Paulus Hook

Essex Street in Paulus Hook in April 2006

Paulus Hookis a community on theHudson River waterfrontinJersey City, New Jersey.It is located one mile (1.5 kilometres) across the river fromManhattan.The name Hook comes from the Dutch word "hoeck", which translates to "point of land." This "point of land" has been described as an elevated area, the location of which today is bounded by Montgomery, Hudson, Dudley, and Van Vorst Streets.

The neighborhood's main street is the north- and south-running Washington Street. The waterfront of Paulus Hook is located along the basin of theMorris Canalin a park with a segment ofLiberty State Park.TheHudson-Bergen Light Railhas a Paulus Hook stop atEssex Streetand theLiberty Water Taxiat Warren Street. The introduction of the light rail and development of office buildings on the Hudson Waterfront have brought more businesses to Morris Street including a number of restaurants with outdoor seating and small neighborhood shops.

History

Settlement

Paulus Hook Monument memorializingContinental Armytroops who took part in theBattle of Paulus Hookduring theRevolutionary Waron August 19, 1779

The ferry dock in Paulus Hook

The location that today is Paulus Hook originally was called Arressick or Arisheck Island by the earliest settlers after a corruptedLenapeterm, possibly from Kaniskeck, meaning a long, grassy marsh, or meadow.

17th century

The location that represents present-day Paulus Hook was originally part of a tract of land purchased as part ofPavonia, New Netherlandin 1630 byMichiel Pauw,aBurgomasterand Lord ofAchttienhovenoriginally fromAmsterdam.

The first settlement at Paulus Hook was in 1633when the area was an island at high tide. In 1638, it was granted to Pauw's agent, a man named Micheal Paulez (Pauluson, Powles) who operated an occasional ferry and traded with the localLenapepopulation. Paulez's name eventually became "Paulus," the name given to the hook jutting into the river and bay.By permission of theDirector of New Netherland,Willem Kieft,the land at Paulus Hook was acquired byAbraham Isaacsen Verplanckon May 1, 1638.The Manatus Map of 1639 depicts land holdings in the nascent province; number 31 is described as the "plantations at Paulus Hook",

On February 25, 1643, 100 Native American Indians were massacred at or in the vicinity of Paulus Hook.

Until theAmerican Revolution,the Dutch and then the English governed the site. In 1664, an expedition sailed from England to seize Dutch colonies in the New World. The colony ofNew Netherland's Director-GeneralPeter Stuyvesantsurrendered its capital to the English forces on September 8, 1664, soNew Amsterdambecame New York City, although the Dutch recaptured it briefly, which served as a trigger event for theSecond Anglo-Dutch Warin which the Dutch lost their North American territories.Charles II of Englandawarded territories to his brother James,Duke of York,who later becameKing James II,and the region betweenNew EnglandandMarylandbecameproprietary coloniesas opposed to aroyal colony.James then granted the land between theHudson Riverand theDelaware River(the land that would becomeNew Jersey) to two friends who had been loyal through theEnglish Civil War:John BerkeleyandGeorge Carteret,who had been with the Duke in exile onJerseyin theChannel Islands.So the name "New Jersey" was chosen, and today the communities ofCarteretandBerkeley Heightsare also named for the two friends,Elizabethis named for Carteret's wife, and the Duke of York is himself the namesake of New York.

In 1672, theThird Anglo-Dutch Warbroke out, and in July 1673, the Dutch reoccupied New York City, renaming itNew Orange.Peace was achieved in 1674 under terms of theTreaty of Westminster,and England recovered New York until theAmerican Revolution.

18th century

In July 1764,a ferry began operating from Paulus Hook to Mesier's dock which was located at the foot of Courtland Street, whereCortland Street Ferry Depotwas later builtand whereBattery Park City Ferry Terminalis located today.

American Revolutionary War

Further information:Battle of Paulus Hook

The Paulus Hook post office at 69 Montgomery Street

In 1776,American patriotsbuilt severalfortsto defend the western banks of theHudson River,one of which was located at Paulus Hook. After suffering defeats inNew York City,the American patriots abandoned Paulus Hook and theBritishoccupied it.The fort was a naturally defensible position that guarded the gateway toNew Jersey.

In mid-summer 1779, a flamboyant 23-year-oldPrinceton Universitygraduate, MajorHenry Lee,recommended to GeneralGeorge Washingtona daring plan for theContinental Armyto attack the fort, in what became known as theBattle of Paulus Hook.The assault was planned to begin shortly after midnight on August 19, 1779. Lee led a force of about 300 men, some of whom got lost during the march through the swampy, marshy land. The attack was late getting started but the main contingent of the force was able to reach the fort's gate without being challenged. It is believed that the British mistook the approaching force for alliedHessiansreturning from patrol, though this has not been definitively documented.

The attacking Patriots succeeded in damaging the fort and took 158 British prisoners, but were unable to destroy the fort and spike its cannons.As daytime arrived, Lee decided that prudent action demanded that the Patriots withdraw before the British forces from New York could cross the river. Paulus Hook remained in British hands until after the war but the battle was a small strategic victory for the forces of independence as it forced the British to abandon their plans for taking rebel positions in the New York area.

On November 22, 1783, the British evacuated Paulus Hook and sailed home.This was three days before they left New York onEvacuation Day,November 25, 1783. While the battle occupies only a small portion of U.S.Revolutionary Warhistory, it is an important part of thehistory of New JerseyandNew Jersey's role in the American Revolution,and holds an even more important place in the history of the neighborhood. A monument was erected in 1903 to memorialize the battle.

19th century

Paulus Hook subsequently became a major road and rail head for traffic along theNortheast Corridorand in 1836 a railroad station linking the area to Newark was opened. TheJersey City Ferry,as the original ferry became known, and later theDesbrosses Street Ferryand a ferry to West 34th Street in Manhattan would open and serve thePennsylvania Railroad'sExchange Place Station.During the mid-20th century the Pennsylvania Railroad's operations shifted toNewarkandNew York Penn stationsand ferry services to Manhattan were discontinued.

Paulus Hook was founded in 1894 byCornelia Foster Bradfordand named afterJohn Greenleaf Whittier.

20th century

Whittier House,also named after John Greenleaf Whittier, was the firstsettlement housein the state.

21st century

During the 21st century the arrival of theHudson–Bergen Light Rail,aconstruction boom following the attacks of September 11,investments inLiberty State Parkand the expansion of the area's ferry connections to lower Manhattan all helped to propel a process ofgentrification.

Today, real estate prices in Paulus Hook are generally higher than in surrounding neighborhoods, which include Liberty Harbor, theFinancial District,WALDO,Downtown Jersey City,andHamilton Park.Morris Street and Washington Street have become the "restaurant rows" of the neighborhood,which is mainly residential. The neighborhood is home to the Historic Paulus Hook Associationwhich was started in 1974 as a neighborhood association dedicated to preserving the historic feel of Paulus Hook.

On October 29, 2012, Paulus Hook was devastated duringHurricane Sandy,with significant flooding occurring throughout the neighborhood.

See also

• Colgate Clock (Jersey City)

External links

• The Historic Paulus Hook Association
• PaulusHook.Org
• Landmarks