Morris Canal (cont.)

The Morris Canal stretched from Phillipsburg on the Delaware River at its western end to Jersey City on the Hudson River at its eastern end. Completed to Newark in 1831, the canal was extended eastward to Jersey City between 1834 and 1836. It greatly facilitated the transportation of anthracite coal from Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley to northern New Jersey's growing iron industry and other developing industries in New Jersey and the New York City area. It also carried iron ore westward through New Jersey to iron furnaces in western New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania until the development of Great Lakes iron ore caused them to decline. By the 1850s, the canal began to be eclipsed by the construction of railroads, although it remained in heavy use throughout the 1860s.

Morris Canal

The Morris Canal opened in Bloomfield in 1831, providing a much needed route for farm produce and manufactured goods. About seven miles of the 173-mile Morris Canal passed through Greater Bloomfield, For the most part, along what are now East Passaic Avenue and John F. Kennedy Drive.

The Morris Canal was once as important to Bloomfield as the Garden State Parkway is today. In Bloomfield, the JFK Parkway mostly follows the old Canal route. The Canal with it's towpath is at right, Daveys Mill Pond is at left, with the Oakes Woolen Mill at far left.The Canal was not a continuous waterway like a river. It was comprised of sections -- to pass from north to south through Bloomfield, a canal boat navigated five canal sections. A waterway that ended a relatively flat 17-mile stretch that originated west of Paterson, and entered Bloomfield near East Passaic Avenue.

Wigwam Brook

Second River

The Second River, or Watsessing River, is the second main tributary of the Passaic River encountered while travelling upstream from its mouth at Newark Bay.

From its source in West Orange to the Passaic, it is approximately 5 mi long.
The Second River passes generally easterly through the towns of Orange and East Orange, where it is joined by Wigwam, Parrow, and Nishuane Brooks, then turns slightly to the north and enters the Bloomfield. Here, at Watsessing Park, it is joined by Toney's Brook.

After leaving Bloomfield, it enters the town of Belleville (which was, early in its history, also named "Second River"), and turns slightly to the south. Finally, it joins the Passaic River, on its way to Newark Bay.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Second River supported a sizable industrial complex of mills and factories.

Watsessing

A Canal Among Rivers

Historic Bloomfield Slide Show on YouTube

Here's the link: http://youtu.be/x6E_812tJKU

Watsessing and the Rivers

Toney's Brook

The 19th Century Saw Bloomfield Splitting Into Several Towns

"In 1868 that part of Bloomfield formerly called West Bloomfield, or Cranetown, became incorporated as the Township of Montclair, taking nearly three thousand persons from the population of Bloomfield.In 1871 Woodside(N. Newark) left us, and shortly afterward (1874) Franklin(Nutley) established her independence. Still later, in 1895, the Borough of Glen Ridge went out."

from Bloomfield Old and New -- an Historical Synposium by several Authors published for the 1912 Centennial

When Bloomfield Was a Growing Town

Settling In

The Beginning