Convent Station is an unincorporated community located within Morris Township, in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed June 9, 2016. The community is named after the Convent Station railroad station that was constructed along the Morris and Essex Lines during the 1870s.Scheireik, Susan. "If You're Thinking of Living in: Convent Station", The New York Times, March 14, 1993. Accessed May 18, 2023. "Convent Station owes its name to the nuns who provided funds in the 1870's for a train station next to St. Elizabeth's Academy for girls, a forerunner of one of the first women's colleges in New Jersey."
Among the neighborhoods of Convent Station are Bradwahl, Cromwell Hills, and the Normandy Park Historic District; which was added in 1996 to both the National and New Jersey registers of historic places.New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, updated March 30, 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023. The Morris Township Municipal Building and Police Headquarters are located in Convent Station.
The community is home to the Morris County Golf Club, the Morris Museum, and Saint Elizabeth University, a private Catholic, coeducational, four-year, liberal arts university founded in 1899.
History The community is named after the railroad station that was constructed there during the 1870s to serve the complex of the Academy of Saint Elizabeth, a Catholic school currently operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.Morris County, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson Catholic Schools Office. Accessed June 7, 2016. The academy, the first secondary school for young women in the state, was founded in 1860 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth of New Jersey. The academy is a private college preparatory school for young women with an enrollment of two hundred and thirty students.
In 1865, Morristown incorporated with a boundary that excluded the convent's large land holdings. That boundary line separated the two in 1895 when Morristown was formally set off from the township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 195.
The Saint Elizabeth University, which was founded on the campus in 1899, is the oldest college for women in New Jersey and one of the first Catholic colleges in the United States to award degrees to women. The Saint Elizabeth campus also includes the Villa of Saint Ann. At one time there also was a kindergarten and elementary school on the campus and, for many years, the complex was sustained by dairy products and produce from its own large farm.
Industry Honeywell's global headquarters was previously located here, before controversially relocating to nearby Morris Plains for a $40 million incentive package in 2015.Perry, Jessica. "Honeywell’s 147-acre campus getting makeover after years of controversy", NJBIZ, June 12, 2014. Accessed April 1, 2023. Despite the relocation of their headquarters, Honeywell continues to inhabit office/lab space in Convent Station. The roughly site was redeveloped into 235 luxury townhomes, additional lab/office space (approximately ), a community center, and open, free-use space (including 4 ponds and of walking trails).Phillips Preiss Grygiel LLC. Amendment to the Land Use Plan Element and Circulation Plan Element of the Township of Morris Master Plan (RE: Block 9101, Lot 4). June 7, 2012. Accessed April 1, 2023."K. Hovnanian Homes debuting four models at the Residences at Columbia Park on Sunday", NJ.com, February 8, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2023. "The community will feature four ponds and 1.68 miles of walking trails."
Points of interest
Morris Museum Actively running since 1913, the Morris Museum is the second largest museum in New Jersey at . The museum is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Morris County Golf Club Founded in 1894, the Morris County Golf Club (MCGC) is a private, members-only golf club located on . The club was the first in the nation to be both managed and organized solely by women.Chmiel, David. "New USGA Golf Museum Exhibit Celebrates Women Pioneers", United States Golf Association, August 6, 2017. Accessed June 15, 2023. "In 1895, Morris County Golf Club became the first women-only club to be granted USGA membership. (USGA Museum)"
In 1895, MCGC was among the first group of members the United States Golf Association.About Us, Morris County Golf Club. Accessed June 15, 2023. "Morris County was an early member (1895) of the United States Golf Association and the first New Jersey venue to host a national championship.""USGA Celebrates Pioneers in the Women's Game Through New Golf Museum Exhibit", United States Golf Association, July 26, 2017. Accessed June 15, 2023. "Located less than 30 miles from the present-day USGA campus, Morris County Golf Club was the first all-women's golf club to become a USGA Associate Member Club." In 1900, the club was one of the 10 founding member clubs of the New Jersey State Golf AssociationWay Back When, Every Day Was Ladies Day At Morris County G.C., New Jersey State Golf Association, December 20, 2012. Accessed June 15, 2023.History, New Jersey State Golf Association. Accessed June 15, 2023. "The clubs represented at this first official meeting were Baltusrol Golf Club, Morris County Golf Club, North Jersey Country Club, Yountakah Country Club, The Englewood Golf Club, The Golf Club of Lakewood, The Golf Club of Montclair, The Hillside Golf and Tennis Club of Plainfield (now known as Plainfield Country Club) Essex County Country Club and the Jersey City Golf Club."
Education As part of Morris Township, residents of Convent Station are served by the Morris School District.
The Academy of St. Elizabeth is a Catholic school for girls that admitted its first students in 1860. It operates independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.History , Academy of St. Elizabeth. Accessed July 28, 2013. "Our first students entered in 1860 - the Registration Ledger of September 1 still resides in the principal's office, as do the records of every succeeding year. In 1865, the new Academy building was completed and its first commencement exercises were held on the growing campus."Morris County, Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson Catholic Schools Office. Accessed September 8, 2015. The school has an enrollment of 230 students and is the oldest school for girls in New Jersey.
The Saint Elizabeth University is a private Roman Catholic, a private Catholic, coeducational, four-year, liberal arts university. The college was founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth of New Jersey.History Overview , Saint Elizabeth University. Accessed July 28, 2013. "Founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, the College of Saint Elizabeth is the oldest four-year Catholic liberal arts college for women in the State of New Jersey, and one of the first Catholic women's colleges in the United States." The college began transitioning into a co-educational institution, starting with the 2016 freshman intake. The final all-female class graduated in 2019.Robinson, Mary Colleen. "College of Saint Elizabeth celebrates 117th commencement", Morristown Green, May 13, 2019. Accessed June 15, 2023. "The last class from the College of Saint Elizabeth’s traditional undergraduate women’s college graduated on Saturday, May 11 at Mennen Arena." The institution was accorded university status by the New Jersey Department of Education as of July 1, 2020.Westhoven, William. "Former College of St. Elizabeth graduates to university status", Daily Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed September 21, 2020. "There's a new 'U' in Morris County. So far, only a few sign changes have acknowledged the graduation of the College of Saint Elizabeth to university status. With little in the way of public notice, the school officially became the University of Saint Elizabeth on July 1.... Joseph Ciccone, vice president of academic affairs, said college staff celebrated as best as they could through social media on July 1, when they received word from the New Jersey Department of Education that the application for university status had been accepted."
Transportation
Roads and highways A few major roads pass through the community including Route 124, Route 24, and CR 510.
Public transportation Convent Station is a NJ Transit rail station located on the grounds of Saint Elizabeth University's campus. It provides rail transportation both east and west of Convent Station. The trains provide Midtown Direct service on the Morris & Essex Lines.Convent Station, NJ Transit. Accessed February 27, 2018. Service is available on the Morristown Line to Newark Broad Street Station, Secaucus Junction, and Penn Station New York. Service to Hoboken Terminal is also provided.Morris and Essex Line schedule, NJ Transit, updated April 23, 2023. Accessed April 26, 2023.
Notable people People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Convent Station include:
A. B. Frost (1851-1928), illustrator and painter Connor Lade (born 1989), professional soccer player.Canfarotta, Michael. "SJU's homegrown Red Bull", Times Ledger, December 16, 2011. Accessed July 18, 2012. "On Dec. 5, it was announced that Lade signed a contract with his hometown club. The Convent Station, N.J. native — from just outside Morristown — native was thrilled that he would be getting an opportunity to play for the team he grew up watching."
References
External links Honeywell The Morris Museum College of Saint Elizabeth Sisters of Charity