Community Newspaper Special Sections Essex Community Guide 2016 | Page 34

Nutley History

The Nutley Historical Society celebrates 70 years with a cake baked by Nutley Museum
Director John Simko, second from right. President Dom Tibaldo holds the sword that
purportedly cut the first anniversary cake.

32 Essex Community Guide | 2016

the purchase of adjoining lots by
Thomas Stagg and John Treat.
The railroad came to the area in 1870,
with three stations located on High Street,
Highfield Lane and Walnut Street. The
railroad and contributions by Nutley
Realty president and architect William
Lambert accelerated growth, building sections known as Nutley Park, Nutley
Heights and Prospect Heights.
In 1894, an all-volunteer fire department was established. The Bank of
Nutley, the township’s first bank was
founded in 1906 and the first police
department was founded two years later.
By the mid 1960s, farms disappeared
and the street system was completed.
Recreation programs developed, and in
1987, Nutley became a Tree City USA.
As of the 2010 United States Census,
the township's population was 28,370. ◆
Sources: “Nutley 100 Years – Gala
Commemorative Book,” authors: Vincent
Lo Curcio III, Fred Van Steen, Jean Van
Steen, Marilyn Peters and Rich O'Connor;
“Nutley, Yesterday-Today,” edited by Ann.
A. Troy; “Then & Now, Nutley” by
Marilyn Peters and Richard O’Connor.

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utley borders Belleville,
Bloomfield, Clifton and
Lyndhurst.
Before Nutley earned its name in 1902, it
was established as the Township of Franklin.
Nutley became Nutley, from the large
estate of the Satterthwaite family, established in 1844, which stretched along
the banks of the Passaic River.
The township was incorporated as
Franklin by an Act of the New Jersey
Legislature in 1874, from portions of
Belleville.
Between 1920 and 1930, Nutley experienced population growth with the construction of the Parkway and Route 3, and
following the return of troops after WWII.
In May 1666, the largest bargain was
closed in Essex County. The bargain was
consisted of a deal that Capt. Robert Treat
and Samuel Edsal made with the Indians. It
was also the first evidence of habitation
documented from a deed.
Farms and mills were built by Bastian Van
Giesen, a Dutch settler, who moved into the
area along the Third River. The Van Giesen
home still stands on Chestnut Street today.
Around the turn of the 17th century,
further land development occurred with