THAT WAS THEN-THIS IS NOW FRANKLIN LAKES AT TEN YEARS OLD IN 1932.

THAT WAS THEN-THIS IS NOW

FRANKLIN LAKES AT TEN YEARS OLD IN 1932

BY

JACK GOUDSWARD

      As we look back over the years to 1932 when Franklin Lakes turned 10 years old we take stock on what was there and what has taken its place. Many things have changed but some have stayed over time.

      The first church was a wooden building that stood on Circle Ave. The road lived up to its name until Rt. 287 cit it in half and dead ended it. The wooden church burned in 1919.  But another rose. It was built on land donated by William V. Pulis. The original part of the church, that still stands today, was built of local stones brought to the property by the parishioners. It still serves the community today.

     One of the oldest companies in town at that time was William Pulis and Son. They sold coal, lumber, grain, feed and hardware. They were located on Pulis Ave, near the Rail Road Tracks and opposite the Campgaw Station. The station was removed years ago. One of the last buildings that were part of this company was a two bay wooden building with a small office. It stood next to the Las Jobes Delicatessen. Hans Auto Body used the wooden building to start the auto body shop and house their Championship Dirt Race Car.  They later build a new shop behind the building and moved into it. The wooded building was removed when the Franklin Lakes Country Café expanded.

   The Exhibition Tent Company made its winter home on Franklin Ave. They build a number of buildings for their equipment, animals and employees. After the company folded the land was bought by the Langindone family.  They built a hardware store facing Franklin Ave. and used the old building for storage for store stock. Later when they sold the land it was developed into the Franklin Square Shopping Center.    

   One of the last large farms to disappear from Franklin Ave. was the Fox Poultry and Egg Farm. This farm lasted until the 1960’s when it was sold. The land was developed into shopping center anchored by a Grand Union store. Later this land was resold the building removed. This shopping center is now known as the Franklin Crossing.  

  As we look back we see what was in our town and what has replaced it.