POMPTON EARLY HISTORY

Pompton Lakes was originally part of Pompton Township, which covered an area from the New York - New Jersey border south to its southwestern boundary along the Wanaque and Pequannock Rivers. It consisted of a long range of mountains. The valleys are fertile and the mountains rich in minerals. There is a wealth of fine iron ore along with an abundance of lead, lime, sandstone and slate.

Dutch farmers were the first European immigrants to settle in Pompton. As early as 1694 they purchased large tracts of land from the Indians and began building, farming and mining the rich land.

Located at the meeting of the three flowing mountain streams, the Pequannock, Wanaque and the Ramapo Rivers, the area was named "Pompton" from the Indian word meaning "Meeting Waters". It is also said to mean "Wry Mouth" referring to the meandering streams that covered the area.

Captain Arent Schuyler of New York passed through the area and in June, 1694, purchased 5500 acres from the Indians, known as the Lenapi for "wampum and other goods and merchandise to the value of 250 pounds current money of New York". The site was on the Pequannock and Pompton Creeks. In November, 1695, Major Anthony Brockholst, also of New York, acquired title from the Indians to the same land. The territory now comprises most of Wayne Township.

Schuyler and Brockholst were granted title to the lands by the East Jersey Proprietors. Part of this land was for mining. Both men settled in Pompton in 1697.

William Bartholf acquired 280 acres adjacent to the Schuyler tract and built a home. George Ryerson and Abram Ogden bought property and erected homes and buildings along the Pequannock River.

A survey dated 1726 indicated an Ironworks at Pompton. The forge at Pompton was north of the present falls, above what is today, Hamburg Turnpike. Shot and war materials were supplied to troops in the French and Indian Wars. Tools, nails and horseshoes for the local inhabitants were produced, and bar iron and pig iron was made for the trade. A dam was built with a water raceway to the forge. English, Belgian, Scotish and German workers were imported to work in the mines, later settling in the area, and subsequently intermarrying with the Dutch, the Indians and the African-Americans who were already there.

The furnace was built of sandstone against the side of the hill and trees from the site provided fuel for the furnace. (In the 1980s, the remains of the furnace were reinforced with planks to prevent its destruction by roadway blasting in the vicinity.)

In 1777, it was noted by Gabriel Ogden, who had bought the ironworks in 1774, that the forge was busily filling orders from General Henry Knox for 7,000 cannonballs from 4 to 18 pounds in weight as well as for ten tons of grape shot. A continuing demand for ammunition kept the Pompton furnace busy until late in the 1780s. There were several changes in the ownership of the Pompton Lakes Ironworks. The final owner was the Ludlum Steel and Spring Company. It ceased operating in 1907 when Ludlum moved to Watervliet, New York.

Situated at the junction of roads leading to Hackensack, Bloomingdale, Ringwood, Charlottsburg, Morristown and West Point, Pompton, with its ironworks and mineral wealth, became a busy hub for trade and a crossroads for the American armies.

The American and British armies fought back and forth across New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. General George Washington stayed at several Pompton Lakes Homes. Possibly, because of his friendship with Lt. Colfax, he stayed at the Yellow Cottage, more commonly known as the Yellow Tavern, an overnight stop for stage coaches.