Short Hills, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,149.Millburn Township was created as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1857, from portions of Springfield Township.Millburn also...
, in Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a popular commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
for residents who work in New York City. This affluent enclave features stately, older homes as well as newer construction.
Beginnings
Originally, the area that would become Short Hills was part of Springfield, New Jersey, and its eponymous hills are thought to have played a role in the movement of the Continental ArmyContinental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
during the Battle of Springfield.
Short Hills began as a planned community, when Stewart Hartshorn (who became wealthy from developing, perfecting and manufacturing the self-acting shade roller) purchased 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of land in Millburn Township, near the present Hobart Avenue, Parsonage Hill Road, and Chatham Road. Hartshorn's purpose was to create "a harmonious community for people who appreciated nature," and "where natural beauty would not be destroyed by real estate developments, and where people of congenial tastes could dwell together." He later increased his land holdings to 56 acres (226,624.2 m²) for himself and 1552 acres (6.3 km²) for the whole village, with each plot not owned by Hartshorn being no larger than 1/2 acre.
Hartshorn chose the name "Short Hills" because it reflected the topography of the region, and also because the local Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
used that same name to describe the region. One local resident suggested that he call his village "Hartshornville," but he definitively refused.
Railroad and postal connections
Hartshorn situated his "ideal town" near enough to a railroad to allow for an easy commute to HobokenHoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
and, from there, to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Hence, his decision in 1879 to build, at his own expense, a railroad station
Short Hills (NJT station)
Short Hills Station is a New Jersey Transit station in Short Hills, New Jersey along the Morris and Essex Railroad line.- History :The presence of a railroad station at the present site dates from 1879, when Stewart Hartshorn, the developer of what became the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn,...
along the original Morris and Essex Railroad
Morris and Essex Railroad
The Morris and Essex Railroad was a railroad across northern New Jersey, later part of the main line of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.-History:...
line. He also persuaded the United States Post Office to open a station in his new railroad station in 1880, and in fact, the Post Office has always had a presence in Short Hills from that day and its own ZIP Code, 07078.
Buffer zones
Presciently, Hartshorn deliberately preserved strips of land along the railroad right-of-way from any development west of Old Short Hills road. These strips separate Hobart Avenue to the north, and Chatham Road to the south, from the railway line. The only structure that has ever stood directly adjacent to the line is the railroad station. Mr. Hartshorn also established the Short Hills ParkShort Hills Park Historic District
The Short Hills Park Historic District is the oldest area of that unincorporated community in Millburn, New Jersey, United States. It consists of roughly a thousand acres with 125 buildings, mostly homes, in the area developed earliest by Stewart Hartshorn, whose goal was to create an "ideal town"...
directly across Hobart Avenue from the station, which stands to this day. In 1944, his estate donated this park to Millburn Township, with the stipulation that it always remain open to the public.
Common elements
After seventeen houses were erected, Hartshorn turned his attention to other "common elements." These included a Music Hall, which remains today as the Short Hills Racquets Club. However, despite these efforts, Short Hills remains a relatively quiet place.Later events
Stewart Hartshorn died in 1937, at the age of 97. His daughter Cora survived him, wrote her own history of the hamlet, and helped establish the ArboretumCora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary , also known as the Hartshorn Arboretum, is an arboretum and bird sanctuary located at 324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills, in Essex County, New Jersey. Its trails are open to the public daily without charge...
that bears her name.
In 1975, the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society formed in conjunction with the American Bicentennial celebrations.
In 2001, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center opened in Short Hills.
In 2002, local residents planted a memorial tree on the grounds of the railroad station, to honor those of their neighbors who died in the attacks on September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Present day
The opening of the Kearny ConnectionKearny Connection
The Kearny Connection in Kearny, New Jersey, allows suburban passenger trains from New Jersey Transit's Morris and Essex Lines to run to New York Penn Station,instead of their traditional ferry terminal on the river in Hoboken. New Jersey Transit dubbed the new service Midtown Direct; the...
, allowing the establishment of the first direct rail service to Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, has enhanced real-estate values immensely. Short Hills also has a business district along Chatham Road near the railroad station, which includes the post-office branch, a pharmacy, and several small specialty shops.
Short Hills is also home to many senior executives and controlling stockholders of some of the largest corporations in the United States and their families. The median family income is over $200,000.
Short Hills also has seven K-5 elementary schools, six are part of the Millburn Township Public Schools
Millburn Township Public Schools
The Millburn Township Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in prekinderagrten through twelfth grade from Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States....
, the Deerfield Elementary School, Glenwood Elementary School, Hartshorn Elementary School, Wyoming Elementary School, and South Mountain Elementary School. The seventh is The Pingry School Lower Campus
Pingry School
The Pingry School is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory country day school in New Jersey, with a Lower School campus in the Short Hills neighborhood of Millburn, and a Middle and Upper School campus in Martinsville. The school was founded in 1861 by Dr. John F. Pingry.Pingry's...
. Students move on to complete their education at the Millburn Middle School for grades 6–8 and Millburn High School
Millburn High School
Millburn High School is a four-year public high school in Millburn, in Essex County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Millburn Township Public Schools. The school enrolls students from the town of Millburn, including its neighborhood of Short Hills...
for grades 9–12 amongst others.
Millburn's schools are often commended for their high standards. Millburn High School was rated
best public high school in the state for 2008 and 2010 by New Jersey Monthly Magazine. The survey used various objective criteria including percentage of graduates going to college, number of students in accelerated courses and average SAT scores. In addition, the school has won the Blue Ribbon Award multiple times in the past. The principal is Dr. William Miron.
Though Short Hills has its own railroad station and post-office branch, it does not have an independent government. It remains today a part of the Township of Millburn, as it has been since its inception. Short Hills also has a small "downtown" area that is smaller than downtown Millburn.
Media References
The sister of Jeannie Cusamano, the next-door neighbors of the Sopranos (as in the HBO series, the Sopranos), is a lawyer and Georgetown alumnae who lives in Short Hills.In an episode of the television show Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
, a customs officer briefly explains to Holling Vincoeur (John Cullum
John Cullum
John Cullum is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in many stage musicals and dramas, including On the Twentieth Century and Shenandoah , winning the Tony Awards for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for each...
) that he was a draft dodger, and is originally from Short Hills.
In the movie musical Hair
Hair (film)
Hair is a 1979 American film adaptation of the 1968 Broadway musical of the same name about a Vietnam war draftee who meets and befriends a tribe of long-haired hippies on his way to the army induction center...
, Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
's character is from Short Hills.
In the 1995 movie Clockers a character claims to be looking for the Short Hills Mall
The Mall at Short Hills
The Mall at Short Hills is a high-end mall in the Short Hills area of Millburn, New Jersey, United States. The mall developer is The Taubman Company...
.
The 2001 film The Whole Shebang somebody that Short Hills is in Millburn, where in fact the reverse is true.
Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
's first book, Goodbye Columbus, is mostly set in Short Hills the home of the girlfriend of the character Neil Klugman and her family. Since Roth was from nearby Newark, New Jersey
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...
, he probably had been to Short Hills himself.
In the second series of House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, it is revealed that Stacy and Mark Warner (House's ex-girlfriend and her husband) live in Short Hills.
In Judy Blume
Judy Blume
Judy Blume is an American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults which have exceeded sales of 80 million and been translated into 31 languages...
's book Wifey
Wifey (novel)
Wifey is a 1978 novel by Judy Blume. The story follows the life of bored 1970s New Jersey housewife, Sandy Pressman, who decides to reinvigorate her life by having an extramarital affair with an old high school boyfriend. This decision is complicated when she accidentally discovers evidence her...
, the main character's sister and brother-in-law live in Short Hills.
In Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
's book The Yiddish Policemen's Union
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
The Yiddish Policemen's Union is a 2007 novel by American author Michael Chabon. The novel is a detective story set in an alternative history version of the present day, based on the premise that during World War II, a temporary settlement for Jewish refugees was established in Sitka, Alaska, in...
, an incidental character, Larry Spiro, is described as being from Short Hills, and the town is mentioned again later in the book, again incidentally (the main character sees a mocking note written by his sister declaring that his holding cell was donated by a couple from Short Hills).
In an episode of the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
cartoon show Ugly Americans
Ugly Americans
Ugly Americans: The True Story of the Ivy League Cowboys Who Raided the Asian Markets for Millions is a book by Ben Mezrich that recounts the exploits of an American called John Malcolm arbitraging index futures in Japan in the 1990s...
aired 11th August 2011, the character Frank Grimes tells his family-band, "Next stop, the Short Hills Mall."
Noted Residents
- Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway (actress)Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. After several stage roles, she appeared in the 1999 television series Get Real. She played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries...
played the lead role in Millburn High School's production of Once Upon A Mattress - Scott LevyScott LevyScott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
– Professional Wrestler - John Ferolito, the founder and current owner of Arizona Beverage CompanyAriZona Beverage CompanyAriZona Beverages USA is a producer of various flavors of iced tea, juice cocktails and energy drinks from the United States, based in Woodbury, New York....
. - Herbert G. HopwoodHerbert G. HopwoodAdmiral Herbert Gladstone Hopwood was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1958 to 1960.-Early career:...
(1898–1966) four-star admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander in chief of the United States Pacific FleetUnited States Pacific FleetThe United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
from 1958 to 1960. - Peter KelloggPeter KelloggPeter R. Kellogg is an American businessman and philanthropist with a net worth estimated by Forbes at around $2.6 billion.-Personal:Peter attended Berkshire School in Sheffield, MA. He is the son of James Crane Kellogg, Jr. of Wall Street specialist firm Spear, Leeds & Kellogg; he joined his...
, tied for number 278 on Forbes Magazine's 2006 Billionaires List; director of the Wall StreetWall StreetWall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
investment firm Spear, Leeds & Kellogg, which was sold to Goldman SachsGoldman SachsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
in 2000 for $5.5 billion. - Joe KernenJoe KernenJoe Kernen is a CNBC news anchor. He is currently co-host of CNBC’s "Squawk Box". His nickname is "The Kahuna".Kernen came to CNBC in the 1991 merger with Financial News Network, having joined FNN after a 10-year career as a stockbroker.Kernen grew up in the Western Hills section of Cincinnati,...
(1956–), CNBCCNBCCNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
news anchor and main host of the popular show Squawk BoxSquawk BoxSquawk Box is a business news television program which airs at breakfast time on the CNBC network. The program is currently co-hosted by Joe Kernen, Rebecca Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Since debuting in 1995, the show has spawned a number of versions across CNBC's international channels, many of... - John C. McGinleyJohn C. McGinleyJohn Christopher McGinley is an American actor, most notable for his roles as Perry Cox in Scrubs, Bob Slydell in Office Space, Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's Platoon and Marv in Stone's Wall Street. He has also written and produced for television and film...
(1959–), actor most known as Dr. Perry Cox on ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
. - Belva PlainBelva PlainBelva Plain , née Offenberg, was a best-selling American author of mainstream fiction. She was born in New York City.-Biography:...
(1919–2010), author. - Peter Van SantPeter Van SantPeter Van Sant is an American television news reporter and correspondent for 48 Hours Mystery.Van Sant was born on February 21, 1953 in Seattle, Washington. He graduated cum laude from Washington State University in 1975 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications.-Career:After gradutation, Van Sant...
, reporter 48 Hours48 Hours (TV series)48 Hours is a documentary and news program broadcast on the CBS television network since January 19, 1988. The program originally presented documentaries of various events related to a particular subject occurring within a 48-hour period, and is credited as one of the first to air a "reality show"...
. - Rachel ZoeRachel ZoeRachel Zoe Rosenzweig , also known as Rachel Zoe, is an American fashion stylist best known for working with celebrities, fashion houses, beauty firms, advertising agencies, and magazine editors. In 2008, the first season of her Bravo reality television series The Rachel Zoe Project debuted...
(1971–), fashion stylist. - Alan ZweibelAlan ZweibelAlan Zweibel is an American producer and writer who has worked on such productions as Saturday Night Live, PBS' Great Performances, and It's Garry Shandling's Show.-Early life:...
(1950–), producer and writer on such productions as Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, PBS' Great PerformancesGreat PerformancesGreat Performances, a television series devoted to the performing arts, has been telecast on Public Broadcasting Service public television since 1972...
, and It's Garry Shandling's ShowIt's Garry Shandling's ShowIt's Garry Shandling's Show is an American sitcom which was initially broadcast on Showtime from 1986 to 1990. It was created by Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel. The show is notable for its frequent use of breaking the fourth wall to allow characters to speak directly to the audience...
. - Former Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
player David JusticeDavid JusticeDavid Christopher Justice is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , and Oakland Athletics .-Early life:David was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Robert and Nettie Justice...
. - Actress Rosemary Rice, best-known as Katrin in the CBS-TV series "Mama."
- Patti StangerPatti StangerPatti Stanger is a Jewish-American matchmaker and television producer with her own Bravo TV show called The Millionaire Matchmaker. She is the founder and CEO of Millionaire's Club International Inc., a professional matchmaking service for millionaires.-Early life and education:Adopted into a...
, Star and Producer of BRAVO show, Millionaire MatchmakerMillionaire MatchmakerMillionaire Matchmaker is a television series produced by Bravo and presented by Patti Stanger. Stanger founded the Beverly Hills-based "Millionaire's Club" in 2000 to cater to wealthy men looking for partners... - Zygi Wilf, owner NFL's Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
- Lee BickmoreLee BickmoreLee Smith Bickmore was the CEO of Nabisco. Bickmore began his employment with Nabisco as a salesman in Pocatello, Idaho. He later lived from many years in Short Hills, New Jersey. He was living in Vero Beach, Florida at the time of his death....
(1908–1986), chairman of the board and CEO of NabiscoNabiscoNabisco is an American brand of cookies and snacks. Headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey, the company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Kraft Foods. Nabisco's plant in Chicago, a production facility at 7300 S... - Joseph P. Day, early land auctioneer and real-estate broker
Points of interest
- Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird SanctuaryCora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird SanctuaryThe Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary , also known as the Hartshorn Arboretum, is an arboretum and bird sanctuary located at 324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills, in Essex County, New Jersey. Its trails are open to the public daily without charge...
- The Mall at Short HillsThe Mall at Short HillsThe Mall at Short Hills is a high-end mall in the Short Hills area of Millburn, New Jersey, United States. The mall developer is The Taubman Company...
– a high-end mall with a gross leasable areaGross leasable areaGross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
of 1,342,000 ft² (120,780 m²), placing it in the top ten among the largest shopping malls in New Jersey. The mall is anchored by Bloomingdale'sBloomingdale'sBloomingdale's is an American department store owned by Macy's, Inc. .Bloomingdale's started in 1861 when brothers Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale started selling hoop-skirts in their Ladies Notions' Shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side...
, Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
, Neiman MarcusNeiman MarcusNeiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
, NordstromNordstromNordstrom, Inc. is an upscale department store chain in the United States, founded by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin. Initially a shoe retailer, the company today also sells clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, and in some locations, home furnishings...
, & Saks Fifth AvenueSaks Fifth AvenueSaks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
. - Paper Mill PlayhousePaper Mill PlayhousePaper Mill Playhouse is a regional theatre with approximately 1200 seats, located in Millburn, New Jersey, less than 25 miles from Manhattan. Due to its location, it can draw from the pool of actors who live in New York City. Its location, as well as its focus on producing large-scale shows, makes...