Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-06-19
Fort Lee Historical
Continued from page u

There are many old timers here al
the present time who will welcome
the celebration and help make it {
memorable occasion, who will also bt
delighted to serve on some of the com
mittees that are necessary to make
the affair the grand success that il
should be.
Fort Lee takes it's name from the
Fort erected on the Palisades on the
spot where now stands the residence
of Mr.. Peter Saitta, on Parker ave.
nue.. 1t was built to support Fort
Washington on the other side of the
river, with the intention of prohibit
ing the English from sailing up the
Hudson to attack West Point. The
site of this fort was known to the
older residents as "Fort Field" A
redout was built on the bluff point
and a battery of heavy ordinance
placed farther north on the Palisades,
directly opposite Fort Washington
Point, and another battery south of
the main fort.
Washington and Thomas Paine
viewed the Battle of Fort Washing
ton from the Palisades at this place,
and the night previous, while rowing
across the Hudson to consult Colonel
Magaw, in command at Fort Washing
ton, met in the middle of the river,
and there held council of war. After
the fall of Fort Washington, Fort
Lee became untenable, and the
British crossed the river some miles
above. General Greene, who was in
command at Fort Lee, was told of
the enemy's approach, and notified
General Washington, who was in camp
with the main body of his army at
Hackensack. General Washington
shortly arrived and ordered retreat
to Hackensack. In the retreat from
Form Lee, the American army left
behind considerable of their heavy
baggage and stores. The same day
the British took possession of the
works. Many conflicts occurred with
bands of Tories and patriots until the
end of the war. The ruins of the
stone huts occupied by the soldiers
can yet be seen, and many relics are
still found in the vicinity of their
camp.
The Fort was named after General
Charles Lee, who, however, became
traitor to his adopted country, and
was court martialed in 1778 for fail
ing to obey the orders of General
George Washington at the battle Of
Monmouth. He was sentenced to one
years suspension from the Cont
mental army, and subsequently dis
missed by Congress. He was born
in 1871 in Dernhall, Cheshire, Eng
land, and died in Philadelphia, 1882.
Fort Lee improved slowly after the
Revolutionary war until the year 1885,
when the old landing at the foot of
the Palisades became popular ship
ping point for the produce of the
farmers of this section of Bergen
County. Later on the Belgian paving
block became a thriving industry to
the old town.
Later the block industry as we'll as
the landing disappeared. The advent
of the trolley gave new life to the
town, and new residents came here:
as is shown by the upbuilding of
Palisade.
During the past several years large
tracts of land have been laid out in
building lots, and many handsome
residences built. The streets are
macadamized, sidewalks have been
laid, and street lamps in operation for
several years. The Public Service
Corporation runs two lines through
the town, connecting with West Shore,
Forty-second, Fourteenth and Frank
Ign streets ferries and the ferry at
Edgewater running to both street.
1t also connects by trolley with Engle-
wood, Tenafy, Hackensack, Newark,
Paterson and other New Jersey
towns. 1t is only half hours dis
lance from New York City. The
State census of 1895 gave Fort Lee
population of 1,617, but in 1910 it
had increased to 4,472. The new
census now being taken will, no doubt
make it over $500.
Its delightful situation on the sum-
nit of the Palisades, it's known beauti-
full climate, the great variety and
grandeur of scenery and extended
views, are surpassed in few portions
if any, in the United States.
The historical events as printed
here have been taken in part from
James F. Tracey's history of Fort
Lee, published by him some twenty
five years ago, and in some instances
have been elaborated from new data
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