THE DOVER CIVIC CREED*

I believe in Dover and its possibilities; and I shall do my park to make it a better place in which to live.

I believe in good government for Dover, and I shall assume my share of the Civic responsibility that rests on the shoulders of all our citizens.

I believe in supporting local enterprises that make for Community development; and shall contribute my moral support and energy to any worthy cause Championed by them.

I believe in partronizing home merchants, for they are greatly responsible for our having good schools and churches, better roads and promotion of the general welfare of this community.

I believe in making Dover clean and attractive, for a healthy atmosphere is an inducement to honest and right-thinking citizens.

I believe inboosting my home town at every possible opportunity; that thinking, talking and acting progress is the quickest and surest way to bring permanent prosperity to Dover - - the Best Town in America -- because it is MY HOME TOWN.

* Sponsored by a group of local businessmen January 3, 1927

THE HISTORY OF DOVER

When John Jackson of Flushing, New York took title to a tract of 527 acres on May 31, 1722, Dover was born.  He built a log cabin at the site of today's Hurd Park and set up a forge, the first in Randolph Twp. and the second in New Jersey.  The ore came from the Dickerson Mine, the old mine in the United States.  With the rapid growth of manufactured iron products, the British felt their business was in jeopardy.  In 1750, by an act of the British Parliament, all raw pig iron and bar iron was to be shipped to England with the manufactured products sold back to the colonies.  By 1753, John Jackson was out of business and sold at a Sheriff's sale to Edward Fitz-Randolph, the founder of Randolph Twp.  In 1792, Moses Hurd had arrived from Dover, New Hampshire to work at the forge and gave Dover is current name.  Prior to that, Dover was called Old Tye and Beamans.  Josiah Beaman aquired the forge and later sold it to Isreal Canfield and Jacob Losey, who enlarged the works to include the site that would become the Ulster Iron Works.  Canfield and Losey failed the business following the War of 1812 and Joseph Blackwell and Henry McFarlan took it over to pay a debt in 1816.  These two New York merchants enlarged the forge to include a iron rolling mill in 1822, reviving the stalled enterprise.  Dover was incorporated as a village in 1826 and almost immediately Blackwell and McFarlan started selling off property lots after laying out the city street grid.  The two main streets were named after them and the perpendicular streets named after the counties of the state.  Dover's forge contributed greatly to the tools and machines that were needed to construct the Morris Canal in 1830.  For the next decade Dover rapidly grew and by the mid 1840s the railroad conducted a survey of Dover and wrote the following: "Dover at a glance is very picturesque.  It is surrounded by rolling hills and with so many machine shops and foundries, iron is not far off.  The Morris Canal crosses the river here and adds to the busy appearance of the town.  The main part of Dover is compactly built and Blackwell Street has a thriving business appearance which any large city might be proud of.  In 1848, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad made Dover a destination point by laying track into the city.  Dover soon became a major commercial center with products and produce being shipped to the New York marketplace.  In 1869, under the leadership of entrepreneur George Richards, Dover became independent of Randolph Twp. by becoming a chartered town by an act of the New Jersey State Legislature.  Today, Dover is a thriving 2.5 square mile community in the heart of Morris County that boasts of a wonderful past, a working present and a bright future.  Visit the Dover History Museum at 55 W. Blackwell Street in the heart of the natioanally registered Historic Blackwell Street District.  Call 973-361-3525 to arrange a tour.