Montclair, New Jersey

The township name for Montclair – Montclair, “Where the suburb meets the city.”– originates from France. From a French term. This term, mont clair. Meaning, clear mountain.

An elevated position, nestled alongside a mountain in Essex County. Mont clair.

On a clear day, with clear skies, you can see Manhattan from Montclair. Mont clair.

In French, “mont” translates to “mountain.” In French, “clair” translates to clear.

Mont clair. Montclair. 

Early settlements which led to the formation of today’s Montclair took hold during the 17th Century. I’d like to speak to two such settlements. Each of the two, having notable relevance to the formation of Montclair. 

One of these two settlements took hold in what today is the northern part of Montclair. And the other of these two settlements took hold in what today is the southern part of Montclair. The settlement in what today is southern Montclair, was Cranetown.

In 1679, Cranetown was established. Cranetown…a settlement named for Azriah and Mary Treat Crane. Azriah and Mary Treat Crane, two migrants of English descent who traveled south to Newark. From Connecticut.

While Cranetown was located in, today, what would be the southern section of Montclair, in the northern section of today’s Montclair, during the latter part of the 17th Century, we would have found our second settlement. That second settlement was Speertown. 

Azriah and Mary Treat Crane. The Crane family. Going on in years, long since removed from the 17th Century, when Cranetown was formed, the Crane family remained notable with regard to events which led to the settlements’ evolution into becoming, Montclair. 

Fast forward in time. From the 17 Century – when the Cranes established Cranetown. To the 19th Century. In doing so, we find that descendants of Azriah and Mary Treat Crane raised capital to obtain an important charter from the State of New Jersey. This charter was of historical importance to Montclair. This charter, made possible through the efforts of the Crane family.

This State charter secured by the Crane family facilitated the construction of the Newark Pompton Turnpike. Once built, as the Newark Pompton Turnpike entered into what would go on to become Montclair, that Turnpike became Bloomfield Avenue. 

At the time, along Bloomfield Avenue, there was not yet a Montclair. And along Bloomfield Avenue, the Turnpike brought with it an increase in commerce. Coupled to an increase in population. Many of those residents, both then, in the earliest days, as well as today in Montclair, were commuters. The increase in population, resulting from the construction of the Newark Pompton Turnpike, was an increase in a commuting populace. Commuters.

Yet Cranetown was still, at that time, part of Bloomfield. And Bloomfield was still a ward of Newark.

In 1812, when Bloomfield became its own independent township – and no longer a ward of Newark – this settlement, then known as Cranetown, joined with Speertown. Together, becoming a section of Bloomfield.

Still, Montclair was not yet an independent township. While no longer a settlement which existed as a ward of Newark, what today is Montclair, was then still part of Bloomfield. Crantown, together with Speertown, were at that time known as West Bloomfield. Part of Bloomfield. 

Going back to Speertown…

Today, Upper Montclair – while Upper Montclair does have its own zip code – is still part of Montclair Township. It’s the section of Montclair, situated to the north of Watchung Avenue. What Upper Montclair had been – in its earliest form – was Speertown. 

Speertown, established by the Dutch settler, John Speer. Speertown is today’s Upper Montclair. John Speer’s original home still, to this day, stands – 612 Upper Mountain Avenue.

There was Cranetown. There was Speertown. Two important early settlements which evolved into today’s Montclair. Yet, with those early settlements, it was really the railroad that can be pointed to as the catalyst for Montclair’s independent status as a township.

During the second half of the 19th Century, West Bloomfield – and West Bloomfield being, Speertown and Cranetown – was a commuter community. West Bloomfield, during the 19th Century was laden with those who reached into New York City. Just as Montclair today is laden with NYC commuters. Montclair is today – just as West Bloomfield waa then – a commuter town.

And while still a part of Bloomfield, West Bloomfield enjoyed (and celebrated) its own distinct identity. So while West Bloomfield-ites noted their distinctive aparatus, apart from Bloomfield (yet, still part of Bloomfield), it proved to be one notable disagreement about rail service which led to the fraying of this Bloomfield – West Bloomfield union. 

Upon Bloomfield residents voting down a referendum which would have brought a second rail line into Bloomfield, West Bloomfield – then being, primarily, a community of commuters – was in disagreement with the “no” vote. West Bloomfield wanted that second rail line. And it was that disagreement – triggered by the voting down of increased rail service – which led to Montclair’s independence. 

In 1868, residents of West Bloomfield secured a charter through the State. This charter authorized West Bloomfield to form their own township. Enabling West Bloomfield to become independent of Bloomfield. 

In 1868, through a charter obtained by West Bloomfield residents, the Township of Montclair was formed.

Mont clair.