Chatham Historical Society Honors Liz Holler at May 7th Dinner Meeting

The Chatham Historical Society held their annual dinner meeting on May 7th at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township with a sell-out crowd attending.

The Society honored Liz Holler for her extraordinary contributions including her insightful stories of Chatham and her amazing ability to field questions about Chatham's past.  Her name, along with the late Rose Cruikshank’s, was added to the Distinguished Service Award plaque displayed in the Library of the Chathams. This award recognizes residents for their outstanding civic and community involvement.

The night’s program was The Sights and The People of Fairmount Avenue, researched and written by Helen Ann Rosenfeld. Presented by Vicki Fife, the presentation featured the history of the "Fifth Avenue" of Chatham, which revealed many interesting facts and stories of the buildings and the people involved in the development of distinctive Fairmount Avenue.

Many avenue residents and the men who erected the buildings contributed greatly to the social and architectural fabric of the community.

Several of the structures were designed and built by local men including the original Borough Hall at 14 Fairmount; the Old “New” Homestead, a turn-of-the-century boarding house located at number 44; and many of the grand homes including numbers 91 and 95 Fairmount Avenue.

Others, were constructed by renowned builders such as 178 Fairmount built in 1910 and the train station completed in 1914. Newark based, Viner J. Hedden built these two buildings. His company was known for erecting some of the most costly and beautiful buildings on the eastern seaboard.

Among the avenue residents mentioned were Mayor Frederick Lum and Henry D. Harrower, each a driving force in the incorporation and beautification of the borough from before its inception in 1897.

Another resident, Councilman Frederick Boyle was behind the first speed bump to be installed in the borough in 1906. Residents lined the streets and cheered as speeding cars hit the bump and flew several feet into the air. The New York Times covered the event and the Chatham speed bump gained national and international attention.

Chatham’s rich history is waiting to be revealed. If you are interested in unearthing the history of your home or any borough structure contact Helen Ann Rosenfeld at ha27@optonline.net or call 201-919-2839 or visit www.ChathamNJHistoricalSociety.org