The Westwood community is celebrating its 125th anniversary this week!
The fun events scheduled also present a unique opportunity for reflection on Westwood’s rich history.
The community had a similar opportunity in 1969, when “The 75th Anniversary Journal of the Borough of Westwood” was published by an official committee. The book featured a trove of historical images—as well as this “modern” one, showing Westwood as it looked on Memorial Day in 1968.
But perhaps the most interesting feature in the journal, edited by Ed Mooney, was its final page: “A Word to Westwood of 2044.” It seems, even in 1969, residents were looking forward to the borough’s 150th anniversary. And they offered future residents these words:
It is fitting that the look into Westwood’s past, which has been attempted by this journal, be concluded with a message to you, who, hopefully, will be celebrating the borough’s 150th anniversary in a grand manner 75 years from now.
The people of Westwood think of you often.
We think of you in this year of 1969, during which the first man—an American—is scheduled to land on the moon; and we wonder if trips to that planet and beyond will be commonplace to you in 2044.
We think of you as our nation is embroiled in a war in Vietnam; and pray that you and yours will be wiser than we in solving exasperating international problems.We think of you as our country’s magnificent production capabilities help provide sustenance for the underprivileged peoples of the world; and hope that the ingenuity of your time will make hunger and want things of the past.
And we think of you as we stroll through town on a bright spring morning savoring the joy of living; and sincerely wish for you lives as full of the rich, warm, simple things as ours have been.
—“The 75th Anniversary Journal of the Borough of Westwood”
It was 97 years ago that area residents gathered for this Fourth of July parade in downtown Westwood. Here, the procession crosses the train tracks at Broadway to proceed from Westwood Avenue onto Washington Avenue, both of which were still dirt roads. The date was July 4, 1922.
That year’s celebration of Independence Day had been the largest ever attempted locally until that time. Paid for entirely by public donations, it was organized by Westwood, the Township of Washington, and Hillsdale at a total cost of $1,000.
This photo appears to have been taken from a second floor window. If that was indeed the case, the photographer was probably standing atop the Park Tavern. That building still exists, but today it’s the Iron Horse restaurant.
From a historical perspective, this image offers plenty to talk about. Over the past nine decades, so much has changed in this area of Westwood.
For one thing, the photo shows Westwood’s original train station which was a small wooden structure located right on Broadway. In fact,at the time, Broadway was still called Railroad Avenue. Exactly one decade after this, in the summer of 1932, Westwood held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new and
larger train station, which was to be constructed of stone and set back on the opposite side of the tracks.
In addition, take notice of how different the railroad crossing looked back in 1922. Think of today’s crossings, with their flashing lights and bars that come down to keep cars and pedestrians off the tracks when a train is coming. Back then, a wooden post (on the far left of the photo) reading “Railroad Crossing” and “Danger” was the warning system.
Yet another change at this intersection is the building pictured in the background at the corner of Westwood Avenue and Broadway, decked out in patriotic bunting. Today the large Bank of America building stands at this location, the most massive structure in downtown Westwood’s streetscape. In 1922, that spot was occupied by Westwood’s general store. Built in 1869, Van Emburgh and Bogert’s general store was the first merchant in Westwood, and also the first location in town to have an electric light.
Like the train station, the current bank building was constructed in 1932, thereby replacing the old general store.
— Kristin Beuscher
