for individuals or groups. Participants learn history and science.
The “Flying Aces” display
Our Aeronautical History Hunt is available to groups that visit the museum. By seeking the answers to historical New Jersey aviation questions, students develop problem solving, logic and communication skills. Our ‘Dare to Fly’ program, developed for children ages 7 to 15 focuses on ballooning and powered flight. Participants design, build and fly their gliders. Organize a small group and call for dates.
(Information from New Jersey’s Aviation Museums)
Museum Guide: A companion virtual tour for your electronic device is available free at http://www.njahof.org/
Welcome to the First State Aviation Hall of Fame in the Nation!
Founded in 1972, the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey (AHOF-NJ) is dedicated to the preservation of the Garden State’s distinguished aviation and space heritage. The men and women whose outstanding aeronautical achievements have brought world-wide acclaim to the state are enshrined in the AHOFNJ.
The set-up of the Museum:
Raymond R. Wells Theater
The first stop on your self-guided tour is in our 60 seat theater where you will experience the saga of NJ aerospace history in our information and concise nine-minute film “Flight”.
The Naval Display in the Flight Theater
Buzz Aldrin Exhibit:
Jersey boy makes good on the first mission to the moon. The story of his life and his time with the space program
The NASA Display with Buzz Aldrin
The full display
NASA Display
Hall of Fame:
Enter the heart of our museum and meet the men and women who embody NJ’s rich heritage of flight.
The NJ Aviation Hall of Fame
Dehmel Room:
See the world’s first electronic flight simulator built by legendary Curtiss-Wright, at one time the Garden State’s biggest aerospace company. The room also contains information about barnstormers, Tuskegee Airmen, flying aces, Flying Tigers, Enola Gay, etc.
NASA Hall of Fame
New Jersey Women in Aviation display
The Curtis Wright equipment
The Great Room:
History comes alive with air and space equipment, artifacts, photographs, fine art, multimedia displays, hands-on exhibits and interactive simulators.
Exhibits are:
*The worlds first hover craft
*Women in Aviation
The Amelia Earhart display
The New Jersey Women in Aviation display
*Aircraft and rocket engines built in NJ
*International Space Station Exhibit
*Dassault Fundamentals of Flight Exhibit
*Scorpion helicopter
*Actual fragments from the ill-fated German Zeppelin, The Hindenburg
The Hindenburg disaster
The artifacts from the Hindenburg disaster
*Hot-air balloon basket
*Working jet engine
*”Touchable parachute
*Curtis-Wright display
*Rutan “Quickie” home-built experimental aircraft
*Overhead Gallery
Outdoor Displays:
The outdoor plane display
Our outdoor displays incorporate a Martin 202A airliner from the 1950’s. Bell Cobra attack helicopter that flew actual combat missions during the Vietnam War. Bell 47-one of the first practical helicopters. Coast Guard Sikorsky helicopter. Lockheed LASA-60 bush plane. Grumman OV-1A Mohawk. Walters Airport Rescue & Firefighting Vehicle. Convair 880 Jetliner Cockpit (during open cockpit weekends.)
The helicopter display
The Jeeps and planes
The TWA display
Second Floor: From the balcony, enjoy the view of The Great Room. Sit in the cockpit of our “Little Cut Up” make-believe airplane and make things move on the wings and tail.
View from the second floor
The Teterboro Airport display
The area also includes: Newark Airport Diorama, B-52 ejection seat, Richard E. Byrd Exhibit, barnstormers, model airplane collection, Peoples Express exhibit, the NJ designed “Para-Plane”, a working airport beacon and Clarence Chamberlin Exhibit.
The Jump Seat display on the second floor of the museum
Silvio Cavalier Research Library: This library contains over 3,500 volumes and videos on aviation and space history.
Gift Shop: Don’t forget to visit the gift shop, brimming with aviation related gifts, books and mementos for yourself, family and friends.
Tours-Parties: We offer group tours, birthday parties and our educational Dare-To-Fly program for young groups. Call for details.
Special Events: Four times a year we have Open Cockpit Day where you and your family can sit in the pilot seat of airplane and helicopter cockpits. In December, Santa will fly over the museum in a helicopter, then visit with the children.
The vehicle display on the first floor
The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey (AHOF) reserves the right to use for promotional purposed any photograph/video taken at AHOF or any AHOF event. By visiting AHOF or participating in any AHOF event, you are permitting AHOF to use these images.
This is such a great museum for families and especially for children.
(Information from the AHOF Museum Guide)
Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the AHOF pamphlets and I give them full credit for the information. Please call the museum for any further information.
This was the second time I visited the Waldwick Signal Tower, one of the last surviving of its kind on the railroad line. The architectural Queen Anne Style depot was built in 1886. The depot was called ‘Waldwick’ meaning “Light in the Woods”. The railroad signal tower was erected in 1890 in a similar style as the depot (Waldwick Historical Society).
The Signal Tower sign welcomes you.
The history of the Signal Tower as it was once one of six towers between New York and New Jersey.
The tower is a two story museum right next to the tracks in a rather obscure location in the back which you have to reach coming off Hopper Road to 1 Bohnert Place and the parking lot is off to the side.
The Signal Tower still sits on the Pascack Line that leads into New York City.
There is some walking here and not ADA accessible as the building was built so long ago but you can see it from a car from the parking lot and get a feel for its look and purpose at an earlier time in history. The main room downstairs had an interesting exhibition of railroad deeds from the various railroads that used to be part of the system of Bergen County whereas the upstairs which can be reached from the outside.
The outside of the Waldwick Signal Tower.
On the lower level of the Signal Tower has the exhibitions on the artifacts of the train station that includes the signal lightening, telephone pole protectors and items used at the station.
The downstairs gallery at the Waldwick Signal Tower.
The schedules and signal lights of the tower.
The map of the railroad into New York City and out into the suburbs.
The exhibition on the signal lights used by the conductors on the rail line.
Upstairs you get a better view of the tracks and the surrounding area. There was a train video going the first time I was there and there are members of the Waldwick Historical Society on hand to answer any questions.
The upstairs Conductor’s office is set up as it would have during the time of the tower in service.
The tower’s signal board on the second floor.
The tower is well organized with exhibitions on both floors and in a very interesting way. The displays are interactive and very detailed and the volunteers were there to talk to visitors about the site.
Waldwick Signal Tower History:
Waldwick’s Train Signal Tower is both historically and architecturally significant. It is a rare historical treasure for its residents and railroad enthusiasts from far and wide. Before the turn of the 20th Century, the Waldwick rail yard was an active repair depot and turn station for the Erie Main Line from Jersey City, NJ to Port Jervis, NY and was a major employer in Waldwick thus contributing to the borough’s residential and commercial growth.
The ornate Queen Anne style building was built in 1890 and housed the mechanism connecting switches and signals allowing trains to safely move from one track to another. The tower men who operated the switches by hand had great power indeed in their time.
Another view of the signal tower.
By the mid-1980’s, upgrades in computerized signal equipment warranted the elimination of the tower. The tower was slated for demolition in June 1987. The Waldwick Historical Society members led by Kay Williams campaigned to place the tower on The National Registry of Historical Places. This accomplishment allowed the tower to at least stay dormant till the next wave of enthusiasts came along in 1999.
The tower before the renovation
Michael Brunkhorst and Glenn Corbet banded together a group of citizens to form the All Aboard committee of Waldwick’s Historical Society. Curtis Springfield of Wanaque, who is the great-grandson of the renowned locomotive engineer, Harvey Springfield, got wind of the tower’s trials. He stepped up to the plate and purchased the tower for $6,000 then gave the Tower to the Borough of Waldwick as a gift to preserve for future generations in honor of the trainman’s family name.
The small All Aboard group set out to create awareness of the tower’s existence and it’s plight. Before long, fund drives were organized grant applications were filed. The response of a number of supporters including Mr. Robert Keeble, have given this project a solid start.
Meticulous measures are currently being made and can now be witnessed at the track end of Bohnert Place, to maintain the tower’s historical authenticity. Attention is being given to the placement of exact shaped decorative shingles and the repair and replacement of the original slate roof are among the initial stages of it’s restoration.
The Waldwick Signal Tower in the Spring 2024.
The Mission Statement:
The All Aboard continues seeking membership and financial support to complete the tower with the vision of becoming “The Harvey Springfield Memorial Tower at Waldwick” for generations of Waldwick citizens and for rail enthusiasts everywhere. If funding continues the tower is sure to be the pride of Waldwick with time and care.
This information comes from the Waldwick Historical Society’s pamphlet.
All Aboard Waldwick
Bless this tower, standing tall,
With Memories we share with all;
Bless the levers standing there,
Their work now finished,
with a prayer;
Bless this time in history now,
Remembering its always, this we vow;
Bless the ones who share this song,
And keep us all in health and strong.
Words by Helen Taylor.
A Brief History of the Borough of Waldwick
Pre-1700: Lenni-Lepane Indians inhabited the land.
1600’s: European farmers settled the land.
Late 1700’s: Franklin Turnpike is a toll road.
1840’s: The railroad connecting Jersey City with Suffern is built and ran through Waldwick, then named New Prospect.
1852: Erie Railroad Company takes over the railroad.
1880: New Prospect becomes a depot.
1886: An architectural Queen Anne Style depot is built. The Depot is called ‘Waldwick’ meaning “Light in the Woods”. The depot brings more commerce to the area also called ‘Orville Township’.
1890: The Railroad Signal Tower is erected in a similar style as the Depot.
1919: The small railroad hamlet is incorporated as the Borough of Waldwick.
The history of the tower.
Disclaimer: This information is taken directly from the Waldwick Historical Society pamphlet and I give them full credit for the information. Try to take time to see both the tower and the museum by the train station. The Whistle Stop Restaurant is around the corner and has a reputation for excellent sandwiches and ice cream.
The Waldwick Whistle Stop Restaurant at 27 Fredrick Street.
The Hackensack Water Works building is closed for visiting and under renovation.
When I visited the day I went to see the Hackensack Water Works Building all you could see is the signs outside the building.
The information sign outside the Waterworks.
The layout of the pump station.
On an oxbow in the northern reaches of the Hackensack River is Oradell’s Van Buskirk Island, a man made island that did not exist until 1802. Created by the dams built for the local mills, this stretch of the Hackensack River was the highest point of navigable water on the river where schooners regularly carried goods to and from New York.
The Hackensack Water Works Building in full.
Now a part of the Bergen County Parks system, this almost 14 acre site contains the historic Romanesque brick buildings of the Hackensack Water Works. This is the oldest surviving representative of a water purification and delivery system from the late 19th and early 20th century period, crucial to the development of a modern, safe water supply that was critical to turn of the century metropolitan and suburban growth.
The Pump Station right side.
The left side of the Pump Station.
The Hackensack Water Works, in continuous operation from 1882 to 1990 is a rare example of later 19th and early 20th century water works architecture and engineering. The historic buildings include the 1882 Pumping Station, expanding five times from 1886-1911 and innovative 1905 Filtration House, expanded in 1912 and 1955. The Pumping Station contains a unique collection of steam pumping equipment representing over four decades of development of steam technology in the early 20th century, including a 1911 Allis Chalmers Vertical Triple Expansion Pump and a 1915 Allis Chalmers Centrifugal Pump. The plant also contains the 1905 coagulation basin and gatehouse and the 1911 intake and waste gates.
The inside of the Hackensack Water Works
This Bergen County Historic Site with its open space and park like setting is a living 100 year old timeline of technology from steam to electricity as well as a river site that represents the evolution of Bergen County from its pre-Revolutionary War saw and grist mills to the creation of pioneering water filtration technology so vital to the 20th Century development of towns and cities all over America. Not open to the public at this time.
The Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs
The Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.
Disclaimer: This information was taken directly from the Bergen County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs handout. Please call the above number or email them for more information.
Visiting a Museum: The Unique, Unusual, Obscure and Historical 