Cedar Grove (NJ) (Images of America)

Cedar Grove is situated in the Peckman River Valleybetween the First and Second Watchung Mountains. Located only fifteen miles west of New York City, thearea remained a farming community until well into thetwentieth century. While generally focusing on the town in the early 1900s, Cedar Grove also chronicles significant events and personalities through the end of the millennium. Best known for being the home of the Meadowbrook and its nationwide radio broadcasts, Cedar Grove is also the birthplace of other historical events. The crossword puzzle, a source of pleasure for tens of millions, was invented by Cedar Grove resident Arthur Wynne in 1913. Wynne’s first puzzle is included for those who would like to solve it. Allen B. Du Mont, an electronics pioneer, conducted research on cathode ray tubes in the garage of his Cedar Grove home during the early 1930sand later created a television network bearing his name.Although the Meadowbrook is remembered by many,few realize that during World War II enemy propagandaattempted to demoralize our fighting forces by falsely proclaiming that the famous roadhouse had burned down. Such was its importance to America’s youth in those years.