Shippen Street (Weehawken)
Encyclopedia
Shippen Street is an east-west street
in Weehawken, New Jersey
. The eastern terminal, a cobblestone
double hairpin turn
is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places
. Shippen Street was developed at the turn of the century
as part of the Weehawken Heights, one the town's residential neighborhoods.
, where over the city line in Union City
it is now known as 24th Street, and creates the northern border for Elsworth Park, a city square from the 19th century. The two way street gradually descends as it is intersected first by northbound Hudson Avenue and then southbound Gregory Avenue. At its eastern end, the street provides a view of the Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix and, directly across the North River, of the Empire State Building
and New York Skyline. Shippen Street then becomes an east bound one way street that ends at Hackensack Plank Road
. In its entirety, the street is about 1690 feet.
Shippen Street was named after William W. Shippen, who owned large properties in Weehawken Heights adjacent to those in West Hoboken
belonging to the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company
, of which he was the president for 21 years. A prominent German immigrant population in the area during the late 19th century housed large groups of anarchists; saloons could be found in several locations within the Union Hill area
. The largest assembly hall, The New Casino was on Shippen Street. Although it now ends at Palisades, in the past the name Shippen Street was used at least as far as Central Avenue, where it was once proposed by the city government and townspeople to utilize a 200 foot shaft used in the construction of the railroad tunnels as a stop to provide North Hudson
's then 130,000 residents within the mile radius of the shaft with transportation to the Pennsylvania Station
being constructed in Manhattan
. In 1904, the Geological Society surveyed the area, but ultimately no stop was made on Shippen Street. A few years later in 1907, 125 men working in the North River Tunnels were forced to evacuate through the Shippen Street opening when tar paper used for waterproofing became ignited. Eleven men were unaccounted for upon the initial count; they were found 500 feet from the shaft at Shippen alive but unconscious, and had apparently survived by inhaling oxygen through a compressed air pipe which they hacked through. Although some were hospitalized with serious injury, none were reported dead.
of the East Coast
". With Hackensack Plank Road already in decades worth of usage and regularity and Shippen Street residential properties extending to the edge of the cliff side, transportation planners and engineers were left little option to connect the two street other than creating a hairpin style turn portion, whereas a perpendicular intersection between the two roads would have created too great of a slope gradient for both pedestrians, carriages or automobiles to traverse safely. It was placed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1997 under its list of historic preservation sites.
Entering the turns first require a 90° turn where the road remains paved with concrete. The road becomes cobblestone after the second turn, a 180° turn. The third turn, also a 180° turn, is housed completely by the original stone wall. Finally, the last turn is out onto Hackensack Plank Road which if going southbound, requires another 180° turn and ends the cobblestone portion of the street. The one-way hairpin road is about 440 ft. when traveled along the centerline path.
At the north side is a staircase connecting the upper and lower ends of the hairpins, which allows pedestrians to avoid the walk where there are no sidewalks. Overlooking the "horsehoe" is the former Reiner and Sons factory, site of the first Schiffli lace machines used in the embroidery industry
that was the economic base of northern Hudson County
for many years.
post 1923 meeting place. Once renovated it, the building will house the Weehawken Historical Society Museum. Across the street at the bottom of the steps is the granite wall which overlooks the art deco
Lincoln Tunnel
entrance. The Shippen steps have even been regarded as the haunted "Steps of Weehawken". In the mid to late 19th century, a pregnant woman fell down the steps, losing both her life and her child's, and in 1898, it was reported that a Shippen Street resident committed suicide at the head of the steps.
Bus Route 123 makes a stop at the top of Shippen Street along Palisade Avenue and runs between the Port Authority Bus Terminal
and Christ Hospital in Jersey City Heights. a few blocks to the south is the Marginal Highway, a main transit corridor for North Hudson
-Lincoln Tunnel
traffic. On the other side, the Shippen Stairs end about .25 mi. from the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Lincoln Harbor
Station and New York Waterway ferries, though pedestrian access requires a detour around the tunnel's toll plaza.
Street
A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...
in Weehawken, 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...
. The eastern terminal, a cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
double hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Office of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.The register was...
. Shippen Street was developed at the turn of the century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
as part of the Weehawken Heights, one the town's residential neighborhoods.
Route description
At its western end, Shippen Street begins at Palisade AvenuePalisade Avenue (Hudson Palisades)
Palisade Avenue is the name given to a historic road which parallels the eastern crest of Hudson Palisades in northeastern New Jersey. It travels between in Jersey City and Fort Lee, passing through Jersey City Heights, North Hudson, and Cliffside Park, various parts carrying Hudson and Bergen...
, where over the city line in Union City
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
it is now known as 24th Street, and creates the northern border for Elsworth Park, a city square from the 19th century. The two way street gradually descends as it is intersected first by northbound Hudson Avenue and then southbound Gregory Avenue. At its eastern end, the street provides a view of the Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix and, directly across the North River, of the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
and New York Skyline. Shippen Street then becomes an east bound one way street that ends at Hackensack Plank Road
Hackensack Plank Road
The Hackensack Plank Road was a major artery which connected the cities of Hoboken and Hackensack, New Jersey Like its cousin routes, the Newark Plank Road and Paterson Plank Road, it travelled over Bergen Hill and across the Hackensack Meadows from the Hudson River waterfront to the city for...
. In its entirety, the street is about 1690 feet.
History
West Hoboken, New Jersey
West Hoboken was a municipality that existed in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, from 1861 to 1925.West Hoboken was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1861, from portions of North Bergen Township. The township was reincorporated on...
belonging to the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company
Hoboken Land and Improvement Company Building
The Hoboken Land and Improvement Company Building, is located in Hoboken, New Jersey. The building was designed by Charles Fall and was built by Myles Tierney in 1889. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 1979. The building housed the offices of the Steven's...
, of which he was the president for 21 years. A prominent German immigrant population in the area during the late 19th century housed large groups of anarchists; saloons could be found in several locations within the Union Hill area
Union Hill, New Jersey
Union Hill is a section of Denville Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The Union Hill section comprises the southernmost part of Denville and is mostly south of Route 10. Although one of the oldest settled parts of Denville, it is characterized by having the most recent housing...
. The largest assembly hall, The New Casino was on Shippen Street. Although it now ends at Palisades, in the past the name Shippen Street was used at least as far as Central Avenue, where it was once proposed by the city government and townspeople to utilize a 200 foot shaft used in the construction of the railroad tunnels as a stop to provide North Hudson
North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson is the collective name of the municipalities of Weehawken , Union City , West New York , Guttenberg and North Bergen in Hudson County, New Jersey...
's then 130,000 residents within the mile radius of the shaft with transportation to the Pennsylvania 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...
being constructed in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. In 1904, the Geological Society surveyed the area, but ultimately no stop was made on Shippen Street. A few years later in 1907, 125 men working in the North River Tunnels were forced to evacuate through the Shippen Street opening when tar paper used for waterproofing became ignited. Eleven men were unaccounted for upon the initial count; they were found 500 feet from the shaft at Shippen alive but unconscious, and had apparently survived by inhaling oxygen through a compressed air pipe which they hacked through. Although some were hospitalized with serious injury, none were reported dead.
Double hairpin
At the eastern end of Shippen Street a double hairpin road begins, connecting the steep grade from Shippen Street to Hackensack Plank Road. It has been called "The Horseshoe" and "Lombard StreetLombard Street (San Francisco)
Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco, California. It is famous for having a steep, one-block section that consists of eight tight hairpin turns.-Route description:...
of the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
". With Hackensack Plank Road already in decades worth of usage and regularity and Shippen Street residential properties extending to the edge of the cliff side, transportation planners and engineers were left little option to connect the two street other than creating a hairpin style turn portion, whereas a perpendicular intersection between the two roads would have created too great of a slope gradient for both pedestrians, carriages or automobiles to traverse safely. It was placed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1997 under its list of historic preservation sites.
Entering the turns first require a 90° turn where the road remains paved with concrete. The road becomes cobblestone after the second turn, a 180° turn. The third turn, also a 180° turn, is housed completely by the original stone wall. Finally, the last turn is out onto Hackensack Plank Road which if going southbound, requires another 180° turn and ends the cobblestone portion of the street. The one-way hairpin road is about 440 ft. when traveled along the centerline path.
At the north side is a staircase connecting the upper and lower ends of the hairpins, which allows pedestrians to avoid the walk where there are no sidewalks. Overlooking the "horsehoe" is the former Reiner and Sons factory, site of the first Schiffli lace machines used in the embroidery industry
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
that was the economic base of northern Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
for many years.
Shippen Steps
At the end of Shippen Street, directly across from the double hairpin curve are the Shippen Steps, an outdoor public staircase down the Palisades Cliffs which continues in the same direction as Shippen Street. They begin on Hackensack Plank road and end at Park Avenue. There are 96 steps, with a diagonal span in length of about 250 feet. In the past, the steps provided townspeople with access to the Weehawkens' original town hall as well as the old police station, which is at 309 Park Avenue. It was built in 1890, and the first floor features a jail cell where police operations occurred. The building was last used as the VFWVeterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
post 1923 meeting place. Once renovated it, the building will house the Weehawken Historical Society Museum. Across the street at the bottom of the steps is the granite wall which overlooks the art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
Lincoln Tunnel
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel is a long tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and the borough of Manhattan in New York City.-History:...
entrance. The Shippen steps have even been regarded as the haunted "Steps of Weehawken". In the mid to late 19th century, a pregnant woman fell down the steps, losing both her life and her child's, and in 1898, it was reported that a Shippen Street resident committed suicide at the head of the steps.
Transportation
New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit Bus Operations
New Jersey Transit Bus Operations is the bus division of New Jersey Transit, providing bus service throughout New Jersey along with service along one light rail line, with many routes going to New York City and Philadelphia.-History:...
Bus Route 123 makes a stop at the top of Shippen Street along Palisade Avenue and runs between the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
and Christ Hospital in Jersey City Heights. a few blocks to the south is the Marginal Highway, a main transit corridor for North Hudson
North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson is the collective name of the municipalities of Weehawken , Union City , West New York , Guttenberg and North Bergen in Hudson County, New Jersey...
-Lincoln Tunnel
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel is a long tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and the borough of Manhattan in New York City.-History:...
traffic. On the other side, the Shippen Stairs end about .25 mi. from the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Lincoln Harbor
Lincoln Harbor (HBLR station)
Lincoln Harbor is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located at Waterfront Terrace, north of 19th Street, in Weehawken, New Jersey. The station opened on September 7, 2004.-Name and Vicinity:...
Station and New York Waterway ferries, though pedestrian access requires a detour around the tunnel's toll plaza.
See also
- Historic districts in Hudson County, New JerseyHistoric Districts in Hudson County, New JerseyHudson County, New Jersey has historic districts which have been designated as such on a municipal, state, or federal level, or combination therof. Some are listed on New Jersey Register of Historic Places and are included on National Register of Historic Places listings in Hudson County, New Jersey...
- Mountain RoadPaterson Plank RoadPaterson Plank Road is a road that runs through Passaic, Bergen and Hudson Counties in northeastern New Jersey originally lain in the colonial era. The route, connecting the city Paterson and the Hudson River waterfront, still exists...
: A single hairpin turn road at Paterson Plank RoadPaterson Plank RoadPaterson Plank Road is a road that runs through Passaic, Bergen and Hudson Counties in northeastern New Jersey originally lain in the colonial era. The route, connecting the city Paterson and the Hudson River waterfront, still exists...
between Jersey City Heights and HobokenHoboken, New JerseyHoboken 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... - Boulevard EastBoulevard EastBoulevard East is a two-way, mostly two lane, scenic thoroughfare in the North Hudson, New Jersey municipalities of Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen. Apart from small sections at either end, the road runs along the crest of the Hudson Palisades, affording it views of the Hudson...
- Pershing Road (Weehawken)
- Wing Viaduct14th Street (Hoboken)Fourteenth Street in uptown Hoboken, New Jersey carries the Hudson County designation CR670. The eastern end is the Hudson River while its western portion is known simply as the 14th Street Viaduct. It is at the northern end of the city's urban grid, and one of the east–west streets that...
- Gorge Road (Hudson Palisades)
External links
- Images of America: Weehawken at Google Books