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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
At MORSEMERE, 0 miles, US 46 branches (L) from US 1, dropping into
an open cut through the business section of one of the sprightlier areas
that mushroomed in boom times as metropolitan appendages. The highway
emerges to overpass the Erie R.R. tracks and, at 0.8 m., broad Overpeck
Creek, a branch of the Hackensack River. Tall marsh grass on each side
of the road rises from the tidal swamp that forms the upper section of
Jersey Meadows.
RIDGEFIELD PARK, 1.6 miles (60 alt., 10,473 pop.), is a commuters'
borough. Frame houses pack Winant Ave., through which the highway
runs. Like nearby communities the borough is keyed to real estate devel-
opment: whitewashed blackboard signs advise visitors to "SNAP UP this
BUY at $60 a month."
A concrete bridge at 1.8 miles crosses the New York, Susquehanna and
Western R.R., the Ontario and West Shore R.R., and the Hackensack
River. In the river valley (R), scattered with homes and factories, is the
solid stone and steel of Hackensack. At a traffic circle, 2.1 miles, the route is
west across the floor of the valley, with scattered dwellings and small
truck farms.
US 46 overpasses State 2 (see Tour 16) at 4.1 miles, and climbs the western slope of Hackensack Valley. The slightly rolling open country is
sparsely cultivated.
Passaic River is bridged at 8.1 miles, and US 46 turns sharply R., continuing along the west bank.
At 9.1 miles, at a traffic circle, the route becomes Temporary US 46.
Right at the traffic circle is EAST PATERSON, 0.3 miles (60 alt., 4,779 pop.), a
town that has its own borough government, but is little more than an industrial
adjunct to Paterson. A high wire fence separates the road from the tremendous
plant of the NATIONAL PIECE DYE WORKS (L). On the bridge over Passaic River,
from which green GARRET MT. (R) is seen rising sharply above the smoky industrial valley, a flying squadron of 500 dyers crossed from Paterson in a drenching
rain during the great textile strike of October, 1933. They were met by East Paterson police, sheriffs deputies, and private guards. Two strikers were wounded by
gunfire. After a 40-minute battle the dyers routed the police and joined the
National Piece Dye workers of East Paterson in a mass picket line. Amicable relations between the company and its employees have obtained since 1934, when a
union contract was signed.
Left along Market St. to 21st Ave.; L. on 21st Ave. to Jackson St.; R.
on Jackson St. to Grand St.; L. on Grand St.
PATERSON, 11.5 miles (84 alt., 138,513 pop.) (see PATERSON).
Points of Interest: Garret Mountain Reservation, Paterson Museum, Passaic Falls,
Wright Aeronautical Corp. Plant, Family Shops (textile factories), and others.
The route turns L. at 13.3 miles.
At 13.4 miles the highway crosses Passaic River by a wood bridge into
Totowa Borough. Temporary US 46 ends at this point.
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