Guttenberg – a 4-by-12-block town founded in 1859 from a portion of land that was originally part of North Bergen – recently held the first of several planned celebrations of its 150 years of existence.
The first event, held at Anna L. Klein School, featured students reading excerpts from the town’s history. The cafeteria was decorated with historic photos.
According to a publication printed by the now-defunct Hudson Dispatch newspaper commemorating the town’s 125th anniversary, the area was originally a Dutch province, founded in the early 1500s. The portion containing Guttenberg was once owned by Tielman Van Vleck and Dirck Claesen. Vleck also was the founder of the township of Bergen, while Claesen was the owner of the Caven Point area of Jersey City.
In the 1700s, Guttenberg was not the scene of any Revolutionary War battles, but it was close to several. The British defended their “blockhouse” on the Palisade cliffs from General “Mad Anthony” Wayne, who was forced to retreat, with 15 men killed and 15 men wounded.
In the 1800s, the town was flooded by German immigrants. The name of the town was derived from the famous inventor of printing and movable type, Johannes Gutenberg, who printed the first large book, the Latin Bible.
Guttenberg is also German for “good hills” or “die guten berge.”
Breweries and hotels
In the late 1800s, the town had a population in the hundreds, and was an area of breweries, hotels, a brand new police and fire department, hard-working immigrants, dirt roads, and swamps.
Now it’s one of the most densely populated towns in America. It contains a mixture of small homes, the towering Galaxy Apartments, stores, and commerce, with a population over 10,000.
Mayor Drasheff said that it was important to remember the anniversary of the town not just on the day of its founding, but throughout the next year.
Starting with school
Anna L. Klein Principal Peter Garrido, who is himself a product of the town, thought that the anniversary would be a great way to express to his students the importance of town history.
At last week’s event, students read sections of the Dispatch book and sang patriotic songs. The school’s “cafetorium” was decorated with photos of the town from different time periods.
According to the Dispatch, Guttenberg’s original school, a wooden structure comprised of four rooms on Franklin Avenue (now 69th Street), had 290 pupils in 1872, with a daily attendance of 159.
A new school was built in 1901 and experienced many additions over the years. It was dedicated to Anna L. Klein, the school’s principal from 1928 until1952.
Garrido said, “Anna L. Klein School is a big part of the history of Guttenberg and has been here almost since the town has.”
Garrido said he told students that the school was once located where their playground now sits, and that its sometimes hard for them to fathom how much it has changed over time.
“They really don’t understand time as we do when we become adults,” said Garrido. “They realize that the town is old, [but] sometimes for them, old is 10 years or 5 years.”
The next year
Drasheff said some of the town’s long-term residents still talk about the centennial anniversary 50 years ago, when the town’s parade was so large it doubled back on itself around the town. He said he wants to make the next year as memorable as possible.
“We’re all facing very tough times. This is the kind of event that you can’t let pass.” –Gerald Drasheff.
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“It dawned on me maybe about two years ago [while looking at] the banner behind the mayor’s seat that we were going to have our 150th in 2009,” said Drasheff. “I fully expected to be in a council seat at that time, not in the mayor’s seat, but I’m really enthused about this.”
He continued, “We’re all facing very tough times. This is the kind of event that you can’t let pass, because it’s not going to happen again, and it’s nice to be celebrating something positive for a change.”
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.