The Wayne Museum

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The Wayne Museum The Wayne Museum consists of three unique local landmarks preserving the history of Wayne, NJ.

In addition to pictures and information posted previously, here are some "tidbits" about the Laflin and Rand Gunpowder C...
10/11/2026

In addition to pictures and information posted previously, here are some "tidbits" about the Laflin and Rand Gunpowder Company in Wayne, N.J. The company was formed in the 1870’s and was located on 130 Ryerson Street. It was also known as Passaic Mills and in later years, DuPont (I.E. DuPont de Nemours Powder Company).

The first picture shows a lithograph of the complex as it looked in 1870. The company manufactured up to 600 kegs of powder a day and expanded to 15 buildings and storage magazines. Canals and especially railroads made shipping easier. The powder made for the company was for “blasting” use and was sold all over the United States. The company increased business during World War I.

By 1905, the facility employed 100 people. (Wayne and surrounding communities had a very small population at the time.) There were many accidental explosions through the years, but the sheds and structures were built separated so that any disaster was limited to one building.

When DuPont owned the company, there was a very “paternalistic attitude” for the employees. Brick homes on Ford Street were built for the workers. Homes for executives were located on Pompton Turnpike. (See the second picture of executive house. Bricks came from local brickyards.) DuPont also built a recreation hall, bowling alley, and tennis courts for the employees.

The facility closed in 1925. “Mack Molding” bought two of the buildings and became a leading supplier of plastics during World War II. (Look for an article about “Mack Molding” posted by the Wayne Museum this past summer).

D’Alessandro, Carol and Edward Lenik, Wayne Historical Commission, 1982 and 2016.

“Laflin and Rand Powder Company”. Passaic Powder Mill, Wayne New Jersey”, “The Historic County”, Volume 4, Issue 1.

Tobin, Cathy, “Images of America, Wayne Township”. Arcadia Publishing, 2001, pgs. 42-44.

GEOGRAPHY AND A “CHICKEN AND EGG” QUESTION“Does geography control people or do people control geography?”. This is an es...
10/09/2026

GEOGRAPHY AND A “CHICKEN AND EGG” QUESTION

“Does geography control people or do people control geography?”. This is an essential question which an educator uses with students. It’s a bit of a “chicken or egg” question. In the case of Wayne, N.J. it is fun to examine when in history the people of Wayne were controlled by their geography or when the people took control their geography.

When referring to this 1861 map (which was updated in 1964 and again in 1972), Cathy Tobin refers to where farming is by the sparse settlement shown and where there were many residents and businesses located along transportation routes such as Hamburg Turnpike, Newark-Pompton Turnpike, Black Oak Ridge Road, Ratzer Road, and the Pequannock, Passaic, and Singac waterways. By the time the Morris Canal, Pompton Feeder, and railroads were developed, one can then see how much Wayne is controlling its geography. Later, into the 20th Century, the controlling of geography can also be studied when automobiles and highways were used.

In addition, the many different sectional names of Wayne, N.J. can refer to its geography. At various times since Wayne was established in 1847, people referred to areas by a certain name and not “Wayne”. In “Scenic Crossroads, The History of Wayne”, Richard K. Cacioppo discusses some examples. For example, the “Mountain View” section of Wayne was once known as “Mead’s Basin”. “Mead” can also be spelled “Meet”, (see the southwest part of the township map). One might want to pronounce “Preakness” as the word looks but it’s pronounced “Prake-ness”, (“prake” rhymes with “brake”). (The word means “valley, horse, breeding stables”. See the eastern side of the map. The name of the famous racehorse was named for the area.) “Berdan Avenue” was once known as “The Road to the Ponds” such as the road to Oakland and Franklin Lakes. (It later became named for the Berdan Family and Farm.) “Valley Road” was called “Parsonage Road”. “Singac” refers to “creek, brook, or region”. There are many more examples.

Cacioppo, Richard. "Scenic Crossroads, The History of Wayne", p. 219.

Tobin, Cathy. "Images of America, Wayne Township", p. 9.

Wayne Museum, Display Map 1861, 1964

Did you know that John Van Dyken (first picture) once taught Randall Carter and Robert Brubaker (second and third pictur...
10/06/2026

Did you know that John Van Dyken (first picture) once taught Randall Carter and Robert Brubaker (second and third pictures) at the Mountain View School? These three men along with LeGrand Parish are spotlighted in the present Wayne Museum display, “Four Gentlemen of Wayne, the Ripple Effect”. Please come to learn how these men had an influence in Wayne. In addition, there are displays for other 20th Century Life in Wayne. Our permanent 18th and 19th Century exhibits are also available. Tours are available at the Wayne Museum on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00.

SKIING IN WAYNE, 1920'S TO THE 1940'SThroughout the 1920’s and 30’s, the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne held regular...
10/03/2026

SKIING IN WAYNE, 1920'S TO THE 1940'S

Throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, the North Jersey Country Club in Wayne held regular world known ski tournaments with a "run and jump" constructed on the 10th hole fairway of the golf course. Cacioppo reports that many international teams practiced and participated here. Some of these teams participated at the 1932 Olympics at Lake Placid. Competitions organized by the club worked with the Swedish Ski Club of New York City, the Eastern United States Amateur Ski Association (comprised of at least 30 ski clubs), and the National Ski Association (comprised of at least 25 ski clubs). Of special note was the participation of Ole Jansen, a Norwegian jump ski champion who won many competitions during these years. The jump had a fairway of 100 feet high which would make possible jumps over 120 feet. In addition to jump skiing, the club hosted competitions for hockey, skating, cross country skiing, and tobogganing. (See first two pictures.)

The third picture was posted before from a 1940 issue of Packanack Life (from the Packanack Lake Community). People are actually skiing from Alps Road (with no chair lift or rope tow).

Cacioppo, Richard K., “Scenic Crossroads, The History of Wayne”, Dream City Publishing, 1997, p. 170.

The Morning Call, February 10, 1925, p.16. Accessed September 24, 2026.

Packanack Life Newsletter, March 1940, cover.

“Things That Aren't There Anymore Northern NJ Edition”, Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/125409904217878/posts/373241992768000/. Accessed September 25, 2026.

Ridgewood Herald-News, January 7, 1926, p.14. Accessed September 25, 2026.

THE MOUNTAIN VIEW HOTELHixon’s Mountain View Hotel was built in 1909 (although there was another hotel on the same site ...
09/30/2026

THE MOUNTAIN VIEW HOTEL

Hixon’s Mountain View Hotel was built in 1909 (although there was another hotel on the same site before this time). There were always several name changes to the hotel, but local residents often referred to it as Hixon’s Hotel or Mountain View Hotel. After use by canal travelers, the hotel became a well-known destination for people coming to Wayne on vacation. (Tobin)

Here are some “Hotel Tidbits”:
-At one point, the hotel was operated by Harry Hammond, Sr. (Harry Hammond Jr. was a Wayne Police Lieutenant.) Harry Sr. also ran a general store in the Mountain View area. (The News, January 13, 1964)
-A room upstairs at the hotel was used to hold one of the first township’s government meetings and was the site of “Wayne’s Courthouse”. In 1966, Mr. and Mrs. Harold E. Wall remembered at one of the town meetings at the hotel that it was decided that Mountain View would have its own fire company. (The News, December 16, 1966 and Wayne Today, May 21, 2009))
-A later proprietor was arrested for serving b**r, wh***ey, w**e, and ale in 1930 during Prohibition. (The Jersey Journal, August 29, 1930)
-In the 1940’s, the ownership of the Mountain View Hotel was taken over by the Gabriel Family. Jack and Frances Gabriel, and their son Albert formally renamed the hotel, Gabriel’s. Frances was an excellent cook and the hotel’s kitchen, and dining room were expanded to provide food on a regular basis. The restaurant and hotel geared their business to families. Regular patrons referred to Frances as “Ma Gabriel”. (North Jersey Herald and News, March 30, 1988)
-In 1940, the hotel was known for food, entertainment, and a “Vienna Kitchen”—food associated with Vienna, Austria. A musician used to go around from table to table to play musical numbers suggested by patrons. (The Morning Call, March 1, 1940).

Later in the 1900’s, the hotel and restaurant was named “Mother’s”. Recently, the facility became known as “Brokedown Palace”.

Pictured: The original facility during the canal and dirt road years; an invitation to the 1909 opening; the original bar; and a later 20th Century view.

Many former and long-time residents may remember a time that Valley Road actually had “endless” farms. Four of the farm...
09/27/2026

Many former and long-time residents may remember a time that Valley Road actually had “endless” farms. Four of the farms are spotlighted below:

Picture #1: Van Peenen’s Dairy Farm (the last dairy farm in Wayne) was in business for 83 years and closed in 2012. Marinus and Gertrude Van Peenen founded the company in 1929. In time, Jacob “Jake” Van Peenen and his wife and family operated the farm.

Picture #2: The MacDonald Farm was a smaller farm on Valley Road. Cacioppo discusses how the property had 80 acres with a variety of farm products. The farmhouse now has a blue color and is still on Valley Road located across from Walgreen’s.

Picture #3: The Red Barn Farm came in the early 1900’s. It produced corn, vegetables, strawberries, and squashes. In later years, all items were sold in the barn retail store. Cacioppo reports that the barn pictured was an original Sears and Roebuck Barn which was sold by its catalogue. The barn was torn down in 1998 when Valley Road was widened to four lanes.

Picture #4: This 1978 picture is of the Kip-Blain-Nellis Farmhouse on Nellis Drive. The present municipal building and library were once part of the property. Cornelius Kip and George Doremus purchased 600 acres in Lower Preakness from the heirs of Thomas Hart, one of the East Jersey proprietors. The Kip Family had two mills and built a two-story clapboard farmhouse in 1840. Isaac W. Blain bought the farmhouse in 1867. Jacob Nellis bought the property from Blain in 1903 and his family ran the property until 1957. Wayne Township bought the property in the 1970's and the house became the Wayne branch of the American Red Cross from 1979 to 1990 when it was torn down.

For additional reading:

Cacioppo, Richard K. “Scenic Crossroads, The History of Wayne”. Dream City Publishing, 1997.

Hubbard, Daniel. “Van Peenen’s Closes After 83 Years”. https://patch.com/new-jersey/wayne/van-peenen-s-closes-after-83-years.

Payer, Tessa, “A Historic Walk Down Valley Road”. https://seepassaiccounty.org/a-historic-walk-down-valley-road/.

Tobin, Cathy. “Images of America, Wayne”. Arcadia Publishing, 2001.

Due to inclement weather, the Wayne Museum will be closed Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. All scheduled...
09/25/2026

Due to inclement weather, the Wayne Museum will be closed Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. All scheduled events have also been canceled.

Thank you for your understanding and stay safe!

A Version of an Old Folk Song Transplanted in Wayne (A repeat of a previous posting.)Wayne residents may remember the ol...
09/24/2026

A Version of an Old Folk Song Transplanted in Wayne
(A repeat of a previous posting.)

Wayne residents may remember the old folk song, “Erie Canal”:

"Low bridge, ev’rybody down, Low bridge, We must be getting near a town.
You can always tell your neighbor, You can always tell your pal,
If he’s ever navigated on the Erie Canal".

The original song was in response to the mule powered canal boats giving way to steam powered barges and tugboats. Original versions of the song are favorites among many music stars such as Bruce Springsteen.

In recent years, Wayne Museum Staff Members Tessa Payer and Chris Jenner wrote an article discussing how the Morris Canal was designed to connect coal mines in Pennsylvania to ironworks in New Jersey. In Wayne, the Pompton Feeder was built in 1837 to bring water from the Pompton River to the Canal. Schuyler’s Basin, where the Pompton and Ramapo Rivers meet; and Mead’s Basin (Mountain View) on the west side of Wayne brought a lot of business to the township. With the canal along with nearby natural and human made lakes, Wayne also became a seasonal vacation spot.

Museum Attendant Paul Maloney wrote a version of the song “Erie Canal” as a tribute to the Morris Canal and Pompton Feeder in Wayne. The song includes mention of Wayne’s early endeavors such as gunpowder manufacturing, brick making, and lake vacationing. The human made waterways (and later railroads) helped shape Wayne’s destiny.

Wayne Township is certainly our good ole pal
Pompton Feeder was built for the Morris Canal
Schuyler and Mead were the two basins
It was five miles long to the Morris Canal

We filled some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay,
And every inch Wayne stands tall,
From Pompton all the way to Little Falls

Low bridge, Everybody down
Low bridge, Wayne’s a great town
Powder, bricks, and lake touring can be found
The Pompton Feeder played a part on the Morris Canal

We hope you can come for a tour to hear our version of the canal song, and much more history about 5 generations of the Van Riper and Hopper Families. In addition, the museum is currently spotlighting 20th Century stories of Wayne. Be sure to visit!

What Benjamin Franklin was to the people of Philadelphia and United States, LeGrand Parish was to the people of Wayne, N...
09/21/2026

What Benjamin Franklin was to the people of Philadelphia and United States, LeGrand Parish was to the people of Wayne, New Jersey. Find out more details about this famous Wayne citizen at a current display at our museum, “Four Gentlemen of Wayne: The Ripple Effect,” featuring the stories of Parish, Randall Carter, Robert Brubaker, and John Van Dyken. We also have some other 20th Century stories along with our displays of the 18th and 19th century history of the township. (The LeGrand Parish story is also spotlighted at Lambert’s Castle, Paterson.) Our hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

THE MEAD VAN DUYNE HOUSE. Part 2 of 2 Postings. The first part was posted yesterday.With an increase in population after...
09/18/2026

THE MEAD VAN DUYNE HOUSE. Part 2 of 2 Postings. The first part was posted yesterday.

With an increase in population after World War II, the township was shifting from an agricultural and industrial community to a mostly residential suburb. As a result, local highways were becoming busier. The increase in traffic was even more evident with more shopping centers and the opening of Willowbrook Mall in 1969.

With plans to expand and widen Route 23, the New Jersey Department of Transportation purchased the Mead Van Duyne House and land from Florence Klein. With the concern of the structure being torn down, the Wayne Historical Commission stepped in to preserve the house.

The dedicated and resourceful historical commission found ways to provide funding for moving the house to the grounds of the Wayne Museum (where our Van Riper-Hopper House is also located on Berdan Avenue). In September 1974, the structure was moved along Fairfield Road, Route 23, Alps Road, and Berdan Avenue. Many assume that the house was taken apart but this was not the case. The roof was indeed taken off to in order to clear power lines but the stone structure stayed intact during the move. The event received local media attention from many news outlets including the New York Times. Unfortunately, due to the building being moved from the original site, it lost its status on the National Register of Historic Places, (1976). (See pictures.)

Before the house was moved, Archaeologist Ed Lenik from the historical commission organized an excavation of the original property. With emphasis on indigenous inhabitants (before the time of John Mead), Lenik’s Archaeological Team found the remains of two fire pits; projectile points; stone tools including scrapers; knives; flints; hammerstones; whetstones; an axe; pieces of shell; and ceramic fragments. Artifacts of the 18th and 19th Century found include items such as coins, buttons, beads, and straight pins.

There is an extensive collection of pictures showing the moving of the house at the Wayne Museum.) Additional material was provided by Cathy Tobin, Tessa Payer, and Hannah Rodums formerly of the Wayne Museum.

Address

533 Berdan Avenue
Wayne, NJ

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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