Chatham Historical Society

Ten on a Toboggan and Other Tales: Chatham, New Jersey Chatham Historical Society

Beginning as a sleepy village in the early 1700s, Chatham, New Jersey quickly became a stopping point between the farms in Pennsylvania and the markets in New York City. Today residents enjoy the benefits of a small town in the shadow of a large city. Recognized by Money Magazine in 2005 as one of the ten best American towns in which to live, Chatham is the kind of place its residents are proud to call home. The oral histories recounted here attest to that fact as they bring to life the experiences of a wide range of people in this vibrant community. Beginning with Barbara Berry Erwin Nelson, whose family ties to Chatham date back to the middle of the nineteenth century, and ending with a current Chatham young adult, born and bred in our hometown, this book takes a chronological look into Chatham's social history. In preserving these memories, the Chatham Historical Society celebrates the history of our town through its stories. Les Lehman, perhaps one of Chatham's biggest supporters, says it best: "Most of all, I just love this town. It's meant so much to me. I'm so grateful that I've been able to enjoy small town life in its true fashion. People say hello to you on the street. It's wonderful. All the good stuff, you know."Indeed we do!