Manville, N.J., 1912 to 1929: A Trip Back Through Time

My blog this week will change the pace back to pure history, including what was then thought to be a wonderful development of Johns-Manville moving to Manville, New Jersey. This discussion involves the city outside of the factory and, quite honestly, during a time when asbestos had a good reputation. The city leaders were proud to have just won the fight for the factory in 1913. For my blog on that fight in 1912-1913, see https://theasbestosblog.com/?p=9580. This blog will discuss the aftermath starting in 1913 as told in 1987 by the then Editor of the Somerset Messenger-Gazette for inclusion in Ellis Island, The Coal Mines, to the Asbestos Capital of the World published by the Manville Public Library.

As stated in the article, aptly named “Of Mud and Chickens, of the Days before ’29:

“Manville, once upon a time, was the town that nobody gave a damn about.”

Catchy first sentence for the article. It continues:

“Mushroom growth started soon after 1912, when Johns-Manville decided on the community as the site of what has become one of Central Jersey’s great industries.

Families came to work in the great new factory from Pennsylvania, from New York and all parts of New Jersey. Brooks & Brooks, a New York real estate promotion firm which owned many parcels of land in the area, sponsored free train rides to help lure prospective settlers with strong backs and willing hands to make the wheels of industry turn.”

Rather than read it from me, below are the three pages that tell it all, for your trip down nostalgic lane. Per the author, it was initially a terrible place to live which “almost def[ied] adequate description” where the better streets were mostly mud, and with wandering pigs and ducks claiming the right of way.

I hope that you found the above interesting. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment or email me at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty