Industrial Information

Industrial Information

The history of clay and its by-product, brick, made Woodbridge known world-wide. The factory, as pictured below in 1875, was one of the earliest brick factories to open in Woodbridge and the last to close. M.D. Valentine & Brother started in 1866. Some folks say that 80,000,000 fire bricks were sent to market annually by 1859. Notice in the drawing there were facilities for shipment of finished bricks by the single line track of the Pennsylvania R.R. and also shipments by boats on the Woodbridge River. The capacity of the plant was as great as any plant in the U.S. and the quality of its production was second to none. Then sadly in 1956 the original plant was leveled by fire and rebuilt in Mexico, Mo. on 1958 as a division of A.P. Green Fire Brick. The company stopped production in 1985.

This is the site where the clay was removed for the bricks.

A side note: Mayor William Ryan (1926-1933),started in in the clay mining and manufacturing business as his father before him had done. A second side note: Opened in 1971, Woodbridge Center, located between US Route 1 & 9. is one of the largest two-level enclosed shopping malls.

When did the brick industry get started?

Early brick, drain pipe, and related products like porcelain, pottery, hollow tile were produced starting as early as 1825. Detailed historic information can be found in "Timely Told Tales of Woodbridge Township" by Dorothy Ludewig, copyright 1971 located in the Woodbridge Public Library.

Besides M.D. Valentine Brothers were there other recorded sites?

Salamander Works - firebricks.
W.C. Boyton - Sewaren
Crossman Clay Manufacturing Company - Keasbey
Porcelain - Fords
Ostrander, Hampton Cutter D.C.Cutter, C.M. Dally
Ryan, Anness - Woodbridge

Why firebrick was important?

In order for industries to produce intense heat to manufacture their
products, the bricks were needed. This is necessary in the production
of steel, glass, oil,

More reasons why firebrick so important?

The bricks were needed in order for Industry to produce intense heat to make their products. Intense heat is needed for the production of steel, glass, aluminum, zinc, copper, lead, oil and its products, so on. The idea was clear. It became one of America's most basic product.

What happened to change Woodbridge?

The laborers (picks & shovels) were replaced by machines (bulldozers & power equipment) plus complex highways, shopping centers, industrial parks and the like were all part of change.

Electricity

Sewarn Power Station

Pardon the pun but one of the most powerful and important industries was the Public Service Electric and Gas Company in Sewaren. This was #5 and one of the largest on the Arthur Kill. It was designed to meet the increasing demand of the growing community.

Electricity Generator

As a point of interest, the diagram above illustrates how electricity is made. The fuel is burned to make steam to turn the turbines to turn the generators and then create electricity at 18,000 volts. From there to the transformer steps it up to 230, 000 to the switch yard to the transmission lines. Then to the switching station where it is reduced to 26,400 volts to large industry. Further, to substation where it is reduced to 4,160 volts to small industry buildings, stores, offices, homes

Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 June 2009 08:31 )

Rail

According to "Timely Told Tales", tracks were in Woodbridge as early as 1835 with trains dashing madly at 15 miles per hour. In 1874 the New Jersey Central Railroad built freight and passenger stations in Port Reading and Sewaren connecting Newark and Perth Amboy.

The industrial impact on the Township was the Reading Railroad. Coal and freight were carried between Reading, Pennsylvania and New York City through Woodbridge Township. Because there was no New York terminal, the railroaders established a site in the Port Reading part of town to accommodate this. By 1892
tracks were laid to docks on the Arthur Kill and business boomed.

A 19th century style train of the Woodbridge Rail Road. (for full view, please click on picture)

Water

Eventually oil refineries and storage tanks replaced the once famous Boynton Beach fishing piers and picnic areas. The waterfront, in the beginning, was recreational. A small ferry tripping across the Woodbridge Creek gave way to barges carrying Shell Oil asphalt or to tankers loaded with crude oil.

A barge from Shell oil (for full view, please click on picture)

Roads

Aerial view of Woodbridge Township (for full view, please click on picture)

Before 1800 there were few roads, more like trails and paths. The trails became wagon and coach roads. As a point of interest, a long bar was hung over a place in the road where a toll was to be paid. When a traveler paid a fee, he was permitted to pass. These roads were called "turnpikes". Now because Woodbridge was located between New York and Philadelphia toll roads were developed for the money needed to maintain this type of transportation. The appearance of the auto brought traffic which was relieved by intersecting the Garden State Parkway and N.J. Turnpike — toll roads.

Industry grew by its ability to move on the road.

Air

(for full view, please click on picture)

There is no airport in Woodbridge but, the world's largest reservation office of Eastern Airlines was located by the Garden State Parkway. Ronson and Hess helicopters carried executives to destinations unknown.

Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 June 2009 08:49 )