Clifton History: 1917-1969 - Clifton History: 1970-2000
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1917
- City Hall on Main and Harding avenues is completed.
- April 24: Residents vote to incorporate as the City of Clifton (formerly Acquackanonk Township).
- April 26: City of Clifton is created. Clarence Finkle, Sr. becomes interim mayor.
1918 - January 1: George F. Schmidt becomes Clifton’s first elected mayor.
- July 16: City Council organizes paid fire department.
1920 - Census shows 26,470 residents.
1921 - George R. Connors becomes mayor
- January 12: Clifton Public Library opens in rented store on Main Avenue.
1922 - Clifton Mustang football team wins first state championship.
1924 - Morris Canal ends operations.
- Racetrack property on Main Avenue purchased by city as site for high school and park.
1925 - S. Grant Thorburn becomes mayor.
1926 - Clifton High School (now Christopher Columbus Middle School) opens.
- Textile strike begins in Passaic-Clifton-Garfield area. 16,000 workers eventually join picket line.
1927 - William P. Jordan becomes mayor.
- February: Textile strike ends.
- Clifton Chamber of Commerce incorporated.
1928 - Clifton Post Office established as a first class (independent) office. Frank Gersie appointed Postmaster.
1930 - Population reaches 46,875.
1932 - Crine Kievit becomes mayor.
- Spring: Hilda’s Nightclub in Richfield is destroyed by fire.
1934 - Wilson S. Brower becomes mayor.
- Residents vote to switch from a council to a council-manager form of government.
- July 3: William A. Miller appointed first city manager.
1935 - Hird’s Woolen Mill opens Clifton branch at intersection of Clifton and Paulison avenues.
1936 - Clifton Post Office moves main branch to corner of Washington and Main avenues.
1937 - March 19: “White Line” Trolley ends its Paterson to East Rutherford service.
1938 - Clifton Mustang Band organized.
- Godfrey M. Meyer becomes mayor.
1940 - Population rises slightly to 48,827.
- July 15: Weasel Brook Park on Paulison Avenue is dedicated.
1942 - William Dewey Sr. becomes mayor.
- Clifton Hotel at Main and Madison avenues is razed.
1945 - Michael J. Shershin becomes mayor.
1946 - Walter F. Nutt becomes mayor.
- Shulton, Inc. on Route 46 opens.
1948 - Route 3 linked with Route 46 in Clifton.
1949 - Clifton Boys’ Club established.
1950 - Population increases to 64,511.
- Fred G. Devito becomes mayor.
- September 15: Nash Park dedicated.
1951 - John J. Fitzgerald appointed city manager.
1952 - Clifton becomes New Jersey’s fastest growing city.
- Styertowne Shopping Center opens.
1953 - January 31: Memorial Library, Piaget Avenue dedicated.
1954 - John W. Surgent becomes mayor.
- Annual Youth Week program begins.
1957 - William Holster becomes city manager.
1958 - Stanley Zwier becomes mayor.
1960 - Population reaches 82,084
- John F. Kennedy campaigns in front of City Hall.
1962 - New high school on Colfax Avenue dedicated.
- Ira Schoem becomes mayor.
1966 - Joseph J. Vanecek becomes mayor.
1967 - Clifton celebrates 50th anniversary.
- September 17: First city-wide picnic held.
1968 -
Clifton firemen become public safety officers with police patrol duties.
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