The Great “Franklin” Flip: Why This NJ Town Just Re-Named Its Main Road After a Different Founding Father
photo courtesy of ArtChickPhotography.com
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Allendale NJ, It’s apparently never too late to set the historical record straight. Two days before what would have been Benjamin Franklin’s 320th birthday on January 17, 2026, the borough of Allendale, NJ, issued a surprising proclamation. They are “renaming” their 2-mile stretch of the iconic Franklin Turnpike.
The twist? Most residents thought it was already named after the man on the $100 bill. As it turns out, the road actually bore the name of a man the history books would rather forget: William Franklin, the “traitor” son of Benjamin.
A Tale of Two Franklins: Patriot vs. Loyalist
For years, drivers on Franklin Turnpike were unknowingly commuting on a road named for the last Royalist Governor of New Jersey. While Benjamin Franklin was signing the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, his son William was busy working as a British spy.
The Proclamation’s “Burn” on William Franklin:
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The Betrayal: William served as a leader for the “Associated Loyalists,” organizing guerrilla warfare against American patriots.
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The Arrest: He was arrested by colonial militiamen in 1776 and spent two years in a Connecticut jail.
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The Exile: After a prisoner exchange, he fled to Great Britain in 1782 and never reconciled with his famous father.
“William Franklin betrayed the American cause… Allendale has chosen to symbolically dedicate our small portion of Franklin Turnpike to Benjamin Franklin,” said Mayor Amy Wilczynski.
Why Now? America’s 250th Anniversary
With the United States celebrating its Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) in 2026, Allendale officials decided there was no better time to “right a wrong.”
Historian Jim Wright, who attended the ceremony at Borough Hall, noted that this symbolic shift is the perfect way to honor the real “First American.”
A Quick Refresher on the Real Franklin:
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The only Founding Father to sign all four key documents of the nation’s founding.
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Inventor of the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin Stove.
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Founder of the first public library, fire company, and hospital in America.
Will Your GPS Change?
Don’t worry about updating your Waze app just yet. Mayor Wilczynski clarified that this is a symbolic tribute, not a bureaucratic nightmare.
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No Official Name Changes: The road remains “Franklin Turnpike” on legal maps.
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No New Signs: To save taxpayer money, the town isn’t replacing street signs.
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Cost to Taxpayers: $0.
History Hidden in Plain Sight
Franklin Turnpike is more than just a commuter route; it’s a corridor of the Revolutionary War. Along its stretch, you can still find:
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The Fell House (Allendale): A historic landmark that served as a home for patriots.
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The Hermitage (Ho-Ho-Kus): Frequented by Aaron Burr.
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Old Paramus Reformed Church (Ridgewood): Once used as George Washington’s headquarters.
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I am sure that most folks assumed the road was named after Benjamin Franklin.
This should clarify the misunderstanding and “give” the road its rightful name.
The Hermitage was also a pit stop for a family friend and bloodless traitor (Peggy Shippen) who stopped there and stayed the night while basically “on the lam”, and on her way out of the country, after her traitor husband (Major General Benedict Arnold) came “This >>> <<< Close" to successfully handing West Point over to the British.
Bergen county was a problem area during the revolution (actually the first civil war) in that patriots and loyalists lived side by side in many areas.
Interesting observation. Recently reading a book based on the revolution it mentioned many times the struggle between the Tories and Patriots. It always appeared that the Tories were a very small group but in reality there were my thousands throughout the 13 colonies. I also came to the conclusion that the revolution was a “civil war.”
Good for Allendale.
Unlike the City of Ridgewood, which could care less about history.