Mahwah Museum Hosts Gallery Talk About West Mahwah, ABEX Feb. 22

Press release:

Mahwah Museum Trustee Gene Manghi will give a Gallery Talk at the museum about West Mahwah on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1:15 p.m. and will discuss various topics, including the Ford Plant, Brakeshoe, the Railroad and the development of West Mahwah.

West Mahwah developed in the 20th century due initially to the establishment of the American Brake Shoe Company. A large number of immigrants found employment at the Brake Shoe and established families, churches and businesses in the area.

Many of the houses on the north end of Island Road were built by and for the Brake Shoe employees. Several businesses were established at the intersection of Island Road and Ramapo Valley Road. This became the de facto center of this neighborhood. Several Churches were established during this time as was a much needed Firehouse. In 1955, Ford Motor Company built an assembly plant on the land of the Houvenkopf Golf Course. After the Ford plant closed in 1980, the property became the Sheraton Hotel and the Sharp Headquarters.

The area had been the site, in centuries past, of an annual Fall Festival by the local Indian tribes. The word in their language for “Meeting Place” became the name we use for the town: Mahwah.

The Gallery Talk will be held at the Mahwah Museum, located at 201 Franklin Turnpike. The Talk is free with admission to the Museum. Seating is limited. To reserve, contact info@mahwahmuseum.org or call 201-512-0099.

The Mahwah Lecture series will also present New Jersey 350, by Hank Bitten, at the Ramapo Reformed Church on Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The Mahwah Museum is open weekends and Wednesdays from 1-4 pm. The Donald Cooper Model Railroad is open weekends from 1-4 pm. Admission to the Musuem is $5 for non-members, members and children are free. Visitwww.mahwahmuseum.org for more information.

Photos from the ABEX Collection of Mahwah Museum.