The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-08-04
HISTORIC
MORRISTOWN

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
who was the first Governor of New
Jersey, as province distinct from
New York Morris County was set off
from Hunterdon by the Provincial Leg
islature on March Is, 1879, about a
month after the appointment of Gov
ernor Morris. 1t originally comprised
the territory later embraced in Morris,
Sussex and Warren Counties. Morris
| Township was formed from Hanover
in 1740, a year after the creation of
the county. The village is first re-
ferred to as Morristown in the records
of 1910. Before that it was known as
New Hanover and West Hanover. AS
the county seat of Morris County,
Morristown was an important business
centre in pre-Revolutionary days, and
| had the trade of a large and flourish
| ing agricultural district. It was fam
Gus for it's iron industries and many
of the early settlers were drawn here
| by the iron in the mountains. This
| part of New Jersey was settled about
| 100 by families from Newark, Eliza
| beth, Long Island and New England.
The first settlers built their homes
along the banks of the Whippany
River, which winds through the north
ern part of Morristown on it's way to
| the Passaic, but later they moved to
the tableland on an elevation some
| fifty feet above the river, eventually
| scattering in all directions, until now
there is compact city of 1880 peo-
pie gathered within the limits of Nor
ristown enjoying the advantages of
city comforts and rural pleasures in a
well balanced combination which few
other communities have.
In it's churches and schools Morris
town has the characteristics of an old
established community, wrlere the in
fiuence of religion and education have
been forceful in moral development
and are dominant in modern progress.
| There are eleven churches, represent
ing all the leading denominations, and
|
! handsome edifices.
Religion had controlling influence
! in the movements of the early settlers,
who were firm believers in liberty of
conscience. The Presbyterian Church
! is the Oldest here. There was church
of that denomination in Hanover in
1918. The First Presbyterian Church
of Morristown dates from 1913, when
it was organized at the Presbyterian
Church of New Hanover. In 1740 the
byterian Church of Morristown. The
present church building on the north
side of the Park is stately edifice of
stone, erected at cost of $140,000.
Adjoining are handsome chapel and
manse.
The Morristown Young Mems Chris
tian Association is fiourishing organ
ization, occupying handsome build
ing of it's own. 1t has large active
membership, and has a substantial
financial support from representative
men,
| On South Street is the Morristown
Library and Lyceum, in which the city
takes just pride. The building is a
granite structure with front of 80
feet and 100 feet deep, erected at a
cost of 100000, and opened August a.
i 1878. It has hall for lectures, con
certs, and other entertainments, read
j ing and reference rooms. The fest
library. established in Morristown Yves
in 1892 by the Norris County Society
for the Promotion of Agriculture and
Domestic Manufactures. In 1912 this
society was merged with the Morri;
! Library Association. In 1848 the Ap
lprcntices' Library was organized and
, continued to 1851. The Morris Insti
tute came next in 1854, and the Nor
} ristown Library and Lyceum was OF
ganized in 1866.
/ Morristown has two well equipped
hospitals, which are literally support
ed Memorial Hospital is in the hear
of the city. All Souls Hospital is or
one of the main streets leading int,
the city. Both are equipped with thc
latest and best modern appliances ant
have efficient nurses and skilled staff
of physicians and surgeons.
The public buildings Of Morris Coun
ty are in Morristown. These includt
the Court House and building fol
county offices. At one side Of 'at
park is tablet set in a huge stone
erected by the Morristown Chapter O
the Daughters of the American Revolu
ton to mark the site Of the old Cour
/, House of Colonial Days.
The public school system of Morris
town is up-to-date in every respect
and its development has always KEEP
I pace with the needs of the community
The city now has four public schoo
buildings, and the High School pre-
Ipares pupils for admission to college
1.-THE standard Of the public schools Q