Images of America: Middlesex Borough

"Protected by the Watchung Mountains on the north and bordered by clean bubbling brooks, Middlesex Borough has flourished in the past century. Located some thirty miles west of New York City, the borough was known for its brilliant and varied gardens, farms, and greenhouses. Orchids and other blooms grown at Thomas Young Orchids and other local greenhouses were distributed in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York and were said to have been favored by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Middlesex Borough explores this town's unique history from its incorporation in 1913 to the mid-1900's with vintage photographs and fascinating text. During the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, residents of the westerly portion of Piscataway Township, at the urging of George Harris, decided to secede from Piscataway Township and form an independent town. The newly created Middlesex Borough consisted of large farms owned by the Stout, Reidy, Conover, Giles, Guernsey, and Harris families, with clusters of small homes bordering them. The central Railroad of New Jersey passed through the town, bringing new residents to Middlesex from New York City and fostering the development of small factories and workers' houses in the Lincoln section, the housing developments of Pierce Estates and Dewey Park, and later, the spacious homes and properties in the Beechwood Heights section of the borough.

With some two hundred historic photographs, Middlesex Borough reveals the town's history and continuing spirit. The Middlesex Borough Heritage Committee's Peter Diskin, Catherine Ferris, Robert Ferris, Edward J. Johnson Jr., Mary L. Johnson, Alex Morecraft, and Jack Van Doren have captured the character of Middlesex, which is energized by friendship, faith and family." (Images of America, Middlesex Borough)

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Created by the Middlesex Borough Heritage Committee, Images of America: Middlesex Borough is available for purchase at the Middlesex Public Library for $19.99.