Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-11
ORANGE RESIDENT
GIVES HAPPENINGS
Of 50 YEARS OLD
George SpottiswOOde Tells His
"reminiscences of Event Lead
ing Up to Division OF Towns.

OF Orange into three municipalities, now
known as Orange, East Orange and
West Orange, followed u quarrel 6ver a
schoo question was the interesting
statement today of George Spottis-
Woode. of Orange, who will be a central
figure tomorrow 3t tile celebration of
charter day in Orange. This aarra-
tive. which has not been given pub
licity before. is of interest To the resi-
dents OF the big community. who are
planning to make tomofrow,s oh
servance of the iftieth anniversary Of a
charter for the town OF Orange a ban
ner affair. According to Mr.. Spottis-
Woode, a Democratic contingent, swing
ing it's strength TO the Cast Orange
Republicans, resulted in the division
fcrty-seVen years ago.
Discussing conditions in Orange half
a century ago, Mr.. Spottiswoode told
the story of the original separations of
the sections formerly embraced in the
town of Orange. Orange was a simple
community, with no improved streets,
only four ahurches-one Methodist
Episcopal parish. one Protestant Epis-
copal and two Presbyterian churches.
Ihe parish members of Newark edifices
lived as far away as Millburn, and the
Sunday professions along the railroad
ties to church We're strange sights.
There were seven or eight hat factories
and Jour shoe manufactures, and in
political affairs there was a division in
the Republican party as acute as the
present division of the New Ideaites
and the Regulars. This division
actually proved a factor in the disinte-
grafton of the original Orange.
David n. Ropes, a Republican leader,
at a public meeting, following an argu-
inent by Simeon H. Harrison, then
Democratic leader. on a school ques-
tion, told Mr.. Harrison If ne did not
like the school improvements that We're
planned he could get out of Orange"
Mr.. Harrison, whose home and in
terests were ON the West Orange side.
decided to accept the suggestion. and,
with the aid of the East Orange wing
of the Republicans. secured the enact
Inent of legislation which separated the.
Oranges.
Orange on the east formerly extended
to the Newark line. The original First
ward included all of the present First
ward of Orange and East Orange. Main
street was a dividing line for the re-
mainder of the territory-the Second
ward being north OF Main street and
the Third ward on the southerly side.
West Orange was set off at the present
line. The first secession from Orange,
Mr.. Spottiswoode said. was Paramount.
q section on the mountain, which
nourished for a year between West Or
ange and Livingston, but was then an
nexed by West Orange.
Enjoying the unique experience of
being a city official half a century ago,
when Orange accepted h charter
which made the municipality a city,
and today occupying a prominent place
in the official family. Mr.. Spottiswoode
still enjoys vigorous health, and in adj
dition to directing the manifold de-
tails of his business enterprises, he
serves his city as a member of the
Sinking Fund Commission and gives
the same keen attentio nto affairs as
when he was selected fifty years ago
collector of taxes for the old Third
ward. Mr.. Spottiswoode will give a
talk tomorrow night at the dinner To
close the celebration in the Union
League Club. In a talk on the condi-
lions that prevailed in Orange half a
century ago he was enthusiastic in
telling of the progress made by the
city.
MI oDOlJiSA bDdt ilEH bCNh &'AAC[NoA -
taxes. constable. justice of the peace,
member of the Orange Common Coun-
ell, serving from 1867, when he gave
up his position as collector of taxes, to
1875; member of the Board of Eduea-
tion. member Of the Essex County
Board Of Chosen Freeholders. and de-
elined the Democratic nomination fer
mayor. He was treasurer of the sink
ing fund commission many years. Mr..
Spottiswoode's only contemporary in
public life of the early sixties is Fred
erick w. Egner. now a resident Of New
ark, who was at one time mayor of
Orange. Few Of the old councilmen
are now living. and Mr.. s-pottiswoode
has few official associates of the old
days. one of the recent associates is
Thomas F. Brennan. now a fire COM
missioner. who served in the council IN
1879. Others of the older men in office
are Thomas O. .Ayres, still a prominent
business man, who was in the Com
mon Council in 1879, and Thomas
Vaughan, also a councilman
When after a few years trial the old
charter of Orange was found 10 be in
adequate in many respects and a
change was needed to meet the iu-
creasing population and growing COM
munity a new document was provided
and Orange became a city. The first
election. under the new charter placed
the duties OF the three collectors Of
taxes and treasurer With u official.
Mr.. Spottiswoode and Mr.. Egner were
members of this original Common
Council. Mr.. Sp~ottiswcode representing
the Third ward. being elected as a
Democrat. while Mr.. Egnef. Il Repub-
lican, represented the Second ward. Mr..
Egner subsequently became Mayor,
serving from 1873 to 1877 Both men
have peer identified with the progress
siveness of the early history Of the
city and each has a wide circle of
friends. Mr.. Spottiswoode retains his
residence in Orange. while Mr.. Egner
now resides at 1915 Broad street. New
ark