Editing Morris Township, New Jersey (section)

== History ==
[[File:Washington Valley Schoolhouse, Washington Valley, NJ - looking north.jpg|thumb|left|Washington Valley Schoolhouse]]
[[File:124 Washington Valley Road, Washington Valley, NJ - John Smith House.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Smith House (Washington Valley, New Jersey)|John Smith House]]]]
[[File:Madison Hotel Morristown jeh.jpg|thumb|left|Madison Hotel in Convent Station]]
[[File:20 Normandy Parkway, Morris Township, NJ.jpg|thumb|left|[[Normandy Park Historic District]]]]
[[File:PRUDDENTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT; MORRIS COUNTY.jpg|thumb|left|Pruddentown Historic District]]

=== Incorporation ===
Morris Township was originally formed as of March 25, 1740. The township was named for [[Lewis Morris (governor)|Lewis Morris]], colonial governor of New Jersey.<ref name="mapmaker.rutgers.edu" /><ref name="books.google.com" />

Portions of the township were taken on December 24, 1740, to form [[Roxbury Township, New Jersey|Roxbury Township]] and on March 29, 1749, to form [[Mendham Township, New Jersey|Mendham Township]]. Morris Township was incorporated as a township by the [[Township Act of 1798]] by the [[New Jersey Legislature]] on February 21, 1798, as part of the state's initial group of 104 townships.

Portions of the township were later taken to create [[Chatham Township, New Jersey|Chatham Township]] (February 12, 1806), [[Morristown, New Jersey|Morristown]] (April 6, 1865, fully independent in 1895) and Passaic Township (on March 23, 1866, now [[Long Hill Township, New Jersey|Long Hill Township]]).<ref name="Story">Snyder, John P. [https://nj.gov/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. 194. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>[http://mclib.info/reference/local-history-genealogy/historical-timeline-of-morris-county-boundaries/ Historical Timeline of Morris County Boundaries], Morris County Library. Accessed December 24, 2016. "1740, March 25. Morris County is established. Morris County includes Morris Township, Pequannock (also referred to as Poquanick or Peqannoc), Hanover Township, and 'Morris Town.' From the Court of Common Pleas."</ref>

On September 22, 1860, the ''Jerseyman'' reported:<blockquote>The total population of Morris Township is 6,024, being an increase of 1,032 since 1850 and of 348 since 1855. Number of families 1,147; Dwellings 1,124; [[Farm]]s 256; [[Church (congregation)|Churches]] 11, viz., 3 [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], 3 [[Methodism|Methodist]], 2 [[Anglicanism|Episcopalian]], 1 [[Baptists|Baptist]], 1 [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], 1 [[Black church|African]]. Deaths during the year 67. Raised last year 9,191 bushels of [[Wheat]], 5,649 of [[Rye]], 64,808 of [[Oat]]s, 118,245 of [[Maize|Corn]], 7,262 tons of [[Hay]] and 8,730 lbs. of [[Tobacco]]; and 92,366 lbs. of [[Butter]] were made. There are in the Township 1,642 [[Horse]]s, 36 [[Mule]]s, 1500 [[Cattle|Cows]], 200 [[Ox]]en, 1100 [[Calf (animal)|Young Cattle]], 1262 [[Sheep]] and 1600 [[Pig|Swine]].<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

===Washington Valley Historic District===
{{Main|Washington Valley Historic District}}
Many historic properties are in the encompassing [[Washington Valley Historic District]]. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Morris County, New Jersey|National Register of Historic Places]] in November 1992.<ref name="nrhpnom">{{cite journal
|url={{NRHP url|id= 92001583}}
|title=NRHP Nomination: Washington Valley Historic District
|last1=Foster|first1=Janet W.
|date=November 12, 1992
|publisher=National Park Service}}
{{cite journal
|url={{NRHP url|id= 92001583 |photos=y}} 
|title=Accompanying 56 photos, from 1991.}}</ref> Notable sites located in [[Washington Valley, New Jersey|Washington Valley]] include the [[Washington Valley Schoolhouse]] and the [[John Smith House (Washington Valley, New Jersey)|John Smith House]]. Parts of the district are within neighboring [[Mendham Township, New Jersey|Mendham Township]].

===Convent Station===
The community of [[Convent Station, New Jersey|Convent Station]] is named after the [[Convent Station (NJ Transit)|Convent Station railroad station]] that was constructed there during the 1870s to serve the {{convert|200|acre|km2|adj=on}} complex of the [[Academy of Saint Elizabeth]], a [[Catholic school]] operating under the auspices of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson]].<ref>[http://www.patdioschools.org/morris-county Morris County], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson]] Catholic Schools Office. Accessed June 7, 2016.</ref>

Notable neighborhoods include Bradwahl, Cromwell Hills, and the [[Normandy Park Historic District]]. The Morris Township Municipal Building and the Morris Township Police Headquarters are located in Convent Station. The community is home to the [[Morris County Golf Club]] and the [[Morris Museum]].<ref>Scheireik, Susan. [https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/14/realestate/if-youre-thinking-of-living-in-convent-station.html "If You're Thinking of Living in: Convent Station"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 14, 1993. Accessed May 17, 2023. "Convent Station owes its name to the nuns who provided funds in the 1870s for a train station next to St. Elizabeth's Academy for girls, a forerunner of one of the first women's colleges in New Jersey."</ref>

=== Sidney Reso kidnapping ===
In 1992, [[Arthur Seale]] and his wife kidnapped [[ExxonMobil|Exxon]] executive Sidney Reso, a township resident, from his home. The Seales' sought a ransom of $18.5 million, but Reso died in captivity. The case received nationwide attention.<ref>Nieves, Evelyn. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/28/nyregion/portrait-of-2-accused-of-kidnapping-ardent-hapless-pursuit-of-affluence.html "Portrait of 2 Accused of Kidnapping: Ardent, Hapless Pursuit of Affluence"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 28, 1992. Accessed November 5, 2018. "Mr. Seale, an ex-police officer and Exxon security manager, and Mrs. Seale, known as Jackie, are charged with kidnapping the president of Exxon International, Sidney J. Reso, from the driveway of his Morris Township home on April 29 and demanding $18.5 million in ransom."</ref>