HISTORY

When surveying the area now known as Maplewood, Robert Treat found several trails used by Leni-Lenapi tribes of Algonquin Native Americans, though there was only sparse pre-European settlement. These paths form the basis for what are the town’s main thoroughfares today.

The first European settlers arrived around 1675, primarily English, Dutch, and French Puritans who had earlier settled Hempstead, Long Island, and Stamford, Connecticut, via Newark and Elizabeth. They had acquired most of today’s Essex County from the Native Americans and followed three trails that roughly correspond to South Orange Avenue, Springfield Avenue, and Ridgewood Road from Connecticut and Long Island, New York. These three routes resulted in three separate communities that merged into Maplewood and South Orange.

Those who came from Newark on the trail that now corresponds to South Orange Avenue settled the area that became South Orange Village.

Six families (with last names of Smith, Brown, Pierson, Freeman, Ball, and Gildersleeve) came up today’s Ridgewood Road and established scattered farms around a center that became Jefferson Village, named after Thomas Jefferson. This village, which roughly corresponds to downtown Maplewood today, developed several mills and orchards. John Durand, the son of Hudson River school painter Asher Brown Durand (who was born in Maplewood in 1796), describes the place as a picturesque but slightly backwards community with close ties to Springfield. The apple harvest was apparently quite impressive and included “Harrison” and “Canfield” varieties. By 1815, there were approximately 30 families in the village. Although the residents of the area were predominantly Presbyterian, the first house of worship was a Baptist chapel in 1812. This was in use until 1846 and fell into disrepair until 1858, when it was taken into use as a Methodist Episcopal church.

Those who came up today’s Springfield Avenue settled on a hillcrest near today’s intersection between Tuscan and Springfield Avenue and established a hamlet known as North Farms. Over time, this community became known as the Hilton section. It became a stagecoach stop between Newark, Jersey City (then Paulus Hook), and Morristown and thereby a center for trade and light manufacturing. The village changed its name from North Farms to Middleville in 1830, and then to Hilton in 1880 when it was granted a post office. In 1855, Seth Boyden settled in what was then Middleville to retire but innovated a number of agricultural products, especially berries. Boyden also built and put into operation the first steam engines to service the railroad through Maplewood.

In 1802, Jefferson Village and North Farms were named as districts under the Township of Newark.

The three communities operated independently, establishing its own school associations: South Orange established the Columbian school in 1814, which would form the basis for today’s Columbia High School; North Farms established the North Farms Association in 1817; and Jefferson Village the Jefferson Association in 1818. In 1867, when the State of New Jersey established public education through the School Law, the newly appointed County Superintendent merged the three associations into one school district, which was formalized in 1894 as the South Orange-Maplewood School District. James Ricalton, a teacher born in Waddington, New York of Scottish parents, set the high standard of education that persists in the school district to this day.

The area became known for its orchards and related industries, including cider mills and distilleries of rum, but also honey and some livestock.

Theodore Roosevelt spent several summers in Maplewood visiting his uncle Cornelius V.S. Roosevelt’s home and property, known as The Hickories, covering 100 acres. This area is now partly covered by Roosevelt Road and Kermit Place. In the early 1900s, a tree bearing an inscription by Teddy Roosevelt was cut down from the front lawn of 36 Roosevelt Road.

When the Morris and Essex Railroad from Newark was extended to the area in 1838, a land speculator by the name of John Shedden built a railroad station in Jefferson Village and named it Maplewood. This name came to comprise areas known as Hilton, Jefferson Village, and areas previously part of Springfield. In 1868, farms were divided into parcels for residential housing. The 1920s saw significant growth in new residents and structures, foreshadowing a complete suburb.

Many of the most recognizable buildings and spaces were the work of famous architects and landscape designers. All of the schools and the Municipal Building were the work of Guilbert and Betelle. The center of town is dominated by Memorial Park, a design of the Olmsted Brothers. The Olmsted firm was also responsible for the landscaping at the John Russell Pope designed the Ward Home, now known as Winchester Gardens, located on Elmwood Avenue. On the opposite side of town is another Olmsted work, South Mountain Reservation. The Maplewood Theater, where Cheryl Crawford first revived Porgy and Bess, was designed by William E. Lehman.

The town separated officially from South Orange in 1903 and incorporated as a township on November 7, 1922.

There are approximately 226 streets covering 60 miles within Maplewood. One thoroughfare, Springfield Avenue, is a state highway (Route 124, from Irvington to Morristown), and four thoroughfares (Valley Street, Millburn Avenue, Irvington Avenue and Wyoming Avenue), are Essex County roads.

Single family home prices typically start in the $400,000s.
Single family home prices range up to about $1,500,000.
Condos start in the $250,000s.

The Maplewood real estate market continued to be strong in 2006.The average price for a home in Maplewood rose 18% in 2006 over the previous year to $560,967.The average days on market for the first half of 2006 rose to 55 days compared to 44 in 2005 and overall dollar volume was up 21% over the previous year for a first half total of $86,389,032.

In 2007 the average sale price fell 6% over the same time period of 2006 and total dollar volume also dropped 12% over last year.In 2007, 146 properties sold in Maplewood, the average sale price was $527,966 and total dollar volume was $77,083,112.

When other markets seemed a bit sluggish in 2006, Maplewood’s market continued to grow and be very competitive for buyers.It seems Maplewood’s 2007 market is adjusting that unusual trend.

For comprehensive statistical reports please visit our Area Market Statistics including statistics per school districts.

*Based on data from the Garden State Multiple Listing Service, comparing the first half of each year (January-June, the most active part of the year for real estate transactions).