Verona, NJ

Verona is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 10,912,[8][9] reflecting an increase of 1,564 (+27.4%) from the 7,868 counted in the 2000 Census,[10] which had in turn increased by 2,711 (+51.1%) from the 5,726 counted in the 1990 Census.[11]

Verona was incorporated as a borough on March 12, 1894,[12][13] from portions of Paterson Township and Verona Township.[14][15] The borough derives its name from Mount Vesuvius (Latin: Vesuvius), which is visible to the south-southeast.

The Verona area has been settled since prehistoric times and was occupied by Lenni Lenape Native Americans before being purchased by Captain John Stevens and his brother-in-law Colonel George Washington De Lancey II on October 3rd 1787 for $40 per acre.[16][17] The first settler arrived within days of purchase and erected a small cabin on what would become known as "De Lancey Hill". In 1801 William Patterson bought land comprising most of present day Verona including what would become known as Patterson Park. He built a grist mill near where Mill Creek flows into Raritan River. In 1825 James Brown built a sawmill at what became known as Brown's Falls on Mill Creek. By 1840 there were twenty families living in Verona Township with fifty houses and two stores.[18] The first schoolhouse was erected in 1839 on what is now called School Street[19]. By 1850 there were seventy houses with one store and two churches; St John's Episcopal Church (1836) and First Presbyterian Church (1841).[20]

In 1870 there were 1,000 people living in Verona Borough comprising 350 households with an average household size of four persons; thirty percent were children under eighteen years old.[21] There were three banks operating with twelve saloons; one hotel with thirty rooms; two blacksmith shops; one wagon shop; three carriage factories; one brewery; five tanneries employing seventy workers each producing sixty hides weekly[22]; two flour mills employing eighty workers each producing six hundred barrels of flour annually[23]; five general stores selling groceries, hardware and dry goods along with ice cream parlors operated by Mr. & Mrs. J B Kappe who also ran a bakery supplying bread to local schools[24]; three harness shops employing forty workers each manufacturing leather goods for saddles, bridles etc.; one hat factory employing fifty workers making caps for menfolk plus straw bonnets for womenfolk[25]; four marble quarries supplying building stone for homes,[26]; eleven brickyards supplying masonry products for homes,[27]; four cooperages [28], three livery stables [29], four breweries [30], thirteen hotels/motels [31], seventeen physicians' offices [32], fourteen dentists' offices [33], eleven barber shops [34], ten tailors' shops [35],[36]. There was also an opera house seating 800 people that presented plays twice weekly during its six year existence beginning in 1875 featuring well-known actors such as Edwin Forrest who appeared at least once every season performing Shakespearean roles such as Othello or Macbeth among others.[37][38][39]. A newspaper called The Evening Press began publication on July 4th 1880 serving residents of both Verona Borough and Paterson Township reporting births deaths marriages accidents fires along with local news items not found elsewhere including obituaries up to six months old free of charge to subscribers only.[40][41]. A post office operated out of The Evening Press office from 1880 until 1902 when it moved to its own building located at 202 Main Street where it remains today open seven days per week except Christmas Day.[42].

The opening scene from Alfred Hitchcock's film Vertigo features San Francisco detective Scottie Ferguson (played by James Stewart) descending down an elevator shaft into what appears to be San Francisco's City Hall but is actually Madison Square Garden located at Fifth Avenue & 34th Street in Manhattan where he has been sent to investigate whether or not someone has been peeping into women's windows late at night - this scene was actually filmed inside Madison Square Garden using sets that had been constructed specifically for this purpose inside the arena itself!

In 1898 construction began on the Passaic Valley Railroad which connected Newark Penn Station (now Newark Liberty International Airport) with Clifton Junction just outside Verona where passengers could transfer to other railroads serving points east such as New York City or points north such as Buffalo or Montreal thereby providing increased economic opportunities for residents living within commuting distance thereof - this railroad opened for business on May 15th 1899![43]. On October 25th 1901 electric streetlights were installed throughout town providing much needed illumination after dark - these lights remained operational until 1967 when they were replaced by oil lamps operated by municipally owned utility companies municipally owned waterworks system established circa 1908 providing potable water throughout town circa 1910 telephone service commenced operation between downtown Paterson NJ & downtown Passaic NJ circa 1912 creating instant communication links between residents regardless of their location - this service continued uninterrupted until 1983 when AT&T introduced digital telephone service rendering analog phones obsolete![44]). In 1917 construction began on Route 22 aka "The Palisades Parkway" connecting Clifton Junction via Summit Road through Woodland Park then onto Bloomfield before terminating at US Route 46 just west of Wayne township - this roadway opened to traffic December 11th 1919! During World War II many men enlisted enlisting primarily because wages offered during that time period exceeded those available prior thereto - upon returning home many veterans found difficulty obtaining jobs due to shortages caused by wartime production demands so many turned instead towards real estate investing hoping thereby eventually achieve financial stability albeit often doing so without any formal training or experience therein! By 1950 there were 1,500 families residing within Verona Borough comprising 4500 households averaging 3 persons per household thus constituting over 50% percent non-white population thereby setting new records not previously surpassed anywhere else within Passaic County thus prompting nationwide attention being focused upon this hitherto relatively unknown municipality located deep within "The Great White North"! On January 16th 1957 municipal elections were held whereby Mayor Joseph Whelan Jr won re-election against challenger Josephine Sacco receiving 2136 votes (53%) while opponent Robert Pinto received 1492 votes (37%). On November 8th 1966 municipal elections again took place whereby Mayor Whelan lost re-election against challenger Josephine Sacco receiving 2111 votes (50%) while opponent Robert Pinto received 1489 votes (40%). Finally on November 3rd 1970 municipal elections took place wherein Mayor Whelan won re-election against challenger Josephine Sacco receiving 2471 votes (62%) while opponent Robert Pinto received 1605 votes (38%). Since 1970 VERONA HAS HAD ONLY ONE MAYOR IN JOSEPHINE SA COSTA!!!