Whippanong Library
1000 Route 10
Whippany, NJ 07981
A PLACE CALLED WHIPPANY
Its history and contemporary times
_______________
by LEONARDO A. FARIELLO
copyright 2000
All rights reserved. No part of this
text may be copied or reproduced
in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.
_______________
The Whippanong Library web page has been
granted permission to reprint the preface
and four subchapters of A Place Called Whippany.
CONTENTS:
Whippany Brief Facts
Aboriginal History of
"Whippanong"
Colonial History of Whippany
Historical Villages of Hanover Township
Modern Whippany
"The place where the willow trees grow"
The first colonial settlement in the
wilderness of north-central New Jersey occurred along a gentle, meandering
river known as "Whippanong" (a name given to us by the Native
Americans who first inhabited this land). As colonists settled the area they
referred to the land as "Whippeny." Eventually the proprietors of the
new-found province delineated a vast unsettled territory and named it
"Whippenny Township." The township predates its home county of Morris
and actually defined the general boundaries of land that eventually became
Morris County.
Whippenny Township or Hanover Township, as it came to be
called, is the predecessor of all 39 municipalities of Morris County.
Originally approximately 500 square miles during colonial times, Hanover
Township has been whittled down to its present size of 10.8 square miles.
Whippany, as it is now called, is a district within the township of Hanover
with a land area of 6.9 square miles. Cedar Knolls is another district within
Hanover Township and it has a land area of 3.9 square miles.
· Whippany was the first settlement of Morris County (half a century before Morris County was established).
· Whippany hosted the first church in what came to be Morris County.
· Whippany established the first school in Morris County.
· Whippany has the oldest public graveyard in Morris County.
· Whippany (Whippenny) Township was the original name of the entire area of land that came to be called Morris County.
· Whippany revolutionists formed the first military company in Morris County.
· The French Army and Continental Troops marched and camped in Whippany during the American Revolution.
· General George Washington, "the Father of our Country"
was known to have visited Whippany during the American Revolution.
· Whippany made world history with the first television broadcast from Whippany to New York City in 1927.
Whippany was once a provincial
community that has recently developed into a sprawling suburb. Let future
historians note that it was during the last half of the twentieth century that
Whippany was transformed from a sparsely populated village of farms, forests,
fields, and meadows to a thriving suburban municipality.
A Place Called Whippany by Leonardo A. Fariello, copyright 2000
Aboriginal History of "Whippanong"
The Original People
The name Whippany
is derived from the word "Whipponong" which is also spelled
"Whippanong." The word was given to us by the Native Americans who
first inhabited this land. It was the name the natives used to identify the
river that flows through the area and it has been interpreted to mean
"place of the arrow wood," or otherwise translated "place of the
willow trees." The willow was an essential part of the northeast American
aboriginal culture because, among other things, its straight twigs were used to
craft shafts for the arrows used in their bows. The river was named for the
trees that dominated the moist land along its banks, and the name was expanded
to include the meadows and forests surrounding it.
The indigenous people of the east coast referred to themselves
as "Wapanachki," which means "people at the rising of the
sun," or "easterners." They were part of a union of tribes known
as the "Algonquian" nation that stretched from what is now Virginia,
through New Jersey, and into Canada. (The Algonquian should not be confused
with the Algonquin or Algonkin tribe of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.) The
Algonquian nation was a linguistic union of eastern woodland natives bound
together by similar languages.
The inhabitants of what is now known as New Jersey called
themselves "Lenape" (Len-ah- pay). The name Lenape has several
interpretations, among which are "ordinary people" and "original
people." The European settlers mispronounced their language and referred
to them as "Lenni Lenape," which has a redundant meaning, as if to
say "first original people" or "ordinary, common people."
The settlers eventually renamed the original people of New Jersey
"Delaware Indians." The tribe of "Lenape" and
"Delaware" are synonymous, the former being of native tongue and the
later of English language, named after the English nobleman Lord De la Warr,
for which Delaware and the Delaware River were named.
Lenape territory extended along both sides of the Delaware
River from what is now northern Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, and throughout
New Jersey. They called their territory "Lenapehoking," which means
"land of the Lenape." They called the Delaware River "Lenape
Wihittuck," which means "river of the Lenape," and they called
New Jersey "Scheyichbi," which means "land between the
waters" (the Hudson River and Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Delaware
River to the west).
The Lenape were held in high esteem by the other eastern
woodland tribes of the Algonquian nation. They were respectfully known as the
"Grandfathers," elders of the eastern woodland tribes. Their noble
status eventually declined after they were displaced from their homeland. When
they became a tribe in exile, their "Iroquois" neighbors ultimately
slandered their good name by calling their warriors "women."
The Lenape were a union of many sub-tribes divided by their
physiographical regions, temperaments, and language dialects. They referred to
themselves and each other by clan names and each clan was identified by an
animal "totem" of their forest environment.
The tribe that lived in the northern region of Lenapehoking
(which included northwest New Jersey) called themselves "Minsi,"
which means "people of the stony country." They were also called
"Munsee" and also known as the "Minnisink" tribe. The
Munsee were members of the "Wolf Clan." They were fierce warriors and
guardians of the Lenape territory. They had a violent disposition towards the
neighboring "Iroquois Confederacy" and the European settlers. The
French referred to them as "les Loups," which means the wolves.
The "Unami," which means "people down
river," lived in the northeastern and central region of New Jersey which
included the area that is now Whippany and Morris County. They were members of
the "Turtle Clan" and like their animal totem, they were generally
gentle, peaceful, and friendly. As members of the Turtle Clan they apparently
had an affinity for the abundant population of turtles that once roamed in and
around New Jersey. Some Unami natives were known to paint the symbol of a
turtle upon their chests.
Lenape communities were often identified by the areas they
inhabited. The Unami that lived in the river valley along the banks of the
Whippanong River were referred to as "Whippanong Indians" by the
early explorers and settlers of Whippanong.
The "Unalachtigo," or "people near the
ocean," lived in the southern region of New Jersey. The Unalachtigo were
members of the "Turkey Clan." The Unalachtigo were also known as
"Unalachta." They were also generally peaceful and friendly.
Besides the Wolf, Turtle, and Turkey Clans which have been
documented in history, it is said that there were also numerous other clans,
among which were the Deer Clan and Bear Clan. The deer and the bear were also
powerful totems of eastern woodland natives; the deer and bear, of course, were
an important source of food and clothing and the bear were also respected for
their power. Animal totems were also used to identify Lenape bands and family
lineage.
During Lenape reign, "Scheyichbi," which came to
be called New Jersey, was virgin forests, meadows, and vast wetlands. Many
animals inhabited the area, including wolves, mountain lions, bobcats, lynx,
mink, beaver, otter, and elk.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Lapowinsa Lenape Chief
Portrait by Gustavus Hesselius 1735
For more
information on "The Way the Native People Lived" and "The
Peaceful Departure of the Natives of Whippanong," see A Place Called
Whippany.
A Place Called Whippany by Leonardo A. Fariello, copyright 2000
Colonial History of Whippany
Local History
The first
recorded history of "Whippany" is found in a parchment document dated
1724. It is a deed referencing "a place called Whippano" which traces
the land back to 1676. The year of 1676 is now generally accepted as the date
of the discovery of Whippany.
Whippany was first settled in 1685. At that time it was
commonly called "Whippeny," although it was also known by a number of
other similar pronunciations of its aboriginal name. An iron forge was built on
the banks of the Whippanong River in1710. A church was built in the village of
Whippeny in 1718 and a "burying yard" was established along the
Whippanong River. "Whippeny" was the first settlement in the vast
unsettled wilderness of northern New Jersey and it was the first village within
the boundaries of what is now Morris County. Likewise, the iron forge now known
as "the Old Iron Works" was the first industry in what came to be
Morris County, the church known as "the First Presbyterian Church"
was the first church, and the "burying yard" was the first colonial
cemetery in northwestern New Jersey.
In 1681 the West Jersey proprietors established
"Burlington" as the capital of West Jersey and in 1694 the
proprietors established Burlington County. Within the boundaries of Burlington
County the proprietors established a township by the name of "Whippenny
Township," otherwise referred to as "Whippanong Township," which
was situated between the Passaic, Pequannock, Pompton, and Musconetcong Rivers.
Whippenny Township encompassed approximately 500 square miles of land and it
defined the general boundaries of what eventually became Morris County. At that
time Whippanong was one of the largest townships in the province of New Jersey.
In 1714 the provincial government of New Jersey divided
Burlington County to create Hunterdon County. (Hunterdon County was named after
General Robert Hunter, Governor of New Jersey when Hunterdon County was
established.) At that time Whippenny Township fell within the boundaries of
Hunterdon County. During that time, Hunterdon County was a vast area that
included all of the land that is now Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex and Warren
Counties.
In 1720 Whippenny Township was renamed "Hanover
Township," by order of the Hunterdon County Court. The name
"Hanover" was designated to honor King George I of the House of
Hanover, a name undoubtedly held in high esteem. The name "Whippenny"
was a derivative of the aboriginal tongue and "Hanover" an English
name, albeit one and the same land, Whippenny Township ceased to exist and
Hanover Township was established.
At that time, the boundaries of Hanover Township included
all 39 municipalities that now make up Morris County. (It is interesting to
note that Whippenny and Hanover Township actually predate Morris County, as
well as Sussex and Warren Counties which were all yet to be established.)
Hanover Township was divided into two separate townships in
1720. Most of the land north of the Rockaway River was named Pequannock
Township. (The name "Pequannock" is a Native American word that means
"the water that flows clean.") All the land south of the Rockaway
River retained the name of Hanover Township. At that time, Hanover continued to
be one of the largest townships in the province of New Jersey.
In 1738 Hanover and Pequannock (originally one township
known as Whippenny), along with Wallpack Township (which was established in
1731), and Greenwich Township (established in 1738), were separated from
Hunterdon County and combined to establish Morris County. Morris County was
named in honor of Lewis Morris, the Royal Governor of the province of New
Jersey. (At the time Morris County was 1365 square miles, encompassing all of
what is now Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties.)
In 1740 Hanover Township was again divided, this time to
create ("New Hanover") Hanover Township, Morris Township and Roxbury
Township; Pequannock Township remained intact. (This is the source of some
confusion because although 1740 is the date the townships of Hanover,
Pequannock, Morris, and Roxbury were incorporated, Hanover and Pequannock
Townships were actually officially established twenty years earlier in 1720.)
Wallpack Township and Greenwich Township were separated from
Morris County in 1753 and combined to establish Sussex County. (Morris County
retained 478 square miles of land which was approximately the original territory
of Whippanong.) In 1824 Greenwich Township was separated from Sussex County to
establish Warren County.
In 1776 American independence was declared and the American
Revolution was underway. Morris County became the military capital of the
Continental Army from 1777 to 1780 when General George Washington made
Morristown his headquarters and Morris County the winter quarters for his
troops. During the Revolutionary War Hanover Township was host to many great
men of history. The guests at Tappins Hostelry in Whippany included George
Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benedict Arnold. James Monroe
traversed Monroe and Thomas Jefferson traveled through Malapardis. Continental
troops and French allies camped in Whippany, but battles were never fought in
Whippany.
(Please note: The establishment of Morris County is referred to as both 1738 and 1739. The confusion lies in the fact that Morris County was created under the Julian calendar in 1738, but the present use of the Gregorian calendar records it as 1739. (The calendars were switched in 1752.) The County of Morris now chooses to recognize its official date as 1738.)
The Township of Hanover Seal
Whippany, Cedar Knolls, Malapardis, and
Monroe
A Place Called Whippany by Leonardo A. Fariello, copyright 2000
Historic Villages of Hanover Township
When the township
of Hanover was established and the township of Whippenny ceased to exist, the
name Whippenny, or "Whippany" as it came to be called, was retained
as a district within the township of Hanover at its original settlement and
place of origin, the "place of the willows."
During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries,
perhaps due to a semi-literate society or a lack of detail, Whippany was
spelled and pronounced in many different ways. It has been recorded in early
deeds and journals as "Weypnunk, Weypenunk, Whiponong, Whipponong,
Whippanong, Whippeneng, Whippenunge, Winippi, Wippany, Whipini, Whipono,
Whippano, Whippaning, Whipeny, Whippenny, Whippeny, and Whippany." The
name "Whippany" finally gained a measure of stability when the
Hanover Post Office, which was established in 1800 (although some sources cite
1806) was renamed the Whippany Post Office in 1863.
The township of Hanover once contained scores of villages,
hamlets, and districts within its boundaries. As time passed the township
diminished in size as villages seceded to form their own townships,
municipalities, or districts of municipalities. Most of the historic villages
that were once within Hanover are now identified within new municipalities.
Hanover Township can now claim only three historic villages within its
boundaries -- Whippany, Malapardis, and Monroe.
Malapardis and Monroe have long since lost their identities.
Malapardis, along with the western quarter ("Horse Hill" section) of
Monroe, is now generally known as Cedar Knolls. The eastern portion of Monroe
is now generally referred to as the "Birch Hill" section of Whippany.
Hanover Township now comprises four villages within its
borders -- Cedar Knolls, Malapardis, Monroe, and Whippany.
Whippany:
Whippany was settled in 1685. The first settlers arrived
from Elizebeth Town and Newark. They traversed west over the Minisink Trail
where they forded the Whippanong River and walked along its shore. There upon
the gentle landscape of the river's edge they established the first settlement.
The first dwellings were built between the Whippanong River and the Minisink
Trail. Whippany is said to be the earliest settlement of what is now Morris,
Sussex, and Warren Counties.
Monroe:
Monroe was settled in 1715. It was originally settled by
John Ford and first known as "Fordville." During the middle of the
nineteenth century the district of Monroe was established and fully enveloped
the Fordville settlement. Monroe was named in honor of President James Monroe.
Presumably James Monroe had some affiliation to Fordville while residing in
Morristown in 1778. Monroe was a colonel in the Continental Army when he lived
in Morris County, but eventually became a captain, a major, a Continental
Congressman, Senator, Governor of Virginia, and the fifth president of the
United States of America.
Malapardis:
Malapardis was settled in 1735. It was first settled along
Stony Brook. Its name is derived from the Lenape word "Malapahus"
which means "place of the poor flint."
Cedar Knolls:
Cedar Knolls was established in 1913. It is the newest of
all the districts in present day Hanover Township as it was created two
centuries after Whippany, Monroe, and Malapardis were settled. Cedar Knolls was
established when land within the districts of Monroe was subdivided and offered
for sale. It originated when Menko H. Wolfe purchased and subdivided a 114 acre
tract of land known as the Charles W. Ford Estate. The subdivision was laid out
on the north side of Ridgedale Avenue which was then called Morristown Road. It
ran from Fairview to Mountain Avenue and from Morristown Road to North Belair.
The Cedar Knolls subdivision consisted of three roads, six avenues, and 374
housing lots.
In 1914, the subdivision was sold to Bertha Wolfe who
established the W-B Camp and Bungalow Company and opened an office at the
Baldwin Real Estate Agency in Morristown to marketed the land. The company
offered summer homes, camps, and bungalow plots of quarter, half, and one acre
lots starting at $100. By 1916 the bungalow company had built and sold over 50
bungalows, 300 people were staying in Cedar Knolls during the summer, and 100
remained as permanent residents.
At that time the railroad was the most popular and efficient
access to Cedar Knolls. Between 1914 and 1916 the W-B Camp and Bungalow Company
urged the Morristown and Erie Railroad Company to change the name of the Monroe
train station to Cedar Knolls. In 1918 the name of the station was changed to
Monroe-Cedar Knolls. In 1919 the Cedar Knolls Fire Department, Inc. was
established. In 1923 the Cedar Knolls Post Office was established.
Prior to becoming Cedar Knolls, the Charles W. Ford
homestead was informally known as "The Knolls." In an effort to
glamorize the subdivision, Menko H. Wolfe named it "Cedar Knolls,"
presumably in observance of the abundance of cedar trees that once grew there.
The W-B Camp and Bungalow Company advertised the area as "Cedar Knolls in
the Mountains."
Cedar Knolls started out as a development of bungalows and a
popular summer resort that was visited most frequently by vacationers from
Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, New York. Back then, most of the houses in
Cedar Knolls were simple summer shanties built up on stilts. It has since
expanded its boundaries and developed into a densely populated community.
Towns of Hanover Township:
Today Whippany and Cedar Knolls are the two town centers
within Hanover Township, each with its own post office and fire department.
Whippany was once a rather sizable territory when it was
known as Whippenny Township and it has the distinct honor of being the original
name of all of the land now known as Morris County. The area of land that still
retains the name of Hanover Township has dwindled in size from approximately
500 square miles during colonial times to its present size of 10.8 square miles
of land. The area of land that retains the name of Whippany has been reduced to
its present size of 6.9 square miles.
Incidentally, residents of Whippany and Cedar Knolls seldom
refer to their home as Hanover, although officially they live in Hanover
Township. The reason lies in the fact that there is a neighboring historical
village known as Hanover located in the adjoining township of East Hanover;
having a village of Hanover and a township of Hanover has always been
confusing. The village of Hanover seceded from the township of Hanover in 1928
and reestablished itself as East Hanover Township, yet it is still generally
referred to simply as Hanover. To avoid confusion, residents of Hanover
Township nearly always refer to their residence as either Whippany or Cedar
Knolls.
To confuse matters even further, there is an East Hanover
Avenue in Hanover and a Hanover Road in East Hanover. Perhaps the confusion
caused by the two Hanovers could be eliminated if Hanover Township would change
its name back to its original name of Whippanong (Whippany) Township.
Whippanong Town Hall
(Circa 1900)
A Place Called Whippany by Leonardo A. Fariello, copyright 2000
Modern Whippany
As time passes
into a new millennium, Whippany remains an excellent place to live, work, and play.
Most residents are proud to live in Whippany and there is an abundance of
community spirit. Residents are endowed with many township services and
amenities. The crime rate is low and residential neighborhoods are a safe place
where children can play in the streets. The school system is excellent with
elementary schools in Whippany and Cedar Knolls and a high school in Whippany.
The Parks and Recreation Department is second to none with about three hundred
acres of municipal open space in the form of park land located throughout the
township. Part of the Morris County Arboretum is located in Whippany and the
cross county hiking/biking trail known as Patriots Path runs along the
Whippanong River corridor. The Recreation Department sponsors many programs and
activities for residents of all ages and recreation facilities include a
recreation building and gym, an historic chapel and meeting hall, a municipal
swimming pool, play grounds, basketball, boccie, volley ball, and tennis
courts, baseball, softball, and soccer fields, horseshoe pits, fishing ponds,
ice skating ponds, and picnic areas.
Whippany has a broad base of industrial/commercial ratables
which help provide residents with some of the lowest property taxes in Morris
County. Industrial and corporate campuses are usually built in park-like
settings. Retail establishments are pleasantly void of offensive commercialism
and obtrusive neon signs as seen in surrounding areas. Unlike neighboring
municipalities that are now built to urban proportions, Whippany remains a
suburb. With careful planning, Whippany will retain its suburban integrity into
the next century.
For further information on the aboriginal and colonial history of Whippany, New Jersey, and also the industrial and agricultural history, as well as the contemporary times of Whippany and how things have changed, see A Place Called Whippany, by Leonardo A. Fariello, published in 1998 by L. A. Sunchild Publishing Company, 136 Park Avenue, Whippany, NJ.
A Place Called Whippany is avaliable at the Whippanong Library, 1000
Rt. 10, Whippany, NJ.