History

Elizabeth, New Jersey, was an important crossing point for railroads. The New Jersey Rail Road extended its line to Elizabeth, first known as Elizabethtown, in 1835.

“The Terminus will be a good location for one tavern, a blacksmith shop, a grocery store, and nothing else.”

In March 1835, the railroad tested a new locomotive. However, the results for the experimental engine were apparently disappointing, reports from the era reveal.