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Chatham                  CLICK HERE for  Sue Adler Team Articles About Chatham The attractive areas of Chatham Borough neighboring Chatham Township share a common heritage and are often referred to as Chatham or The Chathams. Chatham was named one of the top ten places to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2005. Transportation Beautiful homes, plenty of space, fabulous amenities and only 25 miles from New York City – is it any wonder Chatham is so popular with commuters? Chatham Station is on New Jersey Transit’s Morristown Line with a Midtown Direct commuter service reaching New York Penn Station in as little as 46 minutes. There are direct trains into Hoboken too. Most homes in  Chatham Borough are within walking distance of the Chatham train station, and there are free bike racks there. Residents can apply for parking permits from Chatham Borough for the lots next to the station on Fairmount Avenue and Railroad Plaza and along Bond Street and Fairmount Avenue. They cost around $350 a year. There is metered parking, too, for $5.00 per day. Chatham is just off exit 7 of Route 24, providing easy access to  I-78, I-287 and the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and route 280 are all within 10-15 minutes away. Newark Liberty Airport, a major continental and international gateway, is just a 20 minute drive. New Jersey Transit’s MCM-3 bus runs through Chatham between Livingston Mall, Short Hills Mall, Madison, Morristown, Morris Plains and Greystone Park Back To Top  Schools Families moving to the Chathams often tell me the area’s biggest draw is the very high standards of the schools. Parents here place a high value on education resulting in one of the truly outstanding systems in the area.  Schools in both Chatham Township and Chatham Borough come under the administration of the School District of the Chathams, supported by a very active group of parents and community members in the Chatham Education Foundation. Since their inception in 1997 they have raised over $300,000 to enhance Chatham schools. Chatham High School  was recently recognized with a Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence, the highest award conferred on schools by the US Department of Education. It was ranked 12th among New Jersey’s 312 public schools by New Jersey Monthly magazine in 2006. The school  strives to meet the educational needs of every child with a carefully tailored curriculum which includes 18 or so AP courses as well as providing support for children with special needs. Students excel outside the classroom too – Chatham High School has an award winning marching band, a lively theatre program and top of the league teams in basketball, tennis, cross-country and soccer. One unique feature of the Chatham Middle School is the way each grade is divided into ‘houses’, creating a smaller, more intimate atmosphere. There are four elementary schools: Kids go to Milton Avenue, Southern Boulevard, or Washington Avenue from kindergarten to grade 3 and then on to Lafayette School for the final two years of their elementary education. Chatham kids love the summer camps run by the Work Family Connection, You can continue learning when schooldays are long gone in Chatham at the Adult School which offers a huge variety of classes in everything from arts and crafts, through to challenging courses on business and legal issues. Back To Top  Shopping Don’t be fooled by the old-world allure of Chatham’s downtown shopping district. Under that carefully preserved clapperboard and gingham exterior beats a heart that is right in sync with the latest trends! Soak up the atmosphere as you stroll down Main Street, picking up designer fashions, gorgeous gifts, accessories and home wares.  Moms from miles around make a beeline for the exquisite children’s items – from clothes and layettes to toys, furniture and strollers – at Bibi’s Babywear. Next stop,  Bliss boutique, to find the hottest clothes and accessories around. There’s a fabulous selection of flatware, crystal, china and jewellery at the Windsor Gift Shop, and it if it sporting gear you are looking for you are sure to find it at either the 30-Love Tennis Boutique on North Passaic Avenue or at Chatham Sports Shop on Main Street. Out of the center of town along Shunpike Road is where you will find the Hickory Tree Shopping Center and Chatham Mall, with a variety of stores and supermarkets that cater for those everyday essentials. People travel for miles to pick up a box of the famous freshly baked crumb buns from the Woodland Bakery there. Chatham Farmers’ Market sets out its stalls next to the railroad station every Saturday morning, rain or shine, from June to the end of October, when you can sample and buy fresh produce and flowers, cheese, pickles and olives, baked goods and dishes prepared by an organic chef. And don’t forget that more designer labels and big store names are just a five minute drive away at Short Hills Mall. Back To Top  Recreation Entertainment Intimate Chatham Cinema  over at the Hickory Tree Shopping Center on Shunpike Road only has one screen but enjoys a reputation for showing the best movies on release.  Chatham Community Players have been entertaining residents of Morris County and the surrounding area since 1922 and stage shows at the Chatham Playhouse on North Passaic Avenue. Chatham Community Band gives around 10 performances a year and has weekly practice sessions. In addition there are outstanding cultural facilities and programs available at the neighboring Drew and Fairleigh Dickinson universities. Great Outdoors Chatham has a wealth of wide open spaces where you can really tune in with nature at its unspoiled best. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest National Wildlife Refuges ever created so close to an urban center. As you trek through some of the nine miles of trails and boardwalks that weave through the 7,600 acre refuge, it is easy to forget that Times Square is only 26 miles away! The refuge is a resting and feeding area for more than 244 species of birds. Fox, deer, muskrat, turtles, fish, frogs and a wide variety of wildflowers and plants also call the refuge home.  Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center runs numerous special events and programs where visitors can learn about this living, breathing botanical and zoological resource. And you can hold birthday parties there too. Great Swamp is open every day of the year during daylight hours. Another awesome natural resource in Chatham is the Passaic River Country Park and Reservation. A total of 769 acres including more than 5,000 ft. of shoreline is open for leisurely hiking, picnicking, softball, fishing, ice skating and cross country skiing. Chatham offers plenty of playgrounds and picnic areas too, including those at Sheppard Kollock Park, located off Parrott Mill Road; Memorial Park, off North Passaic Avenue; Shunpike Castle Playground, Garden Park, next to Chatham Middle School off Main Street; and Stanley Park on River Road next to the Passaic River Sporting Life If the vast expanse of natural reservation and parks was not enough, there are dozens of sporting fields in Chatham. The Borough and the Township have pooled together as Chatham Recreation, offering activities like baseball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, softball, hockey, football, volleyball and swimming. Residents can register online for a community pass which gives access to these excellent facilities. Chatham Borough Recreation offers golf permits to the Millburn Par 3 Golf Course and continues to administer the Borough owned tennis courts, municipal pool, playgrounds and parks. Chatham Township runs Mountainview Field and Gym, near the Township Municipal building on Meyersville Road and The Colony Recreation Center - a large swimming pool, six tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts, a playground and recreational area.  Additional tennis courts are at the Noe Pond Club on Southern Boulevard. Chatham Skate Park on Southern Boulevard is a cool spot for teenagers to hang out – and its right across the road from the police station!  Tennis is big in this area, and there’s plenty of opportunity to practice or get in a game at local clubs. For 3-8 year olds there is Ad-In Kids Tennis. Also check out  the Minisink Club,  Copper Springs tennis club and Chatham Fish and Game Club (founded 1891) where in there’s also  swimming and bowling. United Soccer Academy and McLoughlin Soccer are top of the league training venues for budding players, and for fancy footwork of a different kind, both adults and kids should point their toes in the direction of Dance Innovations. If you would rather work out in a gym, The Chatham Club has state of the art facilities for squash, fitness training, pilates, massage and even karate and fencing. Brooklake Country Club  and  Fairmount Country Club are convivial spots for golf, recreation and socializing. Back To Top  Restaurants Chatham has grown into something of a Mecca for gourmets in recent years, with a dazzling array of excellent new restaurants and plenty of tried and tested old favourites too.  The town may be small, but it boasts not one, but two restaurants among Zagat’s top picks. “Fabulous from start to finish,” and “breathtaking food and an incredible wine list,” is how Zagat has described Restaurant Serenade, whose French influenced cuisine certainly hits the high notes. There’s usually a three course prix fixe, or for those occasions when you really want to push the boat out, try the five-course tasting menu. The Zagat Survey rates Scalini Fedeli as “no.1 Italian” and it is among Gourmet Magazine’s top 100 restaurants in the country. With gilt-edged reviews like that you can imagine that both are top destinations for romantic meals and special occasions – and it pays to make an early reservation. Supper is one of the newest restaurants on the Main Street, and fast gaining a reputation for its fabulous bistro-style cooking and relaxed atmosphere. Further down Main Street, sumptuous desserts and fine coffees are the order of the day at Cafe Beethoven, a perfect place to meet for an alfresco weekday lunch during the summer – and with live music on Thursday through Saturday. Chatham Sandwich Shop is a local institution, renowned for its fabulous subs, and we just love having a quick bite on stools at the counter of the Best Little Luncheonette which feels like it hasn’t changed since the 1950s. Over on Shunpike Road, The Hickory Tree Deli is said to produce the best triple decker sloppy Joes in New Jersey.  The homemade soups and famous steakburgers at Charley's Aunt Restaurant on South Passaic Avenue hits the spot with kids. On Main Street, Danielle's An Italian Bistro, Arminio's Italian Corner (which also does great take-out pizza) and the Bean Curd Chinese restaurant (also fabulous take-out)   are all very child friendly places on Main Street, while the dreamy homemade ice cream, yogurt and cakes at Gabriella’s set every mouth watering. For a taste of the orient on Main Street, head for the New Main Taste Thai restaurant and Mitsuba where the fresh sushi and delicious lunch boxes are legendary. Back To Top  Our Community Events & activities Moving into a new town can be daunting, but you can be sure of a warm welcome from Chatham Newcomers and Neighbors Club. Apart from being an excellent way to meet new faces, it runs activities such as book club, evening dinner group, members’ night out and children’s playgroups, as well as special member events like family outdoor movie night in the fall, a holiday party in December and a local charity fundraising event in the spring.  Other popular family festivities are the Maple Sugar Festival at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in spring and the traditional Fourth of July Parade sponsored by the fire department. The annual ‘Taste of Chatham’ is a fun way to sample what’s on offer from the area’s finest dining establishments – and raise money for special projects throughout Chatham schools. Back To Top  History Around 15,000 years ago the Wisconsin Glacier came to a halt near the northern part of Chatham Township. As it melted, a huge lake formed. Much of Chatham lies in what used to be the bottom of the ancient Lake Passaic – although all that remains now is Great Swamp. The first European settlers came to the area soon after the British bought the land around Chatham from the Lenape Native Americans in 1680. Among them was John Day, a farmer who in 1710 bought land on the western bank of the river at a ford where the traditional Minisink Trail crossed – today part of Route 124 running through Chatham’s Main Street. By 1750 a small village known as John Day’s Bridge had sprung up, including a few cottages, a blacksmith’s and mills for flour, grist and lumber. Chatham is proud of its rich heritage and several early houses still survive, among them the Paul Day House on Kings Road and the Daniel Bonnel House on Watchung Avenue. Another survivor was built on Main Street towards the end of the 18th century by George T Parrott, who owned the last mill in Chatham, and today it welcomes guests as The Parrot Mill Inn.  A slightly later house, the impressive Greek Revival-style Boisaubin Manor, built in the early 1800s, was a stop on the underground railroad during the Civil War. In addition to the Main Street Historic District which contains many historic sites, the Morris County Historic Sites Survey of 1987 lists 27 historic houses throughout the Borough, with eight of those eligible for the National Register. It also identifies twenty-one historic streetscapes. The village and surrounding farmland was renamed Chatham Township in 1773 in honor of former British Prime Minister William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who was a passionate supporter of colonists’ rights in America. George Washington stayed on a homestead in the town in the Revolutionary War, when Chatham was the site of four skirmishes as the rebel army fought off British advances on rebel supplies at Morristown. Resident Sheppard Kollock set up the New Jersey Journal here in 1779 and did a great job promoting the rebel cause. Many years later Chatham named one of its parks in his honor. Once the Essex and Morris Railroad came through in the late 1830s Chatham became a bustling summer resort as city dwellers flocked out to enjoy the river and the “salubrious air.”  The old Fairview House Hotel on Main Street stood where the Library of the Chathams now stands and could accommodate over 150 guests who enjoyed the dancing, bowling, distinguished cuisine and a large bar there. Soon people wanted to live here all the time and by 1843 Chatham had two trains a day running to New York City. Chatham Township had a population of 2,960 by 1860, but over the next few decades there was increasing unrest as village residents paid 40% of the township  taxes, but only seven percent of the receipts in services. On August 9, 1892, the village voted to to secede from the township, and five years later it became a borough. The Chatham of today almost vanished back in the 1959 when New York Port Authority planned to take over the Great Swamp to build a huge international airport to replace the then minor Newark Airport. Outraged citizens fought back and raised national support. With the help of the North American Wildlife Foundation, more than $1million was collected to buy Great Swamp land which was donated to the Department of the Interior and in 1960 the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established. Chatham values the impact its historic sites and buildings have on its character and the Historic Preservation Commission was formed in 1989 to help keep Chatham Borough as a place of beauty and architectural value. You can still find many fine colonial and Victorian style homes along the tree-line streets and people often tell me how delighted they are to find that white-picket communities like these still exist!  Chatham Township is characterized by newer homes with plenty of space, as well as townhouses, garden apartments, and condominiums. Back To Top  Other Useful Links The Library of the Chathams Chatham Historical Society Chatham Post Office   Chatham Borough Website     Chatham Township Website    Chatham Chamber of Commerce    Parking    School Websites    Chatham Recreation    Fitness Club in Chatham    Chatham Community  Recent Home Sales Stats

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