Newark, N.J. Interesting Ethnic History

Map 1910 showing ethnic distribution in Newark, N.J.

Map from 1966 of Newark, N.J.

As many of you know I am a native of New Jersey and I was born in Newark in the 1950's. My parents were raised in Newark and lived there when they were first married. Many of my relatives stayed there well into the 1970's. My paternal grandmother immigrated here from Poland when she was only 17 and went from New York to Newark as did many in the Polish community. My maternal grandparents immigrated here also from the Ukrane. There were gypsies in my mother's family background. All of them came in through Ellis Island and I have copies of the records. As a child I remember visiting my grandmother in Irvington which borders Newark and was the home of Olympic Park which I had the privilege of visiting.

My grandmother's heart was still in Newark and thus we visited the downtown shopping area to buy school clothes and ethnic delicasies such as Polish Kielbasa and pot cheese. We had moved first to Union, N.J. and then to Tinton Falls, N.J. Newark was a booming town back then with an active rail terminal, a large Greyhound bus station and big department stores in the downtown area. It was quite a nice place to go as an alternative to New York City.

And then it burned!!! ........................................................ 1967

It was then that the famous Newark riots occured. I was there. We went to get my grandmother out of Irvington but unbeknownst to us, she had walked into Newark to get her cheese. It was surreal driving down the Garden State Parkway and seeing National Guard personnel posted and armed at every exit. Well, to make this a short story we got my grandmother out and as best that I know and is reported, Newark has been on a decline ever since and has never recovered despite multiple attempts at redevelopment.

It really was such a nice town with all sorts of immigrants rich with their culture and I never felt unsafe. It was a haven for all nationalities and they each had their neighborhoods. There wasn't talk of segregation; they liked it that way with their shops that carried their cultural selections located in the neighborhood. There are so many that grew up there and are slowly dying off that wish it could regain it's charm. I just thought that some of you might find it interesting to know a little about the rich history of Newark, N.J. nd for Realtors, it would be very difficult back until the 70's to comply with the fair housing laws because people were very adamant about being in their cultural enclave and do you know what? I am not so sure that it might not have been o.k. then and enriched history, not blighted it.