by Howard D. Lanza (Author)
Garfield was once home to the Lenni Lenape, a tribe within the Algonquin Nation of Native Americans. Later, the Revolutionary War touched the area when many British soldiers entered the district in pursuit of Washington's army. After the war, farmers prospered as the fertile land of the river valley produced abundant crops that were shipped down the Passaic River to markets in New York City. In the late 1800s, as cities lying across the river industrialized, Garfield's farms gave way to mills, a trolley and railroads built lines through town, and soon the soaring population attracted a variety of small businesses.
In Garfield, some two hundred vintage photographs, most of which have never before been published, reveal the nature, culture, and character of a community that has been named the City of Champions. Included are views of the local schools, churches, markets, and police and fire departments, as well as many interesting local residents.