All interviews were taped and documented.They are available through the Reference
Department of the Teaneck Public Library. The Library is not responsible for the accuracy
of the
statements nor does it necessarily endorse the opinions expressed.
Frederic Andreas (Mayor of Teaneck,1924)
(Interview taped 8/15/1949)
Born in 1870, came to Teaneck in 1890 when his parents were looking for a summer home. A farm on River Road had been advertised. His father bought it on his son's recommendation without seeing it. They moved in. Father died the next year. Frederic was in wholesale coal business in New York. At first family came to Teaneck for the summer, staying a little later each year. They had a coal stove, no plumbing but the pump in the kitchen. Inside part of the house was built in 1760, a wing added in 1840, then a study was built on south side and a modern kitchen added.
Frederic married Miss Mabel Moore of New York in 1911. His mother wanted them to live in the Teaneck house. She was then an invalid. Moved across the street where a hay field had been.
Andreases had on son -- John Moore Andreas, Ph.D., technical expert who lived in Pasadena, Calif., Frederic Andreas retired in 1944.
He plans to hive his property to the township providing he may live on it tax free until his death. After that the house is to be torn down, the barn and carriage house to remain standing as a meeting place for Boy and Girl scouts or other community affairs.
"When I first came here, I used to ride horseback from my home on River Rd. to the Dyckman Street ferry without going off Phelps property. Phelps had built 30 miles of roads and owned over 3,000 acres which he acquired after buying his original farm."
"At first Phelps used the Nordhoff station in Englewood where he took the Northern railway. Later he had a station built on his property in Teaneck where he took the West Shore. This station was brown stone. Two rooms. There was a woman in charge of the station. She had lace curtains at the window and potted geraniums on the sills. The township government was centered in Englewood. Phelps felt Teaneck did not derive enough benefit from the taxes he paid which was the reason for the agitation for a separate township."
"Phelps' dream was to make Teaneck a residential park such as Tuxedo. He influenced some high class people to come out here. He intended to sell some of his property to them as estates. Because of his death, the plan did not work out. His widow did not want to sell any of the property. After her death the heirs did not wish the continue spending money for the upkeep.
"Phelps had a daughter, Marion, who married the court of Rothenberg, a son, John J. Phelps who died recently and Sheffield who died leaving some children.
"William Bennett, the first township chairman, came here as superintendent of the Phelps estate. He lived on Teaneck Road north of the Town Hall. Several hundred men worked for Phelps in those days.
"Queen Anne was a dirt road, the Clausen farm house being the only house there when I came out. There was near the present Route 4. At first my mother drove me to the station in a horse and wagon and met me in the evening. Later I rode a bicycle.
Bergen History:
In 1656, after repeated Indian attacks, settlers decided to live in stockade village, The one in Jersey City Heights was 800 feet each way. It was called Bergen because it was on a hill. In 1682 Bergen County was created. What is now Hudson County was called Bergen Township. In 1693 Hackensack Township was created. In 1871 the state legislature divided Hackensack township into Palisade, Ridgefield and Englewood townships.
The site of the present armory was the Tri-Township Poor Farm. Although there were no many indigents, they worked the farm. This was later given over to the county and then to the state as the site for the armory.
Most noted Teaneck resident, aside form Phelps, was Conrad N. Jordan, secretary of the treasury under Cleveland. His son, Archibald N. Jordan lives on Larch Ave. Frank Chapman, noted ornithologist is with American Museum of Natural History. He lived here. Lived with his mother on North side of West Englewood Avenue.
