Roseville, Newark, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Roseville is a neighborhood in northwestern Newark, New Jersey
, bordering Bloomfield
and East Orange
. To the neighborhood's immediate east is the Newark City Subway and Branch Brook Park
. Roseville is divided into Upper Roseville north of 3rd Ave and Lower Roseville south of 3rd Ave.
Originally called "Rowesville," Roseville was farmland at the time of the Civil War, but during the conflict most of the area was turned into Union Army training and camping grounds. Residential development began with the construction of Newark's first streetcar line in 1862, and expanded greatly in the 1880s. Growth was also spurred by the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad, which maintained a train station
in Roseville for many years (closed in 1982 by New Jersey Transit
). For generations, Roseville received Newarkers who had acquired the prosperity to leave the crowded tenements of the Ironbound
and the central part of the city.
At the turn of the century, the northern section of the district was predominantly Irish-American, but the rest of the neighborhood was not associated with any single ethnic group. Most of the residents, however, were Catholic and St. Rose of Lima Church was an important part of neighborhood life. In the 1950s and 1960s, the proportion of African American
residents increased. However, since the 1970s, increasing numbers of Hispanic families have moved into the neighborhood, hailing from Puerto Rico
, Dominican Republic
and various Latin America
n mainland countries.
From 1929 to 1964 Roseville was Newark Academy
's third home. The school had a large campus on First Street, between Seventh Avenue and Orange Street. The building was torn down in 1965 and replaced by apartments.
Roseville has a tradition of community organization. In 1930 the citizens of Roseville founded the Roseville Community Council, the first grass-roots neighborhood improvement society in Newark. In the wake of the 1967 riots, the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church, Monsignor William J. Linder, founded the New Community Corporation
, a highly successful jobs, housing, and medical care charity.
A major landmark of Roseville is the Newark Schools' Stadium at the corner of Roseville Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue. There are also many Italian restaurants along Bloomfield Avenue.
Roseville is served by the Orange Street, Park Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue Stations of Newark City Subway.
Educational institutions include: First Avenue Elementary School (recently rebuilt), Alma Flagg Elementary School, Sussex Avenue School, Roseville Avenue School, Newark Preschool, and St. Rose of Lima School.
The historic Roseville Presbyterian Church, incorporated in 1854, is located on Roseville and Sussex Avenues. It was originally started by middle class residents from nearby East Orange and is now a mostly African American Congregation.
Roseville is served by two public library branches: Roseville branch
for Lower Roseville and the First Ave branch
for Upper Roseville.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, bordering Bloomfield
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...
and East Orange
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...
. To the neighborhood's immediate east is the Newark City Subway and Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park is a county park of Essex County, New Jersey in the United States, located in the North Ward of Newark, between the neighborhoods of Forest Hill and Roseville. At 360 acres , Branch Brook Park is the largest public park in the city of Newark...
. Roseville is divided into Upper Roseville north of 3rd Ave and Lower Roseville south of 3rd Ave.
Originally called "Rowesville," Roseville was farmland at the time of the Civil War, but during the conflict most of the area was turned into Union Army training and camping grounds. Residential development began with the construction of Newark's first streetcar line in 1862, and expanded greatly in the 1880s. Growth was also spurred by the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad, which maintained a train station
Roseville Avenue (NJT station)
Roseville Avenue was a transfer station on New Jersey Transit's Morris & Essex Lines in Newark, New Jersey, United States. The station was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad in 1903 during a track depression to serve Newark's Roseville neighborhood...
in Roseville for many years (closed in 1982 by New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
). For generations, Roseville received Newarkers who had acquired the prosperity to leave the crowded tenements of the Ironbound
Ironbound
The Ironbound is a large working-class neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. This close-knit, multi-ethnic community covers approximately four square miles . Historically, the area was called "Dutch Neck," "Down Neck," or simply "the Neck," because of the way the Passaic River curved to form what...
and the central part of the city.
At the turn of the century, the northern section of the district was predominantly Irish-American, but the rest of the neighborhood was not associated with any single ethnic group. Most of the residents, however, were Catholic and St. Rose of Lima Church was an important part of neighborhood life. In the 1950s and 1960s, the proportion of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
residents increased. However, since the 1970s, increasing numbers of Hispanic families have moved into the neighborhood, hailing from Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and various Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n mainland countries.
From 1929 to 1964 Roseville was Newark Academy
Newark Academy
Newark Academy is a coeducational private day school located in Livingston, New Jersey. With both lower and upper schools, this institution comprises grades six through twelve...
's third home. The school had a large campus on First Street, between Seventh Avenue and Orange Street. The building was torn down in 1965 and replaced by apartments.
Roseville has a tradition of community organization. In 1930 the citizens of Roseville founded the Roseville Community Council, the first grass-roots neighborhood improvement society in Newark. In the wake of the 1967 riots, the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church, Monsignor William J. Linder, founded the New Community Corporation
New Community Corporation
New Community Corporation is a not-for-profit community development corporation based in Newark, New Jersey. It is recognized by urban development analysts as one of the largest and most diversified community development organizations in the United States...
, a highly successful jobs, housing, and medical care charity.
A major landmark of Roseville is the Newark Schools' Stadium at the corner of Roseville Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue. There are also many Italian restaurants along Bloomfield Avenue.
Roseville is served by the Orange Street, Park Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue Stations of Newark City Subway.
Educational institutions include: First Avenue Elementary School (recently rebuilt), Alma Flagg Elementary School, Sussex Avenue School, Roseville Avenue School, Newark Preschool, and St. Rose of Lima School.
The historic Roseville Presbyterian Church, incorporated in 1854, is located on Roseville and Sussex Avenues. It was originally started by middle class residents from nearby East Orange and is now a mostly African American Congregation.
Roseville is served by two public library branches: Roseville branch
Newark Public Library
The Newark Public Library is the public library system for the city of Newark, New Jersey.-History:In 1902 John Cotton Dana became employed at the Newark Public Library in Newark, New Jersey from until his death in 1929. He established foreign language collections for immigrants and also developed...
for Lower Roseville and the First Ave branch
Newark Public Library
The Newark Public Library is the public library system for the city of Newark, New Jersey.-History:In 1902 John Cotton Dana became employed at the Newark Public Library in Newark, New Jersey from until his death in 1929. He established foreign language collections for immigrants and also developed...
for Upper Roseville.
Notable persons
- Moe BergMoe BergMorris "Moe" Berg was an American catcher and coach in Major League Baseball who later served as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II...
, Major League Baseball player, and spy
External links
- A tour of Roseville Avenue on newarkhistory.com
- "The Canteen," a Website Containing Photographs and Memories of Roseville
- "The Saint Rose of Lima Alumni Association" a website containing over 50 pages of St. Rose of Lima and neighborhood memorabilia including old photos, new photos, Drum Corps photos and music, etc