Images of America - Dover

"No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever." - Francois Mauriac

The list of destinations of departing trains at New York City's Penn Station is impressive - San Francisco, New Orleans, Chicago, Dover.

Dover? Yes, Dover, New Jersey, has long been a destination. Centuries ago, the Lenape Indians migrated here from Canada. Then, in 1722, 23-year-old entrepreneur John Jackson came into this wilderness. He built an iron forge and a log cabin close to Indian Falls and present-day Hurd Park. This first building marked the founding of Dover.

Gen. George Washington visited as he rode through to examine the nearby iron works that was making the ammunition for the Revolutionary War. The iron rich hills, the Rockaway River water source, and the plentiful woods made the Dover area a mecca for the iron industry.

The town grew and changed - along with its name. Originally called "Old Tye," then "Bemans," the name "Dover" began to be used in the 1800s, which was probably in deference to Dover, New Hampshire, former home of iron worker Moses Hurd.

Dover's prosperity, tied to the iron industry, went up and down like a yo-yo depending on world conditions. But in 1825, two events would leave indelible marks on Dover's future. Henry McFarland and Joseph Blackwell, two developers who had come from New York City, mapped out all of the Dover streets and began to sell building lot. The legacy these realtors leave to this day is the grid layout of the streets, even on the steep hills! Also in 1825, the Morris Canal, one of the engineering marvels of the world, began to be dug through Dover. This canal would travel across New Jersey from Phillipsburg to Newark, carrying coal for the factories. McFarland and Blackwell advertised Dover as a great location for business. Dover was along the future canal, had access to the coal being carried, was close to over 100 iron forges, had good "turnpikes," and had easy transport to the markets of New York City and beyond.

The people came, migrating west from the tidelands of Elizabeth, Newark, and Long Island. Some, like William Young, the Scottish baker, came from Brooklyn to Dover, attracted by its reputation as the "Banner Temperance Town of New Jersey."

The coming of the trains in 1848 brought even more business and prosperity to Dover. This beautiful and perfect little valley of downtown Dover was sprouting hotels, theaters, churches, shops, banks, Victorian-style homes, schools, and a new train station. The mansions and estates of the new "mercantile aristocracy" dotted the surrounding hills. Dover was indeed a destination for shopping, entertainment, and visiting. Grover Cleveland, Thomas Edison, Mark Twain, Calvin Coolidge, Helen Hayes, Ethel Barrymore, and even Babe Ruth came to Dover. The movie "The Great Train Robbery" was filmed in Dover in 1903.

Into the 20th century, the factories and mills of Dover attracted workers from Europe, South America, and Puerto Rico among other places. They came to Dover to find their piece of the American dream.

Today, Dover's strength and its uniqueness are found in its diversity. Catch the Midtown Direct Train to New York City or catch the largest rainbow trout ever in New Jersey. Experience the vibrant and eclectic downtown or hike a peaceful mountain trail. Enjoy an outdoor concert at the gazebo or an indoor show at one of Dover's two live theaters. Stroll past the dozens of cherry blossoms at Hurd Park or walk into the past down the towpath of the Morris Canal. Gape at the vastness of one of the old factory buildings or savor the personal service at an intimate, family-owned restaurant.

If you look closely at this small town of 15,000, just two miles square, you can see the layers of a rich past. Old buildings are reborn with new uses. New people are blended with the old families.

Dover was founded and the people came because of its resources. Into the 21st century, Dover will be a destination that people will rediscover because of its greatest resource - its diversity.