Schuetzen Park
Encyclopedia
Schuetzen Park is a privately owned park in North Bergen, New Jersey
, USA that has existed since 1874 and is located on the ridge of the Hudson Palisades at Kennedy Boulevard
and Bergen Turnpike just north of the Marginal Highway. Its southern and western perimeters are shared with the Fritz Reuter Althenheim, a retirement community named for the German author, Fritz Reuter
, and Columbia Park, a large shopping center. The German-American Volksfest has taken place there annually since its construction.
was set apart from North Bergen
as a separate municipality that had been originally settled by a group of German-Americans as early as 1851. Schuetzen is a derivative of the German
word Schütze
, meaning "shooter" or "rifleman". Originally encompassing about 32 acres, the park's location on the western cuesta
of the Hudson Palisades was chosen so that bullets could be directed into the side of the hill. Target practice
continued at the park until 1935. In a 1911 ad in which it is called Schützen Park proprietor Fred Hager claimed it as the "largest park of its kind in New Jersey", offering 600 x 200 feet rifle ranges
, 10 modern bowling alleys, and three dancing pavilions, which could accommodate roughly 50,000 people. The park also contained a variety of attractions, such as vaudeville performances, parades, fireworks and tournaments. The park was one of the venues in Hudson County
that catered to the large German-speaking population. Arbuster's Scheutzen Park and Pohlmann's Hall
, are among the many others. From 1945 to 1975, when the sports field was sold to a real estate developer, Schuetzen Park was the home of Hoboken FC 1912
.
matches.The park, along with the retirement home, the Bergen Crest Mausoleum
, the Garden State Crematory
, and the many cemeteries that characterize the area along the western slope - Flower Hill Cemetery
, Grove Church Cemetery
, Hoboken Cemetery
, Machpelah Cemetery and Weehawken Cemetery
- constitute a string of green open spaces in North Hudson County
. The German-American Volksfest has taken place there annually since 1874.
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
, USA that has existed since 1874 and is located on the ridge of the Hudson Palisades at Kennedy Boulevard
County Route 501 (New Jersey)
County Route 501 is a county highway in New Jersey in two sections spanning Middlesex, Hudson and Bergen Counties. The southern section runs from South Plainfield to Perth Amboy, the northern section runs from Bayonne to Rockleigh, and the two sections are connected by New York State Route 440...
and Bergen Turnpike just north of the Marginal Highway. Its southern and western perimeters are shared with the Fritz Reuter Althenheim, a retirement community named for the German author, Fritz Reuter
Fritz Reuter
Fritz Reuter was a novelist from Northern Germany who was one of the most prominent contributors to Low German literature.-Early life:...
, and Columbia Park, a large shopping center. The German-American Volksfest has taken place there annually since its construction.
History
In 1864, nearby Union HillUnion Hill, New Jersey
Union Hill is a section of Denville Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The Union Hill section comprises the southernmost part of Denville and is mostly south of Route 10. Although one of the oldest settled parts of Denville, it is characterized by having the most recent housing...
was set apart from North Bergen
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
as a separate municipality that had been originally settled by a group of German-Americans as early as 1851. Schuetzen is a derivative of the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word Schütze
Schütze
Schütze in German means "shooter" or "rifleman". It also occasionally occurs as a surname, as Schütz, as in the opera Der Freischütz. The word itself is derived from the German word schützen, meaning to protect, or to guard...
, meaning "shooter" or "rifleman". Originally encompassing about 32 acres, the park's location on the western cuesta
Cuesta
In structural geology and geomorphology, a cuesta is a ridge formed by gently tilted sedimentary rock strata in a homoclinal structure. Cuestas have a steep slope, where the rock layers are exposed on their edges, called an escarpment or, if more steep, a cliff...
of the Hudson Palisades was chosen so that bullets could be directed into the side of the hill. Target practice
Target practice
Target practice refers to any exercise in which projectiles are fired at a specified target, usually to improve the aim of the person or persons firing the weapon....
continued at the park until 1935. In a 1911 ad in which it is called Schützen Park proprietor Fred Hager claimed it as the "largest park of its kind in New Jersey", offering 600 x 200 feet rifle ranges
Shooting range
A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...
, 10 modern bowling alleys, and three dancing pavilions, which could accommodate roughly 50,000 people. The park also contained a variety of attractions, such as vaudeville performances, parades, fireworks and tournaments. The park was one of the venues in Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
that catered to the large German-speaking population. Arbuster's Scheutzen Park and Pohlmann's Hall
Pohlmann's Hall
Pohlmann's Hall, is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1985.-History:...
, are among the many others. From 1945 to 1975, when the sports field was sold to a real estate developer, Schuetzen Park was the home of Hoboken FC 1912
Hoboken FC 1912
Hoboken FC 1912 is a soccer club based in Northern New Jersey, USA that plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.-History:Hoboken FC 1912 was founded on March 12, 1912 in Hoboken, New Jersey when athletes belonging to the German Merchant Marines successfully organized the Germania Football Club...
.
Modern use
The park is used for banquets, weddings, receptions, and public sporting events such as boxing and mixed martial artsMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
matches.The park, along with the retirement home, the Bergen Crest Mausoleum
Bergen Crest Mausoleum
-Location:Located at 4001 Kennedy Boulevard, the Bergen Crest Mausoleum is in town of North Bergen, New Jersey and is adjacent to the Garden State Crematory. Along the boulevard is the Grove Church Cemetery and Flower Hill Cemetery, as well as Schuetzen Park...
, the Garden State Crematory
Garden State Crematory
Garden State Crematory is located at 4101 Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen, New Jersey. The back of the building overlooks the Weehawken Cemetery and it is adjacent to the Bergen Crest Mausoleum.-History:...
, and the many cemeteries that characterize the area along the western slope - Flower Hill Cemetery
Flower Hill Cemetery, North Bergen
Flower Hill Cemetery is located in North Bergen, New Jersey. It is cojoined with Hoboken Cemetery and Machpelah Cemetery.-Notable burials:*Ed Alberian children's television actor and entertainer...
, Grove Church Cemetery
Grove Church Cemetery
The Grove Church Cemetery is a nonsectarian cemetery, located on the western slope of the Hudson Palisades, along with several other cemeteries in a string of green open space, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. The Grove Church, who owns the cemetery, is one of the oldest religious...
, Hoboken Cemetery
Hoboken Cemetery, North Bergen
The Hoboken Cemetery is located at 5500 Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, New Jersey. It is bordered by Flower Hill Cemetery. Originally when the Secaucus Junction was built on land that was the Hudson County Burial Grounds, bodies exhumed were to be re-interred at the Hoboken Cemetery...
, Machpelah Cemetery and Weehawken Cemetery
Weehawken Cemetery
The Weehawken Cemetery, like neighboring Hoboken Cemetery, is not located in its namesake town of Weehawken but rather on the western slope of the Hudson Palisades in North Bergen, New Jersey, with its main entrance on Bergen Turnpike. At its east side the cemetery is overlooked by the Bergen Crest...
- constitute a string of green open spaces in North Hudson County
North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson is the collective name of the municipalities of Weehawken , Union City , West New York , Guttenberg and North Bergen in Hudson County, New Jersey...
. The German-American Volksfest has taken place there annually since 1874.