Open Every Sunday from 1pm – 5pm

Phone:
201-445-1804

Address:
330 Paramus Road Paramus NJ 07652

If you would like to set up a Private Group Tour, give us a call and we will be happy to accommodate you!

Bill

About Bill Leaver

Bill Leaver has been associated with the Behnke Museum since it opened in 2003. He was named as Director/Curator in 2013.
29 11, 2021

NEW JERSEY ROUTE 2 – NOW ROUTE 17

2021-11-29T10:53:20-05:00

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

NEW JERSEY ROUTE 2 – NOW ROUTE 172021-11-29T10:53:20-05:00
22 11, 2021

OLD PARAMUS POLICE HEADQUARTERS

2021-11-22T10:38:25-05:00

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.

OLD PARAMUS POLICE HEADQUARTERS2021-11-22T10:38:25-05:00
1 11, 2021

TRAUTWEIN AIRPORT

2021-11-01T10:31:11-04:00

Biplanes were popular at the airport located on Passaic Street at the Paramus/Rochelle Park border in the early 1930's.

TRAUTWEIN AIRPORT2021-11-01T10:31:11-04:00
25 10, 2021

TRADER HORN

2021-10-22T11:20:48-04:00

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.

TRADER HORN2021-10-22T11:20:48-04:00
18 10, 2021

PARAMUS BOWLING ALLEYS

2021-10-15T10:13:04-04:00

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.

PARAMUS BOWLING ALLEYS2021-10-15T10:13:04-04:00
11 10, 2021

PARAMUS FIRE DEPARTMENT – COMPANY 2

2021-10-08T10:31:31-04:00

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.

PARAMUS FIRE DEPARTMENT – COMPANY 22021-10-08T10:31:31-04:00
4 10, 2021

KOMSA’S FARM

2021-10-03T16:08:11-04:00

A old landmark in Paramus was Komsa's Farm, known for their fresh turkeys raised behind this building.  Although the farm closed, the building still remains.  It is now occupied by Ted's Delicatessen.

KOMSA’S FARM2021-10-03T16:08:11-04:00
27 09, 2021

EGOMATIC EGG MACHINE

2021-09-27T10:19:37-04:00

This Egomatic machine invented in early 1940 sorted eggs.  Eggs were placed at one end and moved along a conveyor that sorted them by weight.  The Egomatic Company eventually produced a machine that could sort 80 cases (28,800 eggs) per hour.

EGOMATIC EGG MACHINE2021-09-27T10:19:37-04:00
20 09, 2021

FIRST POLICE OFFICER

2021-09-17T11:30:13-04:00

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.

FIRST POLICE OFFICER2021-09-17T11:30:13-04:00
13 09, 2021

MATCHBOOK COVERS

2021-09-13T11:24:18-04:00

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.

MATCHBOOK COVERS2021-09-13T11:24:18-04:00
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