South Plainfield in the 20th Century - Paperback

by Richard F. Veit (Author), Dorothy Miele (Author)

Located in northern Middlesex County, South Plainfield has a rich and fascinating history. It was first settled by the Lenape and later by immigrants from Scotland, England, and the Netherlands. Mills were built, and by the 18th century, it was home to numerous farms and two hamlets: Samptown and New Brooklyn. During the American Revolution, skirmishes shook the sleepy community. The 19th century brought the arrival of railroads and industry. The 20th century saw South Plainfield transformed. The Lehigh Valley Railroad built an enormous coal storage yard. Spicer Manufacturing opened a factory manufacturing universal joints for early trucks and cars. Harris Steel, a fabricator of steel for bridges and skyscrapers, constructed a sprawling plant in South Plainfield. After World War II, the borough grew by leaps and bounds as new suburban developments replaced farms and fields. Today, South Plainfield is a strong community with a diverse population located at the crossroads of central New Jersey.

Author Biography

Richard Veit teaches in the Department of History and Anthropology at Monmouth University and is a lifelong resident of South Plainfield. Dorothy Miele is the president of the South Plainfield Historical Society. This book draws from the rich photographic collections of the South Plainfield Historical Society and provides a glimpse at the town's growth during the 20th century.