"B.T. Babbitt's Best Soap"

North Bergen's neighborhoods have been clearly defined since the towns founding. Everyone knows you can catch 84, 88 or 89 in Nungesser's. The neighborhood of New Durham is the oldest neighborhood in town. Then there are the communities  of Bergenwood, Woodcliff and Meadowview all finding their origins in the original landscapes of North Bergen. The most famous locale of all must be the infamous Racetrack Section, former grounds of the Guttenberg Racktrack and Doctor's Row. Yet one section of town, and it's history, is often over looked or forgotten. Why? Perhaps it's location or simply it is just not known.

Courtesy of Doliber Bay Soap Co.

The Babbitt Section of North Bergen is in many instances of forgotten part of North Bergen. It is mainly in part to the fact it is located off Westside Avenue and occupied by warehouses & the CSX Subdivision but will be the future home of the HBLR Northern Branch 91st Street Station connecting Hudson and Bergen County by rail. Nonetheless, who or what is Babbitt? The namesake for the area is Mr. Benjamin T. Babbitt, the self-made millionaire and titan of the 19th century soap industry. Babbitt's company, B.T. Babbitt's Best Soap would be founded in New York City in 1836, but would move to North Bergen in 1907.

Courtesy of digitalcommonwealth.org

By the turn of the 20th century Babbitt's Best Soap outgrew there New York City location and the search for a new location began. They did not have to look far as the area that would become Babbitt, was perfect. Located between the Hackensack River and the newly updated New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad, the Babbitt Company found the ideal place to construct their new facility across a total of 87 acres. The property was purchased from the estate of Mr. John Gardener and Mrs. Euretta E.  Meeks for an astonishing $8,203.00 (Today roughly $225,000). At the time the Babbitt Company was worth nearly three million dollars (ie: $81 million and change today). 

Courtesy of digitalcommonwealth.org

Construction of the complex began in August of 1904. The plans called for fourteen brick buildings that would need up to 2000 employees.  Over the next several years the Babbitt complex would spread across it's 87 acres. Totalling 16 buildings, which can be seen here, and at it's height employing near 350 people from across northern Hudson County. The factory was a vital asset to the Babbitt Company and remained operational until the early 1920s. It was during the years of operation that the area would become known as Babbitt. The name first appears on a Erie Railroad map during the 1910s as it still does today. The Babbitt Company left Babbitt in 1923 when soap goliath Armour & Company purchased the plant, Armour & Co are most famous for the creation of the Dial soap line.

Courtesy of digitalcommonwealth.org

The B.T. Babbitt's Soap Company may have left North Bergen nearly 100 years ago but the legacy of Babbitt lives on in a small corner of our town. The Babbitt Section of town may not be as well know as the historical Hudson Heights neighborhood, or as sought after as the Hudson Waterfront locality. But perhaps with the extension of the HBLR to 91st Street the Babbitt name will come to the forefront of town again, just as it was when the the factory was in operation.