In 2009, the East County Times published a special commemorative issue filled with incredible historical photos from the archives of the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River.
Want to dive deeper into our local history? Download the full Essex 100 Years Commemorative PDF. Explore vintage photos, historical timelines, and stories spanning a century of our community.
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Read PDF online at archive.org
- Origins: The area was originally a 1,700-acre tract known as “Paradise Farm,” acquired by Elijah Taylor in the early 1800s.
- Development: In 1908, the Taylor Land Co. divided the farm into 50×145-foot building lots, which went on sale in June 1909 as “the new Essex suburb” with prices starting at $100.
- Early Landmarks: The first house was built by John Schuster at the corner of Dorsey and Taylor avenues. The first business, Henry Guttenberger’s General Store, opened in 1910 at the corner of Mace and Eastern avenues.
- Education: The first Essex School opened in 1913 in a building originally used as a real estate office; it later became the site of the Essex Senior Center and the original Essex Community College.
- Faith: Early religious institutions included St. Stephen’s African Methodist Episcopal Church (the first African-American church in Essex, built in the 1870s) and land donations for St. John’s Lutheran and Essex Methodist.
- Public Services: The supplement highlights early fire stations, such as the Vigilant Volunteer Fire Company (established around 1915), and the role of the United Electric Railway car barn for streetcar storage.
Centennial Celebration Details
- The 100th-birthday festival took place at Cox’s Point Park, featuring food, antique cars, arts and crafts, and a birthday cake.
- Special certificates were presented to World War II veterans and “Rosie the Riveters” living in the 21221 zip code.
- Musical performances included Joey McCann, Mickey Light, Maria Rose, Don “Big Daddy Country” Cox, and Synonyms for Sound.