The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-08-04
HISTORIC
MORRISTOWN
Mayor BennelI Looks Up Nor
ristown's History and
Conditions.
A PURELY RESIDENTIAL TOWN

The following interesting facts about
Morristown were compiled by Mayor
Bennel at the request of the National
Municipal League.
They are we'll worth reading by all
Morristonians and then sent as mark
ed copies for others to read.
In the suburban development to
which the marvellous growth of New
York, the metropolis, is giving such a
tremendous impetus, the beautiful city
of Morristown, N j., commands spe-
cial attention. Among all these sub
urban cities, Morristown stands pre-
eminent as the ideal residential town
for those who have the means to live
in comfort and who have the disposf
tion to make the most of life in the
living. 1t has the natural healthful-
ness of the pure dry air of the pictur-
sesuue hills of New Jersey, the restful-
ness of the peaceful country surround
ings, are removed from the turmoil OF
the city, and with all of the modern
comforts and advantages of a we'll or
dered residential town.
Morristown is not a new formed
speculative suburb, launched by land
boomers and swarmed by thronging
hordes of city toilers. 1t is an old set
tied community dating from the pio-
neer colonial days. It has honorable
history covering two centuries and
several generations of Americans have
participated in its development. 1t
has the abiding spirit of Americanism
in its life, the sterling principle OF
right living in its ideal
Within almost an hours ride of New
York-thirty miles due west of the me-
tropolis, Morristown has the advantage
of convenient accessibility for those
whose business hours give leisure for
the enjoyment of the refinements of
life, and whose income permits free
choice of location with the ability to
provide the best of home comforts.
With it's natural attraCtiveness and adj
vantages, Morristown IS rapidly in
creasing in favor as a place of resi-
dence for merchants, manufacturers,
business and professional men. There
are twenty-nine trains day each way
to and from New York. The monthly
Communication fare is $3.50. The Lack
awanna ferries from Hoboken run to
West TwentyNhird street, Barclay
street and Christopher street, New
York.
The first cars over the old Morris
town Railroad from Newark ran to
Morristown on January 1, 1888, and
the opening of the railroad marked
the beginning of the development of
Morristown as a residential town.
The situation Of Morristown is beau.
tiful, and the natural charm of the
place is increased by the building of
attractive residences. These houses
range all the way from magnificent
mansions surrounded by hundreds OF
acres to the comfortable cottage with
wide lawn. Morristown is city OF
handsome homes and well kept
grounds. 1t has attracted millionaires
VINO maintain large country estates,
and men Representatives of the profes-
sions, the arts and prominent lines of
business, who find in Morrlstown the
ideal residence for their families. The
residential character of Morristown is
firmly established and the people To-
eating here are of the most desirable
class. There is no land boom and no
extravagant inducements are held out
to bring people here.
Set among the picturesque hills,
Morristown has many natural advanta-
ges of location and climate which are
not excelled by any town in the State.
The climate is delightful, the air dry
and bracing. Five ranges of hills fur
nish most charming building sites. The
altitude gives freedom from malarial
influences. The Park, in the centre
of the business district, is 373 feet
above sea level. Within the corporate
limits the elevation is as high as 597
feet, and in no place lower than 2S0
feet. This character of the lay of the
land on which Morristown is built is
one of the natural advantages of the
place, while the country around and at
a few miles distance is mountainous.
Much of it is of such character that
it has remained wooded from the days
of the first settlers and is likely to
remain so, a reservation of pure dry
air and sparkling streams of pellucid
water. The drives about the city are
unsurpassed in variety and loveliness.
The surrounding hills are short and
2 broken in outline, SO that in driving
in almost any direction the view of
the landscape is continually changing.
Morristown of today is famous as
one of the most beautiful residential
cities of New Jersey, but back of its
modern development it has an ancient
history of peculiar interest and its his
toric associations are heritage wor-
thfly preserved. In its rich store OF
events of the Revolution, Morristown
is excelled by no other locality in
America. 1t sheltered Washington
and his patriot army during two win
ters of the War for Independence
1777-78 and 1779-SO. In the second
winter Washington made his head
quarters at the Ford mansion, Whip
pany road which still stands as it did
then. 1t is maintained by the Wash
ton Society of New Jersey, and has
one Of the choicest collections of
Washington relics in the United
eS4mA-.s