Autumn Years Summer 2023

and sleigh manufacturers, a merchant tailor, a butcher, and stores selling hard ware, boots and shoes, coach trimmings, dry goods, flour and feed soon followed. A Dutch Reformed Church was built, along with many homes. This new “city” soon attracted large numbers of New York businessmen to reside here per manently since the railroad (and ferry) commuting time to New York City was just under an hour. The new population allowed the Clo ster Institute, described as a private “se lect school for boys and girls,” to open

Trains in Closter, circa 1870.

Col. Blanch’s Station. Abraham Ferdon built a hotel next door, and in 1860 a local newspaper said, “The prospects for early improvements here are very promising.” The railroad opened with much fan fare in May 1859, when the first train of nine cars left Piermont (New York) for Jersey City. When the train reached Col. Blanch’s Station, an assembled crowd cheered for the railroad and its builders. For a while in the 1860s, the emerging town was known as Closter Station. (It was also known as Upper Closter, and today’s Cresskill was then known as Lower Closter.)

CLOSTER VILLAGE By 1875, a new railroad sta tion was constructed at the corner of today’s Old Clo ster Dock Road and Her bert Avenue, thus launch ing the current downtown. A local newspaper wrote, “They are determined to have a city as soon as possible.”

Early downtown Closter along Old Closter Dock Road.

John Henry Stephens built a com bination store, post office and dwell ing. William L. Lindaman constructed a three-story brick building originally known as Closter City Hotel (later Union Hotel) that offered “entertainment for man and horse,” according to the local newspaper. Two other hotels, a livery sta ble, a restaurant, blacksmiths, carriage

before 1875. The school accommodated 50 students, had a school year of 40 weeks, and offered English, French, Ger man, and music. In 1883, the principal of the school, Belle E. Hammond, joined the Temperance Movement and was an active participant. Closter, whose population was about 600, had three liquor sellers. Abstainers claimed that a dozen intoxicated men could be seen at any time on the street. The township refused to renew two of the liquor licenses, and 94 women signed a successful petition to make Closter a

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SUMMER 2023 I AUTUMN YEARS