Historic Map - Dover, NJ - 1903

Dover, New Jersey 1903.

This reproduction panoramic view of Dover, New Jersey was published by Fowler & Bailey in 1903. The land on which Dover stands in Morris County was once owned by John Jackson. The region was soon discovered to contain rich deposits of iron ore. The iron ore began to be harvested in the early 1700's. The nearby Dickerson Mine in the township of Mine Hill was owned and operated by future New Jersey governor Mahlon Dickerson. The ore was so prevalent in the area surrounding Dickerson's Mine that it was laying about everywhere. John Jackson instilled a forge on his property and had the iron ore gathered by horseback saddles and brought in for processing. The ore was formed into bars and quickly shipped to manufacturers. In 1750 the British enacted the Iron Act which restricted the colonial production of iron and forced Jackson into bankruptcy. The property was then sold to Quaker Hartshorne Fitz Randolph at a sheriff's sale.

The village of Dover was incorporated in 1826 and continued to prosper with knitting mills, silk manufacturers and a significant hosiery factory. In 1880, miner William Henry Baker built the famous Baker Opera House. In 1898, as troops rallied down Blackwell Street on their way to fight in the Spanish American War they burned down critic John Mazza's peanut stand. In 1901 Dover re-enacted the dramatic event. Dover's water supply plant was added in 1903, the year that this map was published.

The view of Dover from 1903 shows buildings, railroad routes and labeled streets. It features inset illustrations of the following:

• Residence of W. H. Baker.
• The Berry Block.
• Swedish Congregational Church.
• Hoagland Memorial Presbyterian Church.
• Swedish Lutheran Church.
• Residence of A. Kanouse.
• Residence of E. J. Ross.
• The Iron Era Office.
• The Schwarz Block.
• E. J. Ross Manufacturing Co., Wharton, N. J., Manufacturers of Broad Silks.
• Colonnade Hotel & Annex, C. W. Searing, Owner.
• Dover Boiler Works, Dover, N. J.
• Joseph Wharton's Blast Furnaces, Wharton, N. J.
• Mansion House, A. Richards, Proprietor.
• Dover Index Office.

Features numbered & lettered references to the following locations:

1. Public Schools.
2. D. L. & W. R. R. Station.
3. C. R. R. of N. J. R. R. Station.
4. Hoagland Memorial Presbyterian Church.
5. St. Mary's Catholic Church.
6. Grace Methodist Church.
7. Methodist Church.
8. Baptist Church.
9. Swedish Congregational Church.
10. Swedish Lutheran Church.
11. Episcopal Church.
12. Mansion House, A. Richards.
13. Hotel Dover.
14. Colonnade Hotel, C. W. Searing.
15. Baker's Opera House.
16. Wharton Furnaces.
17. E. J. Ross Mfg. Co., Silk Mfy.
18. Richardson & Boynton Co., Stove Works.
19. Singleton's Silk Mill.
20. Morris County Machine and Iron Co.
21. Dover Boiler Works.
22. McKiernan Drill Co.
23. Morris & Essex Car Shops.
24. Dover Steam Laundry.
25. Dover, Rockaway & Pt. Oram Gas Co.
26. C. H. Eagles Wagon & Blacksmith Shop.
27. Sunnyside Green Houses.