Newark Fire Company #5

 The Newark Fire Department began operations in the early to mid 1800s but it went through several restructuring efforts before being reincorporated into a paid department in 1889. The new Newark Ladder Company #5 building was finished the very same year on what was then known as Belmont Avenue. As a mark of pride, the keystone over the bay door proudly boasted the date. 

Six years later Engine Company #12 was formed, headquartered in an addition to the existing #5 building. A large lookout tower was added to the rear of the building, offering a place for crews to dry out their hoses. 

The firehouse was situated directly between Clinton and Springfield Avenues, right in the absolute heart of the 1967 Newark Rebellion. "The riots", as they're derisively known to many in the area, caused widespread fire damage to the neighborhood. In a time where there where information moved much slower, the events were plagued with rumors of snipers firing from rooftops at cops and firemen alike. Those rumors were later entirely disproven by the Kerner commission, a federal body tasked with investigating the rebellion. 

Instead the true threat ended up being gunfire from the National Guard and Newark Police who were murdering residents indiscriminately across the central ward. The unarmed victims ranged in age from 10 year old Eddie Moss to 73 year old Isaac Harrison. The Newark Fire Department even ended up losing one of their captains, 41 year old Michael Moran, who was killed by stray fire from the National Guard stationed at a nearby roadblock. His death was blamed on the fictitous snipers, further fueling fear and speculation. 

The rebellion immediately and forever changed the landscape of the city, especially the central ward. Just around a decade after the events unfolded the fire station was the only building standing on the block. It continued to be used until 2003, when the company relocated to the new firehouse on Clinton Avenue.

After several decades of disuse the firehouse was in a significant state of disrepair. Im willing to bet it was already starting to crumble when it was active, since the interior had never been updated. The original fixtures were left rotting away all that time. 

Unfortunately the historic structure was entirely demolished in 2026. A new apartment building is planned for the site. While I'm always glad to see the city removing blight, I really wish the facades could have been saved and incorporated into the new build. Its definitely upsetting to see another central ward block with no trace of its past. 

Village Hall

Downtown South Orange is one of the last places one would expect to find a large vacant building. Despite this I kept driving past the old Village Hall and noticed it was falling into disrepair. One day I decided to park and investigate.

Source

The gorgeous tudor building with its looming clock tower and German half timber styling is arguably the most iconic structure in the bustling downtown. 

It was designed by E. K. Rossiter, who was best known for his work designing homes for the wealthy. The building originally functioned as offices and a courthouse. It opened in 1894, 25 years after the township was incorporated. 

In 1975 the building was added to the NJ Register of Historic Places. A year later it made it to the National Register. It seems that the space was vacated around 2010, when a federal grant was issued to restore the building. Work stopped after the interior was almost entirely gutted, and the structure stayed that way for nearly a decade. 

Work finally began again in 2019 to restore the building and open a restaurant inside. The restoration is full swing, and the restaurant is expected to open later this year.