From the Archives – Garwood History
Submitted by Carol Lombardo, Historical Committee Chair
Did you know…
Although Garwood will turn a mere 121 years old in March, there is a lot of history in the borough if you just look around. Our tiny borough was once the “Industrial Hub of Union County” as indicated by the Great Seal of the Borough which hangs in the Garwood Council Chambers. Many internationally known manufacturing companies had a facility in this town, notably because of the railroad tracks that ran through its center. Now replaced by commuter trains, freight trains were a common site crossing over Center Street. One notable business is the Aeolian Company whose castle-like façade is all that remains of a once burgeoning business. Many Aeolian Organs are still in use today such as the one at the Longwood Gardens Conservatory and on Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Other notable industries, now long gone, are: Diamond Expansion Bolt which stood across from the Garwood Shop-Rite on North Avenue, and Beckley Perforating Company is now the site of the CVS at the corner of Cedar Street and North Avenue. Once a vital industrial center, Garwood was home to Wadell Equipment Company which manufactured automotive and aeronautical maintenance equipment, Magnus Chemical Company which produced cleaners for home and industry and National Gypsum Company that manufactured wallboard and building lath, acoustical products, shingles and siding as well as plaster and insulation materials.
Two of our more famous claims to fame are: Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) which stood where Vermella is now located and the Thatcher Furnace Company which pioneered warm air heating since the 1930s and was a leader in their field. The Kings Shopping Mall was built on the site of Thatcher Furnace.
This is only a sampling of Garwood’s rich industrial history. Housing sprang up in the early 1900s to house the workers for these many industries that provided materials throughout Union County, the east coast and other parts of the country, leading to the creation of our town.
The Garwood Historical Committee is the repository of Garwood’s historical memorabilia and artifacts. If you have photos or artifacts from Garwood’s past, the Committee would like to hear from you. If you don’t want to part with your items, we can photograph and scan the item and return it to you, otherwise, we would be pleased to retain it for safekeeping for generations to come. You can reach Garwood’s Historical Committee at garwoodhistory@garwood.org or you can attend one of our meetings, usually held on the 4th Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in Garwood’s Council Chambers. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Garwood Historical Committee, please contact the Borough Office at 908-789-0710.
