Editing Glen Ridge, New Jersey (section)

==History==
In 1666, 64 [[Connecticut]] families led by [[Robert Treat]] bought land from the [[Lenape|Lenni Lenape]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] and named it New Ark to reflect a covenant to worship freely without persecution. The territory included the future towns of [[Bloomfield, New Jersey|Bloomfield]], [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]], [[Belleville, New Jersey|Belleville]] and [[Nutley, New Jersey|Nutley]]. When Bloomfield was established in 1812, Glen Ridge was a section "on the hill" composed mostly of farms and woodlands with the exception of a thriving industrial area along [[Toney's Brook]] in the glen.<ref>Herman, Jennifer [https://books.google.com/books?id=Tc4uZ2HBG2oC&pg=PA280 ''New Jersey Encyclopedia''], p. 280. State History Publications, 2008. {{ISBN|9781878592446}}. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref> For most of the nineteenth century, three water-powered mills produced lumber, calico, pasteboard boxes and brass fittings. A [[copper mine]] and a [[sandstone]] [[quarry]] were located on the north side of the brook.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin57.pdf|pages=72–75|title=Copper Mines and Mining in New Jersey|first=Herbert|last=Woodward|publisher=State of New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development|location=Trenton, New Jersey|year=1944}}</ref>

In 1856, the [[Montclair Branch|Newark and Bloomfield Railroad]] arrived, with the construction of the [[Glen Ridge station]]. In 1872, the [[New York and Greenwood Lake Railway (1878–1943)|New York and Greenwood Lake Railway]] arrived, with the construction of the station at today's [[Benson Street station|Benson Street]]. Glen Ridge began its transition to a suburban residential community. Stately homes slowly replaced orchards and wooded fields.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

In 1891, [[Mountainside Hospital]], a local hospital with more than 300 beds now known as HackensackUMC Mountainside, was founded.<ref>[http://www.mountainsidehosp.com/About-Us.aspx About Us], HackensackUMC Mountainside. Accessed July 22, 2014. "HackensackUMC Mountainside has been serving Montclair and its surrounding New Jersey communities since 1891."</ref> The Glen Ridge Country Club was founded in 1894, making it one of the state's oldest clubs.<ref>Mazzola, Jessica. [http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/11/one_of_njs_oldest_country_clubs_getting_11m_makeov.html#incart_river_home "One of N.J.'s oldest country clubs getting $11M makeover"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], November 28, 2015. Accessed November 29, 2015. "The Glen Ridge Country Club's 40,000 square foot clubhouse still retains some of the original structure from when it was built in 1894, according to Jim Kirkos, the club's president."</ref>

Residents "on the hill" became unhappy with their representation on the Bloomfield Council. In spite of repeated requests to Bloomfield officials, roads remained unpaved, water and sewer systems were nonexistent, and schools were miles away. Area residents marked out the boundaries of a {{convert|1.45|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} area to secede from the adjoining town. At the election held on February 12, 1895, the decision to secede passed by only 23 votes. Robert Rudd was elected the first mayor of Glen Ridge.<ref>Staff. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2TRDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AK0MAAAAIBAJ&dq=glen-ridge%20robert-rudd&pg=4973%2C5396779 "Glen Ridge Excited: The Borough Question Warmly Discussed Last Evening"], ''[[Newark Sunday Call]]'', February 3, 1895. Accessed April 21, 2012.</ref>

On February 13, 1895, Glen Ridge was incorporated as a borough by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] from portions of [[Bloomfield, New Jersey|Bloomfield Township]], based on the results of a referendum held the previous day.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 128. Accessed March 1, 2012.</ref>

After becoming a borough, architects suggested buying gas lamps, they became a characteristic of the borough.<ref name="glenridgehistory-gaslights"/><ref name="nj.com-greatest-town-part-1">{{cite news |last1=Genovese |first1=Peter |title=The greatest thing about every single North Jersey town, part 1 |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/08/the-greatest-thing-about-every-single-north-jersey-town-part-1.html |access-date=14 August 2022 |work=[[NJ.com]] |date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816110431/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/08/the-greatest-thing-about-every-single-north-jersey-town-part-1.html |archive-date=16 August 2021 |language=en |quote=Glen Ridge: Those gas lamps}}</ref> Circa World War II, gas lamps were discarded, many by the City of New York, later salvaged, repaired, and brought to Glen Ridge.<ref name="glenridgehistory-gaslights">{{cite web |title=The Gaslights |url=https://www.glenridgehistory.org/the-gaslights/ |website=Glen Ridge Historical Society |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> With only 3,000 [[gas lighting|gaslights]] remaining in operation in the entire United States, the 2,500 managed by [[Public Service Enterprise Group]], succeeding the [[Carl Auer von Welsbach|Welsbach]] Company,<ref name="glenridgehistory-gaslights"/><ref name="starledger-cardone-obit"/> include 1,400 lamps in South Orange, 667 in Glen Ridge, some  
in Trenton and dozens of other towns, lighting their streets.<ref name="nj_gas_lamp_tenders">{{cite web |last1=Caroom |first1=Eliot |title=Last of the gas lamp tenders: PSE&G employee minds a small flock |url=https://www.nj.com/business/2012/09/last_of_the_gas_lamp_tenders_p.html |website=[[The Star-Ledger]] |publisher=[[NJ.com]] |access-date=14 August 2022 |location=[[Newark, New Jersey]] |language=en |date=30 September 2012}}</ref><ref>Read, Phillip. "In Glen Ridge, the future has a Manhattan flair and a French twist; Work begins on a big ratable: Luxury condos with the fancy name", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', March 30, 2005.</ref><ref name="starledger-cardone-obit">{{cite web |title=OBITUARY: Sebastian "Yon" Cardone |url=https://obits.nj.com/us/obituaries/starledger/name/sebastian-cardone-obituary?id=23679775 |website=[[The Star-Ledger]] |access-date=14 August 2022 |date=February 11, 2011 |quote=Yon was employed as a gaslight lighter for Welsback Corp. for over 50 years, maintaining the then gaslights throughout Glen Ridge, N.J., and many surrounding towns.}}</ref> ''The Gaslamp'' is the Glen Ridge Historical Society's quarterly newsletter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Newsletter |url=https://www.glenridgehistory.org/newsletter/ |website=Glen Ridge Historical Society |access-date=14 August 2022}}</ref> Along streets with gas lamps, utility poles for electric lines are not permitted along the street, and are instead are routed behind homes. The borough also features extensive use of [[slate]] sidewalks.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=HvpGHhZca8Q |title=Glen Ridge Gas-Powered Lights {{!}} This Old House |date=2024-11-01 |last=This Old House |access-date=2024-11-02 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In 1924, Glen Ridge became the first municipality in New Jersey to establish a [[zoning]] ordinance.<ref>Peterson, Mary Jo; and Gebeloff, Mark. "Where Houses Defy The Decades; It's no accident that most Glen Ridge homes are old: The town sees red if you defy the blueprints.", ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', December 27, 2002.</ref>

In 1982, the borough's official name was changed to "Township of Glen Ridge Borough". Glen Ridge was one of more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships to take advantage of federal [[revenue sharing]] policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid on a per capita basis.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150925103452/http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH6.PDF#page=3 "Chapter VI: Municipal Names and Municipal Classification"]}}, p. 73. [[New Jersey State Commission on County and Municipal Government]], 1992. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.gao.gov/assets/140/137109.pdf#page=54 "Removing Tiering From The Revenue Sharing Formula Would Eliminate Payment Inequities To Local Governments"], [[Government Accountability Office]], April 15, 1982. Accessed September 24, 2015. "In 1978, South Orange Village was the first municipality to change its name to the 'township' of South Orange Village effective beginning in entitlement period 10 (October 1978 to September 1979). The Borough of Fairfield in 1978 changed its designation by a majority vote of the electorate and became the 'Township of Fairfield' effective beginning entitlement period 11 (October 1979 to September 1980).... However, the Revenue Sharing Act was not changed and the actions taken by South Orange and Fairfield prompted the Town of Montclair and West Orange to change their designation by referendum in the November 4, 1980, election. The municipalities of Belleville, Verona, Bloomfield, Nutley, Essex Fells, Caldwell, and West Caldwell have since changed their classification from municipality to a township."</ref><ref>Narvaez, Alfonso A. [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/27/nyregion/new-jersey-journal-147786.html "New Jersey Journal"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 27, 1981. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Under the Federal system, New Jersey's portion of the revenue sharing funds is disbursed among the 21 counties to create three 'money pools.' One is for county governments, one for 'places' and a third for townships. By making the change, a community can use the 'township advantage' to get away from the category containing areas with low per capita incomes."</ref><ref>[[Alan Karcher|Karcher, Alan J.]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=o0BmBWloogcC#page=119 ''New Jersey's Multiple Municipal Madness''], pp. 119-120. [[Rutgers University Press]], 1998. {{ISBN|9780813525662}}. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref> Effective May 1993, the borough's original name of "Glen Ridge Borough" was restored.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/popest/data/historical/1990s/boundary_changes/34.html Geographic Change Notes: New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925111553/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/historical/1990s/boundary_changes/34.html |date=2015-09-25 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed March 1, 2012. "Glen Ridge borough, Essex County: new incorporation from all Glen Ridge Borough township, effective May, 1993 (Census place: 1960; FIPS: 26610)"</ref> The borough's name comes from the ridge formed by [[Toney's Brook]].<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=14 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref>{{dubious|Incorrect history of the name "Glen Ridge"|date=September 2022|reason=Nonsensical, plus not exactly what the cited reference says. On top of that, I'm pretty sure the cited reference is not exactly correct either (though it's at least not nonsensical). Please see talk page for more details.}}

In 2010, Glen Ridge was ranked as the 38th Best Place to live by ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'' magazine.<ref>Roll, Erin. [http://www.northjersey.com/realestate/85304412_Borough_up_85_spaces_among__Best_Places_.html "NJ Monthly: Glen Ridge 38th best place to live"], ''Glen Ridge Voice'', February 24, 2010. Accessed November 27, 2011.</ref>

In 1989, athletes from the high school were involved in [[Glen Ridge rape|the sexual assault of a mentally handicapped student]]. Three teenagers were found guilty of first-degree aggravated sexual assault; a fourth was convicted of third-degree conspiracy.<ref>Hanley, Robert. [https://www.nytimes.com/books/97/08/03/reviews/glenridge-verdict.html "4 Are Convicted in Sexual Abuse Of Retarded New Jersey Woman"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 17, 1993. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref> Author [[Bernard Lefkowitz]] wrote about the incident in the 1997 book ''Our Guys: The Glen Ridge Rape and the Secret Life of the Perfect Suburb''.<ref>Banks, Russell. [https://www.nytimes.com/books/97/08/03/reviews/970803.03bankst.html "A Whole Lot of Poor Judgment"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 3, 1997. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref> Lefkowitz's book was adapted into the 1999 TV movie ''Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge''.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121105015937/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/269627/Our-Guys-Outrage-at-Glen-Ridge/overview ''Our Guys: Outrage at Glen Ridge'']}}, ''[[The New York Times]]''. Accessed August 30, 2011.</ref>

Glen Ridge is a frequent location for film, television, and commercial shoots. Notable works include ''[[Winter Solstice (film)|Winter Solstice]]'' and ''[[Mona Lisa Smile]]''.<ref>Galant, Debra. [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/27/nyregion/jersey-scene-the-big-screen-meets-a-small-town.html "Jersey; Scene: The Big Screen Meets a Small Town"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 27, 2002. Accessed August 24, 2018. "Is there any town that doesn't melt like butter at the prospect of movie stars showing up? Apparently not. At least not Glen Ridge.... Mike Newell is in town directing a movie called ''Mona Lisa Smile.''"</ref><ref>Cahillane, Kevin. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/nyregion/surround-sound-need-not-apply.html "Surround Sound Need Not Apply"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 8, 2005. Accessed August 24, 2018. "''Winter Solstice,'' a new film starring [[Anthony LaPaglia]] as a grieving father raising two teenage sons in the New Jersey suburbs, is the strong and silent type of movie.... Here, in this case, is Glen Ridge, a pretty little film-friendly town next to Montclair and Bloomfield in Essex County, where Mr. Sternfeld found the lush suburban landscape and leisurely pace he sought for his 22-day shoot."</ref>

In the 1980s, it was discovered that a section of the borough near Carteret Park was built on top of hazardous waste. Waste contaminated with [[radium]] from the old U.S. Radium watch dial plant had been used to fill in low-lying areas of Glen Ridge covering {{Convert|90|acres}}, as well as portions of [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]] and [[West Orange, New Jersey|West Orange]].<ref>Galant, Debbie. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/29/nyregion/living-with-a-radium-nightmare.html "Living With A Radium Nightmare"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 29, 1996. Accessed May 4, 2023. "The Federal Environmental Protection Agency had just announced that an extensive area of radium contamination had been found in Essex County. The Allins, and their neighbors, were living atop radium waste discarded more than half a century earlier from a nearby watch-dial factory. The dirt in their yard was radioactive, with a half-life of 1,600 years.... A Superfund site is seldom hard to recognize: go to a place where hazardous materials were carelessly produced or stored or dumped, and there you are. But in Glen Ridge, you could spend all day walking around the 90-acre site -- this utterly typical neighborhood of 1930's houses on shady streets, of flower gardens and jungle gyms and dogs -- and never guess the source of the contamination."</ref> It was not until the year 2000 that the area was completely cleaned of any contamination.