Past Weeks
Designated in 1920 as NJ17N, a road from Newark to Suffern, NY, it was named Route 2 in 1928. It was renamed Route 17 in 1942 for defense purposes during World War II. . The original cloverleaf was completed in 1932 and was then replaced by the flyover ramps we see today in 1998
This building was a one room school house until Paramus built 2 new schools in 1944. Now used as the Charles E. Reid Branch Library that opened in June of 1994, the photo shows the sign over the entrance when it was used as Paramus Police Headquarters and Paramus Court.
Biplanes were popular at the airport located on Passaic Street at the Paramus/Rochelle Park border in the early 1930’s.
This toy unit crane truck was popular in the 1950’s. It was manufactured by the the Doepke Company.
Trader Horn was the go-to store for appliances before the P.C. Richards and Best Buy that we have today. They, along with several smaller independent dealers, sold televisions and kitchen appliances.
The Paramus Bowling Alley contained 42 lanes, a sandwich shop and cocktail lounge. It also had a 400 seat grandstand from which spectators could see 1950’s television shows such as “Make That Spare” and “Championship Bowling”. When the alley closed in became Sports World an entertainment complex that hosted children’s birthday parties.
The first fire company was organized unofficially in 1904 as a result of a rash of barn burnings, Company 2 located on Spring Valley Road started as a bucket brigade. Built in 1868 and used by the Protestant Church of North America, the original firehouse was purchased by the members of Company 2 for fifty dollars.
Barney Martin was the first Paramus police officer and first police chief. He was “on duty” 24 hours a day. His office was on the front porch of his house. He served from April 1925 until April 1936 when Carl Jockish became Police Chief.
Shown are 2 of 97 matchbooks in our collection from many Paramus restaurants and other businesses. Matchbooks were used by cigarette and cigar smokers. They were given away at no cost to patrons as a means of advertisement. Eventually butane lighters replaced this form of advertising.
This is a program from the dedication ceremony of the current Paramus Post Office Building 55 years ago.