This week, the West Essex Tribune presents its bi-annual “Celebrate Livingston’s History” section. It is one of our most popular features, in part because it speaks to our township’s sense of community; no matter who we are, we live here, together, in Livingston, and we all share that common thread.As always, our “Celebrate Livingston’s History” section contains interesting tidbits about the history of our town and its residents: stories of beloved, but now defunct institutions; tales of the founding families who gave their names to our streets and schools; and old photos and news articles that provide insight to what Livingston was like back “in the old days.”This month’s section includes a firsthand account by a Livingston medical student who was evacuated from the island of Grenada during the attempted coup of 1983; the story of the construction of Interstate Route 280 in the early 1970s; and a Livingston resident’s participation in “Operation Sandblast,” the first underwater circumnavigation of the globe by submarine.Not too many towns have a sense of history, pride and stability that can provide enough stories to fill multiple historyfocused issues each year. It’s a fun and informative way to learn about our town, whether you are new to Livingston, or your family has been here for generations! From our more than 100-year-old fire department, to businesses that have been around for half a century and endure to this day, it is always a treat to open these pages and see what once was and what continues to thrive.Livingston is an old town with a rich history, one whose roots date back to the Revolutionary War and our country’s very beginnings. We have sent soldiers to fight in every major conflict in which this nation has been involved, and our town and our residents played a role in the war for independence that birthed this nation. Livingston survived the turmoil of the Civil War, the hardships of the Great Depression, and the deprivations of the Second World War. Since then, our township has grown from a quiet rural hamlet to a booming suburban center, with a population exceeding the 30,000 mark. As the population has increased, it has become increasingly diverse.It is from that history that much of this sense of community is born. We have families that have lived here for many generations, some for centuries. For example, the Meeker family, who fought in the Revolutionary ...
