History of New Providence NJ

1720 was the year the first settlers arrived in the area now known as New Providence. With creeks, ponds, and a river for water, the relatively flat ground was good for farmland. The abundance of large flocks of wild turkeys led to the initial name for the area of "Turkey". By 1737, the Presbyterian Church was formed and was the center of life in the small settlement. In 1759, a crowded church balcony collapsed. It was considered a miracle that no one was seriously injured in the disaster. The miracle was soon referred to as a divine act of "providence", and the small town thereafter became known as "New Providence".

During the Revolutionary war, in an act to prevent the British from taking the town's supply of salt (which was very important in those days to preserve meat for an army on the move), the townsfolk dumped the salt supply into the brook. That brook is still known today as the "Salt Brook".

In 1793, a regional government was formed. It encompassed the area from present-day Springfield, Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights, and was called Springfield Township. Growth continued in the area, and by 1809, Springfield Township divided into Springfield Township and New Providence Township. New Providence Township included Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights. Sixty years later, in 1869, Summit seceded from New Providence Township. The railroad had brought tremendous growth to Summit, and disputes of town management led to the separation.

1869 was also the year that the first school building was built in New Providence, the Academy.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, New Providence was famous for its large greenhouses specializing in roses and gardenias. Coal was used to heat the enormous greenhouses, and the trains brought many coal cars to the area near Murray Hill station to supply the greenhouses.

1899 was a significant year for much of the area. The Borough of New Providence incorporated on March 14 of that year. Present day Berkeley Heights remained as New Providence Township, (a name it kept until 1952). The City of Summit also incorporated in 1899. Many of the townships and regional areas in New Jersey were separating into small, locally governed communities at that time due to acts of the New Jersey legislature that made it economically advantageous for the communities to due so.

The Fire Department was formed in 1902. They used horse drawn equipment until 1914, when the first mechanized fire truck was purchased by the Borough.

In 1907, Lincoln School opened and the Academy became Borough Hall.
The Public Library was formed in 1912.1954 Hillview School opened.In 1958 the High School opened with grades 7-11 and the First graduation was in June 1960.
The Allen Roberts School opened in 1962, and the Salt Brook School opened in 1968 as a primary school, then in 1971 as a K-8 school. The old part of Lincoln School was torn down in 1977 just 70 years after the original building was built.

 

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