February 16,2018
by John Paquin
originally posted on the Vintage Ridgewood New Jersey Facebook page
Ridgewood NJ, Welcome to Downtown Ridgewood — Circa 1830! (Or what did Zabriskie-Schedler look like, Part II). This view is from the opposite direction from the last one, and what this provides is context — and why this is about more than just “a house”. This is looking SW down West Saddle River Rd toward Paramus Church and what was then known as “Paramus Center”. What you can hopefully get a sense of is the important community that existed here (in Ridgewood!), first settled in the 1690’s as Anthony’s earlier post indicated. Why here? It was the convergence of indian trails that later became an important crossroads connecting the region (much as Rt’s 17, 4 and the parkway do today). As Peggy Norris detailed in her excellent history of the property, John Zabriskie bought just over 9 acres from the church in 1825 to build this house and farm, and incredibly, 7 acres of that purchase remain untouched to this day (the property originally extended across 17 to franklin tpke — those two-plus acres now lie under six lanes). I took license again with that 230 year-old tree — it’s drawn as it appears today — but that is to scale. it dwarfs the house and pre-dates it by some 40 years!
Very cool.
That’s a real cool picture I love that history. If you have more share with all of us it’s a very well respected thank you.
We need to have more people submit great pictures like this to share with us
Where is the drawing of the Ginormous Garage?
Who clearcut the trees around that house?
8:33 Our current Council, headed by Deputy Mayor, cut down the trees
11:07 but not because they are going to build anything …. LOL just so we have a clear view of rt 17 and the gas station
We certainly have a clear view now. And the little trees are still there. Before too much more money is invested the council should come take a listen and have a nice conversation about it while still on the property. Particularly during rush hour when most games would be played.