History and Culture!
Edison, NJ: An integral part of our history.
Edison has some collection of facts and figures. It's legacy
includes:
Edison grew in the second half of the 19th century as the
attractiveness of the rural landscape became more accessible with
the opening of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Easton and Amboy
line. By the late 1800's, many residents commuted to jobs in New
York and other parts of New Jersey.
Edison is also home to the second oldest Baptist Church< to see the
first oldest Baptist Church, click> in New Jersey and the 10th
oldest in the nation. Stelton Baptist Church was formed in the
spring of 1689, and among its original members was the Stelle
family, after whom the Stelton section of Edison is named. Through
1875, however, the church was known as the First Baptist Church of
Piscataway. Present-day congregants celebrated the tercentennial of
their church in year-long celebrations in 1989.
Revolutionary War skirmishes took place in Bonhamtown, Piscatawaytown
and along Woodbridge Avenue. In fact, the St. James Episcopal Church
building served as a hospital for wounded British soldiers during the war,
and six British soldiers killed in one of the area's skirmishes are
buried in the cemetery at the church. See the Revolutionary
War in NY for full details of the defense of the New York area
Old Post Road, the earliest public road in eastern New Jersey,
passes through Edison and is said to have been used by President
George Washington as he traveled through the state on the way to his
inauguration in New York City in April 1789.
More Historical Facts