Editing Scotch Plains, New Jersey (section)

=== Colonial era ===
The area known as Scotch Plains was first settled by Europeans, including many Scottish [[Quakers]], as early as 1684.<ref>Dudley, William L. [http://www.plainfieldquakers.org/history/dudley.asp "Friendly Families: The Shotwells"], ''The Story of the Friends in Plainfield Including A History of Early Quaker Families'', Rahway & Plainfield Friends (Quaker) Meeting, March 29, 1929. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> The name is said to have come from George Scott, a leader of a group of Scottish settlers.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=28 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 1, 2015.</ref> It later served as a stop on the stage coach line between [[New York City]] and [[Philadelphia]].

The Lenni Lenape were significantly impacted by the establishment of [[Colony|colonies]] in the 17th century, with colonists taking up a large majority of land that had once been the living area of the community. In 1778, the US ratified the first [[treaty]] with an American Indian tribe, the [[Treaty of Fort Pitt]]; the treaty eventually fell apart, causing the inter-cultural relationship to rupture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1778 Treaty of Fort Pitt: U.S. Treaty-Making with the Lenape Nation |url=https://diplomacy.state.gov/stories/treaty-of-fort-pitt/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=The National Museum of American Diplomacy}}</ref> Today, the Lenni-Lenape, now known as the [[Delaware Nation]], are found in small regions across the US and Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.delawarenation-nsn.gov/history/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Delaware Nation}}</ref> A variety of treaties, conflicts, and migration have spread out the community, although a small group continue to live in their ancestral region, hoping to educate and bring to light their claims to the land, including Scotch Plains.<ref>{{Cite web |title='We just want to be welcomed back': The Lenape seek a return home |url=https://whyy.org/articles/we-just-want-to-be-welcomed-back-the-lenape-seek-a-return-home/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=WHYY}}</ref>

The Ash Swamp in Scotch Plains was the scene of a key action in the [[Battle of Short Hills]], on June 26, 1777, which included skirmishes as Washington's forces moved along Rahway Road in Scotch Plains toward the [[Watchung Mountains]]. An ancient house in Scotch Plains recalls those skirmishes and with the acreage adjoining the house, presents a vista of that decade, the 1770s. This was the home of Aunt Betty Frazee, whose retort to [[Lord Cornwallis]] led the British to find their bread from friendlier bakers in the same battle. The farmstead of Betty and Gershom Frazee is being restored by local organizations.<ref>[http://www.fsprotary.org/programs/ Major Events and Fundraisers], Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref>

What is now Scotch Plains was originally incorporated as '''Fanwood Township''' on March 6, 1878, by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] from portions of [[Plainfield Township, New Jersey|Plainfield Township]] and [[Westfield, New Jersey|Westfield Township]]. Portions of the township were taken to form [[Fanwood, New Jersey|Fanwood Borough]] on October 2, 1895. Fanwood Township was renamed as Scotch Plains on March 29, 1917, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.<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. 238 re Fanwood Township. p. 241 re Scotch Plains. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>

Scotch Plains was home to the [[Shady Rest Golf and Country Club]], the nation's first African-American country club. Its pro, [[John Shippen]], the first African-American golf professional, led the 1892 U.S. Open in the final round before finishing fifth.<ref>Staff. [http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3290583/Making-an-impact-Legends-Of.html "Making an impact."], ''[[Black Enterprise]]'', November 1, 2003. Accessed December 18, 2011.</ref> The Shady Rest clubhouse hosted [[Cab Calloway]] and other greats as a local center for African-American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. It is preserved today as the Scotch Hills Municipal course.<ref>Venutolo, Anthony. [http://blog.nj.com/ledgerarchives/2009/02/country_club_life.html "Shady Rest in Scotch Plains was first African-American club of its kind"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', February 19, 2009. Accessed December 18, 2011.</ref>

A much more complete history of the township can be found in the October 28, 1999, "Our Towns: Scotch Plains-Fanwood (2nd Annual)" issue of ''The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood'', produced by the town's newspaper of record at the time<ref>Madison, Deborah. [http://www.goleader.com/99ot/99ot.pdf#page=4 "Scotch Plains and Fanwood – A Tale of Two Communities"], ''The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood'', October 28, 1999. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref> as well as on the township's website.<ref>[http://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/history.html History], Township of Scotch Plains. Accessed August 26, 2013.</ref>

The ancestors of many residents immigrated from the area of [[Montazzoli]], Italy, as part of a wave of Italian immigrants who arrived in the area in the early 20th century.<ref>[http://www.stbartholomewchurch.org/parish-life/history A Brief History of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish], St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish. Accessed January 15, 2016. "A majority of families belonging to the parish in 1948 were a combination of first and second generation Italians, many of whom had migrated to Scotch Plains from Montazzoli, Italy."</ref><ref>[http://scotchplainsitalianamericanclub.com/About_Us.php About Us], Scotch Plains Italian American Club. Accessed January 15, 2016. "Founded in 1906, the Scotch Plains Italian-American Club is a private non-profit organization Montazzolli, Italy originally established by Italian immigrants from the Abruzzi Region of Italy. Largely from the small village of Montazzoli, club members continue to maintain strong ties with its spirited heritage and old world family values characterized by hard work, love, family and a celebration of life."</ref><ref>Capuzzo, Jill P. [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/realestate/commuters-can-spread-out-in-scotch-plains-nj.html?_r=1 "Where Commuters Can Spread Out"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 17, 2014. Accessed January 15, 2015. "Now home to around 23,500 residents, Scotch Plains saw a big increase in its population in the early 1900s when a large wave of Italians immigrated here, many from a small town in the Abruzzo region, Montazzoli."</ref> In recognition of this longstanding connection, the township established "Montazzoli Plaza" in October 2015 in front of the Italian American Club.<ref>Mooney, John. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/articles/columbus-day-celebration-mayor-council-unveil-m "Columbus Day Celebration: Mayor, Council Unveil Montazzoli Plaza in Scotch Plains"], TAPIntoScotchPlainsFanwood, October 11, 2015. Accessed January 15, 2015. "For decades, Scotch Plains and the village of Montazzoli, Italy, have been sister cities as hundreds of immigrants left the Abruzzo region of Italy in search of a better life.... On Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Township's Columbus Day celebration, Mayor Kevin Glover announced the creation of Montazzoli Plaza, which will be located in front of the Italian American Club on Valley Ave."</ref>