Submitted by: Green Brook Historical Society
Last month we mentioned the many uses of Cardinal Lane over the years. First, one has to realize that Washington Avenue wasn’t built until January, 1891. So to see the view from the Rock, Cardinal Lane was the primary route to the top of the mountain. As a reminder, Cardinal Lane was a name change around 1997.
In the 1700’s and 1800’s it was known as “The Path” on the maps of the times. Probably the first use was by the Native Americans in the area. There was a trail up the route of the current Warrenville Road, but that was much steeper and more difficult to climb than Cardinal Lane. Then there were the settlers in the 1700’s. Game was plentiful up on the mountain and agriculture thrived in the Washington Valley below. This was the logical common way up to the mountain. In addition, in the mid 1700’s the Vermeule brothers had accumulated 1,200 acres of land and established the self-contained village of the Blue Hills Plantation before General George’s visit on June 13, 1777. “The Path” started at the Plantation and then up to the Rock on the crest of the Watchung, where Washington had watched the movements of the British forces on the plains below.
Let’s discuss the next use. In the 1850’s the hill across from the Rock was the scene of political rallies and similar activities. Someone had the bright idea that the location would be perfect for a resort hotel. So a little before 1860 there was built a three-story hotel, complete with stable. The clientele was designed to be the rich from New York City and not necessarily area residents. City residents wanted the country air and the great view from the Rock. Guests would travel from NYC, usually by ferry, across to NJ, then by rail to the Plainfield Train Station. They would be picked up there by stagecoach and taken up the Path to the Rock and the Washington Rock Mountain House, as it was first called. If you were visiting the Rock in the afternoon, you would hear the clip-clop of the horses as the stage brought the guests up to the hotel along the Path from the afternoon train.
Come and join us at the Green Brook Historical Society on Thursday November 17th at 7:30 PM at the 1st floor conference meeting room in the Municipal Building. We’ll show you that local history is anything but dull.
