Weequahic, Newark, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Weequahic is a residential neighborhood in Newark
, New Jersey
's South Ward. It is separated from Clinton Hill
by Hawthorne Avenue on the north, and bordered by Hillside Township and the city of Irvington
on the west, Newark Liberty International Airport
and Dayton
on the east, and the city of Elizabeth
on the south.
The name "Weequahic" is from the Lenni-Lenape Native American
for "head of the cove". The area was farmland until the late nineteenth century when it was developed into a middle-class, non-industrial neighborhood of detached single-family homes oriented around Weequahic Park
. Later a few residential modernist highrises were built
Weequahic was largely a middle class Jewish neighborhood prior to the 1960s, home to many synagogue
s, yeshiva
s, and Jewish restaurants. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
(in Weequahic), the largest hospital in Newark, was built under auspices of the Jewish community. Author Philip Roth
grew up in Weequahic, graduated from Weequahic High School
in 1950, and many of his novels are set there.
Heart of Stone, a documentary by Beth Toni Kruvant, focuses on Weequahic High School's decline from 1950's when it graduated more PHDs than any other high school in the country to one of Newark, NJ's crime ridden schools. Principal Ron Stone wears a bulletproof vest and inspires the students, including gang members to graduate and go to college. He partners with the Jewish and African alumni association to help the current students.
The post-World War II
growth of suburbs and Second Great Migration
of African American
s altered the demographic make-up of Newark in general and the Weequahic section in particular. The neighborhood might have stayed middle class if not for the devastating effects of real estate blockbusting
and the construction of Interstate 78
. I-78 tore Weequahic's fragile urban fabric and separated the neighborhood from the rest of Newark. The 1967 Newark riots
were also devastating to the district. The Weequahic district also experienced white flight
, though the focal point of the riots was in the Central Ward.
The jewel of the neighborhood is the 311 acre (1.3 km²) Olmsted Brothers
-designed Weequahic Park. This lovely park has a 2.2-mile rubberized jogging path around its 80 acre (324,000 m²) lake, and the oldest public golf course in the United States.
Part of the Weequahic neighborhood has been designated a historic district. The neighborhood's major streets are Lyons Avenue, Bergen Street, and Chancellor Avenue.
operates public schools. Weequahic High School
serves the neighborhood.
The Weequahic Branch Library of the Newark Public Library
(NPL) serves the neighborhood. The branch, which opened in May 1929, was the sixth NPL branch to open between 1923 and 1946. In 1992 the library system renovated the branch for $1 million; the renovation added air conditioning, online public access computers, an elevator, new lighting, off-street parking, and a children's storytelling pit.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
's South Ward. It is separated from Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill, Newark, New Jersey
Clinton Hill is a neighborhood in South Central, Newark, New Jersey. It is centered at Clinton Avenue, and bounded roughly by Elizabeth Avenue in the east, Hawthorne Avenue in the south, Avon Avenue in the north, and Irvington in the west....
by Hawthorne Avenue on the north, and bordered by Hillside Township and the city of Irvington
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
on the west, Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
and Dayton
Dayton, Newark, New Jersey
Dayton is a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey in the city's east ward, named after Jonathan Dayton. The area is bounded on the north by Peddie Street , on the east by Newark Liberty International Airport, on the south by Elizabeth and on the west by Elizabeth Avenue. The main road through the...
on the east, and the city of Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
on the south.
The name "Weequahic" is from the Lenni-Lenape Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
for "head of the cove". The area was farmland until the late nineteenth century when it was developed into a middle-class, non-industrial neighborhood of detached single-family homes oriented around Weequahic Park
Weequahic Park
Weequahic Park is a park located in the south ward of Newark, New Jersey. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, Weequahic Park has the largest lake in Essex County. The park opened on what had been the Waverly Fairgrounds. The word "Weequahic" in the name of the park is from the Lenni-Lenape...
. Later a few residential modernist highrises were built
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s, yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s, and Jewish restaurants. Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, previously Newark Beth Israel Hospital, is the largest hospital in Newark, New Jersey, in the United States. It was run under auspices of the Newark Jewish Community and its suburban successors from its inception in 1900-1901 until its purchase by the St Barnabas...
(in Weequahic), the largest hospital in Newark, was built under auspices of the Jewish community. Author Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
grew up in Weequahic, graduated from Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School is a public high school in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue....
in 1950, and many of his novels are set there.
Heart of Stone, a documentary by Beth Toni Kruvant, focuses on Weequahic High School's decline from 1950's when it graduated more PHDs than any other high school in the country to one of Newark, NJ's crime ridden schools. Principal Ron Stone wears a bulletproof vest and inspires the students, including gang members to graduate and go to college. He partners with the Jewish and African alumni association to help the current students.
The post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
growth of suburbs and Second Great Migration
Second Great Migration (African American)
The Second Great Migration was the migration of more than 5 million African Americans from the South to the North, Midwest and West. It took place from 1941, through World War II, and lasted until 1970. It was much larger and of a different character than the first Great Migration...
of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s altered the demographic make-up of Newark in general and the Weequahic section in particular. The neighborhood might have stayed middle class if not for the devastating effects of real estate blockbusting
Blockbusting
Blockbusting is a business practice of U.S. real estate agents and building developers meant to encourage white property owners to sell their houses at a loss, by implying that racial, ethnic, or religious minorities — Blacks, Hispanics, Jews et al. — were moving into their previously racially...
and the construction of Interstate 78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
. I-78 tore Weequahic's fragile urban fabric and separated the neighborhood from the rest of Newark. The 1967 Newark riots
1967 Newark riots
The 1967 Newark riots were a major civil disturbance that occurred in the city of Newark, New Jersey between July 12 and July 17, 1967. The six days of rioting, looting, and destruction left 26 dead and hundreds injured.-Social unrest:...
were also devastating to the district. The Weequahic district also experienced white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
, though the focal point of the riots was in the Central Ward.
The jewel of the neighborhood is the 311 acre (1.3 km²) Olmsted Brothers
Olmsted Brothers
The Olmsted Brothers company was an influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by stepbrothers John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. .-History:...
-designed Weequahic Park. This lovely park has a 2.2-mile rubberized jogging path around its 80 acre (324,000 m²) lake, and the oldest public golf course in the United States.
Part of the Weequahic neighborhood has been designated a historic district. The neighborhood's major streets are Lyons Avenue, Bergen Street, and Chancellor Avenue.
Education
Newark Public SchoolsNewark Public Schools
Newark Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves the entire city of Newark, New Jersey. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide....
operates public schools. Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School is a public high school in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue....
serves the neighborhood.
The Weequahic Branch Library of the Newark Public Library
Newark Public Library
The Newark Public Library is the public library system for the city of Newark, New Jersey.-History:In 1902 John Cotton Dana became employed at the Newark Public Library in Newark, New Jersey from until his death in 1929. He established foreign language collections for immigrants and also developed...
(NPL) serves the neighborhood. The branch, which opened in May 1929, was the sixth NPL branch to open between 1923 and 1946. In 1992 the library system renovated the branch for $1 million; the renovation added air conditioning, online public access computers, an elevator, new lighting, off-street parking, and a children's storytelling pit.