this was home

I lived in Harrison for over a decade. The small town has been going through numerous changes. Some big. Some small. Some good. Some bad. This is a record of the town as I remembered it.

Harrison Path Station

Just like the town, the Harrison Path Station was like a forgotten train station in the system. It was the only outdoor Path station. One could see the trains coming from Network. However, the trains often passed Harrison without stopping because it has already been filled with riders from Newark Penn Station. Delays during rush hour was daily occurrence.

the waiting area was some times packed because of freezing temperature on the platform

the outdoor platform in Path station system

Ghost of Industry Beehive

Once known as "Beehive of Industry," numerous factories and jobs were bought into Harrison. However, as the industrialization decline began in the 70s, these factories were repurposed or abandoned, some for decades after. While I was living in Harrison, they still stood in midst of people's lives. Many were right across the streets from people's home. I walked passed many on my commute. As Harrison undergoes redevelopment, one by one, these ghosts of the industry beehive were finally demolished.

Hartz Mountain factory complex

Right outside the Path station was the 750,000 square feet Hartz Mountain Factory complex. So big that almost half of my walk to the train station was on the sidewalk outside of this complex. No other building along my walk was taller. Its only entrance was fenced off. It might be opened once in a while, but I don't remember ever seeing any light coming from those buildings. This complex was demolished a few years after I lived in Harrison. The spot where it once stood was still under construction in 2021.

Hartz Mountain factory complex old site

FORMER GE/RCA FACILITY

On my way to work, I would get coffees at the Dunkin Donut in Harrison Plaza. Right next to the plaza was this block of factory buildings that were taller than the surrounding residential houses. According to EPA, [t]he Edison Lamp Company and Edison General Electric Company (GE) used the Vo-Toys buildings to manufacture incandescent lightbulbs from 1882 to 1929. RCA then used the facility to make radio and picture tubes until 1976. Afterward, Vo-Toys, Inc. stored pet toy products on-site from 1977 to 2015.” (link) The buildings were demolished in 2020.