8 10 193 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Occupation Business Owner Source of File Attached "Sta Barbara Grocery 1, LLC 79 Slocum Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631." The Record, 11 June 2012, p.F9. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rincon, Arely (?-?) Subject The topic of the resource Businesses, Local Businesses, Latinx Description An account of the resource Arely Rincon gained ownership of the Santa Barbara Grocery store in 2012. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Sta Barbara Grocery 1, LLC 79 Slocum Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631." The Record, 11 June 2012, p.F9. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Business https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/fcd496599a564f894795a46f8075f595.jpg d7dab7176f9fc76e8feb01b55cf921be Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1836-02-28 Birthplace Columbia, Virginia, USA Death Date 1938-11-16 Source of File Attached "Former Slave Dead In Englewood At 102." New York Times, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times, 17 Nov. 1938, p.25. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sears, Nancy Lee (1836-1938) Description An account of the resource Nancy Lee Sears was a formerly enslaved woman whose life spanned from the antebellum South into the twentieth century, bearing witness to slavery, emancipation, and the long, uneven struggle for freedom in the United States. She died in 1938 at the age of 102 while living in Englewood, New Jersey. She was born into slavery in Columbia, Virginia, on a plantation owned by Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Nancy spent the first twenty-one years of her life enslaved and married another enslaved person, Woodson Sears, when she was nineteen. Although the Emancipation Proclamation legally ended slavery during the Civil War, freedom initially brought little immediate change to her daily life, reflecting the broader realities faced by many formerly enslaved people in the South. After several years moving within Virginia, Nancy migrated north around the age of forty as part of a wider post-Reconstruction movement of Black families seeking greater security and opportunity. She eventually settled in Englewood, where she lived for the final twenty-eight years of her life and became part of the city’s growing African American community. Nancy Lee Sears raised a large family whose roots extended across New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Among her daughters was Elizabeth Sears Hinton, who married Charles Hinton and later lived to the age of 104. Elizabeth became a charter member of Shiloh AME Zion Church in Englewood and was the mother of Theodore H. Hinton, who would go on to become Englewood’s first city prosecutor. Through these generations, Nancy’s lineage directly connected the lived experience of slavery to twentieth-century Black civic, religious, and professional life in northern New Jersey. Funeral services for Nancy Lee Sears were held at the First Baptist Church of Englewood, and she was buried in Brookside Cemetery. Her life stands as a powerful reminder that the history of slavery is not distant—it lived on in Englewood through people who carried its memory forward in their own bodies and families. "Former Slave Dead In Englewood At 102." New York Times, ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times, 17 Nov. 1938, p.25. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David African American Slavery Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1886? Birthplace Barbados Death Date 1945-02-28 Occupation Physician Source of File Attached "Dr. Willoughby Is Dead At 59." The Record, 1 Mar. 1945, p.2. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Willoughby, William F. (1886?-1945) Subject The topic of the resource Health Care Immigrants, Caribbean Englewood New Jersey, Fourth Ward Description An account of the resource William F. Willoughby (c. 1866–1945) was a physician, medical examiner, and political leader whose career placed him at the center of Black civic life and racialized party politics in early-twentieth-century Bergen County, New Jersey. Born in Barbados, British West Indies, Willoughby immigrated to the United States in 1901 and established himself as part of a growing generation of Caribbean-born Black professionals who reshaped African American leadership in northern cities. Willoughby received extensive medical training. Contemporary newspapers reported that he was a graduate of Harvard Medical College and held multiple degrees from Oxford University, credentials that were repeatedly emphasized during his rise in Republican politics. By 1913, he had begun practicing medicine in Englewood, where he would live and work for more than three decades, eventually residing at 104 Reade Street. His medical career quickly intersected with public service. Willoughby served for many years on the Englewood Board of Health, where he became known for forceful critiques of overcrowding, unsanitary housing, and municipal neglect in the city’s Fourth Ward. He argued that poor living conditions were not accidental but the result of political indifference, discriminatory housing practices, and failures to use available state and federal funds. His public statements—often blunt and uncompromising—made him one of the most visible Black public-health voices in Bergen County during the interwar period. In 1917, Willoughby achieved a major political milestone when he was elected Bergen County Coroner on the Republican ticket, reportedly running at the top of the slate. Coverage at the time emphasized that he unified Black voters behind his candidacy, a fact that both allies and opponents openly acknowledged. His campaign was notably modest: he later reported spending just $1.75 on election expenses, a detail that newspapers treated as both remarkable and symbolic. Following his election, Willoughby continued to serve in county government in multiple capacities. He became assistant county physician, later assistant medical examiner, and at times served as county coroner and acting sheriff, roles that placed him at the intersection of medicine, law enforcement, and public administration. His appointments were frequently politicized. Democratic leaders openly accused Republicans of “payroll padding” and racial vote-buying when his positions were created or renewed, while Republicans defended his qualifications and record of service. Willoughby remained deeply involved in Republican ward politics, particularly in Englewood’s Fourth Ward, where Black voters increasingly held the balance of power. He ran for local office himself, including a campaign for the Common Council, and even in defeat remained a central figure in factional struggles within the party. Newspaper accounts depict him as influential, persistent, and polarizing—admired by supporters as a principled advocate for Black residents and denounced by critics as a disruptive force unwilling to defer to white party leadership. Beyond electoral politics, Willoughby was active in community health education, speaking at events such as Negro Health Week, where he presented statistical reports and addressed sanitation, disease prevention, and housing conditions. He consistently linked public health to broader questions of social justice, economic exploitation, and political accountability. His personal life, too, entered the public record. Willoughby suffered a devastating loss with the death of his daughter, Nadean Willoughby, who was killed in a motor vehicle accident in upstate New York while traveling to visit family. Her death was widely reported and noted alongside her achievements as a dressmaker and one of the early Black graduates of Textile High School in New York City. Willoughby’s later years were marked by declining health. He died in 1945 at the age of 59 after a prolonged illness. At the time of his death, he was serving as an assistant medical examiner for Bergen County and remained a member of the Bergen County Medical Association. Funeral services were held at his Englewood home, with cremation following in North Bergen. He was survived by his wife Willa D. Willoughby, two brothers, extended family members, and nephews serving in the armed forces. William F. Willoughby’s life illuminates the possibilities—and constraints—facing Black professional and political leaders in the North during the early twentieth century. As a Caribbean-born physician, elected county official, and outspoken critic of racial inequality, he challenged both municipal neglect and party discipline. His career reveals how medicine, politics, and race were tightly intertwined in shaping Black civic power in places like Englewood long before the modern civil rights movement. The Record (Hackensack, NJ), May 1, 1931, p. 6. Article on Englewood civic leaders attending a political convention and Edward Boone’s opposition to Charles B. Hinton for county committeeman. Atlanta Daily World (Atlanta, GA), July 5, 1932, p. 2. Report on the death of Miss Nadeen Willoughby, daughter of Dr. William F. Willoughby of Englewood, following a highway accident in New York State. The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 15, 1938, p. 6. Coverage of Dr. William F. Willoughby’s public criticism of housing conditions and municipal policy affecting Black residents of Englewood’s Fourth Ward. The New York Age (New York, NY), January 23, 1937, p. 11. Englewood-area community news including church activities, social events, and local announcements. The Record (Hackensack, NJ), February 2, 1932, p. 6. Court report involving Charles B. Hinton, Bergen County courthouse elevator operator, with references to Dr. William F. Willoughby in related proceedings. The Record (Hackensack, NJ), April 19, 1934, p. 19. Retrospective account of Fourth Ward political history, including Dr. William F. Willoughby’s earlier Republican candidacy and subsequent political realignments. The New York Age (New York, NY), January 4, 1919, p. 2. Report on the election of Dr. William F. Willoughby of Englewood as Bergen County coroner and his support among Black Republican voters. Jersey Observer and Jersey Journal (Jersey City, NJ), November 8, 1917, p. 8. Election results from Bergen County noting Dr. William F. Willoughby’s success on the Republican ticket. The Record (Hackensack, NJ), November 14, 1917, p. 5. Brief item noting Dr. William F. Willoughby’s campaign expense report following his election as coroner. The Record (Hackensack, NJ), March 1, 1945, p. 2. Obituary of Dr. William F. Willoughby, physician, assistant medical examiner for Bergen County, and civic leader in Englewood. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Caribbean Health Immigration https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/a65bd28f498c62d9ecc8abeb4028d4f5.jpg 2d622aecf43feab33ee3fb9da2115af2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Source of File Attached "Seeks Bequest After Twenty Years." The Morning Call, 1 Sept. 1909, p.8. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Brinkerhoff, Samuel (?-?) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Seeks Bequest After Twenty Years." The Morning Call, 1 Sept. 1909, p.8. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Description An account of the resource Samuel Brinkerhoff was the grandson of Hannah Jackson. Slavery Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1891-06-29 Birthplace Flordia, United States Death Date 2001-06-23 Source of File Attached Brex, Kate. "McClenon dies days before 110th birthday." Northern Valley Suburbanite (North), 27 June 2001, p.13. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource McClenon, Hettie (1891-2001) Description An account of the resource Hettie McClenon (1891–2001) was a longtime resident of Englewood, New Jersey, whose extraordinary life connected the city to more than a century of American history. Born in Florida in 1891 and raised on a family farm, McClenon learned responsibility early, leaving school at the age of eleven to help support her family. That early experience of labor and perseverance shaped a life defined by endurance, care, and quiet strength. After marrying Prince Phuse in 1909, she raised four children while working alongside her husband in agricultural life. Following his death, she later married Leroy McClenon and helped raise additional stepchildren, forming a large, blended family. In the mid-twentieth century, she settled in Englewood, where she lived for more than fifty years and became part of the city’s everyday social fabric. McClenon spent her later decades in Englewood witnessing dramatic changes in the surrounding community and the world beyond it—from the transition out of the industrial age to the dawn of the space and information eras. She lived through two world wars, the Great Depression, and sweeping political and cultural shifts, while Englewood itself evolved around her. Family members and neighbors remembered her as a steady, thoughtful presence, someone whose memory stretched back to a time few others could recall. A devoted reader and engaging conversationalist, McClenon continued reading on her own until the age of 105. When her eyesight failed, reading remained a daily ritual through the care of loved ones. In Englewood, she was especially known for her love of gardening. She took pride in growing flowers and sharing them freely with neighbors, earning a reputation for her “green thumb” and her generosity of spirit. By the time of her death in June 2001—just days before her 110th birthday—Hettie McClenon had lived to see five generations of her family and more than half a century of life in Englewood. Her story reflects both the durability of one woman’s life and the deep, often quiet ways long-term residents shape the character and memory of a community. Brex, Kate. "McClenon dies days before 110th birthday." Northern Valley Suburbanite (North), 27 June 2001, p.13. Wiggins, Oveta. "Living Black History: Two women recall struggles." The Record, 1 Feb. 1996, p.A-1, A-18. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Slavery https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/2022135b26da1a27b7770745fab98fe5.jpg 9d414059a9ff8e1d2906e93bfc7ae506 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Occupation Business Owner Source of File Attached "Harlem-on-the-Hudson Wants To Run Breakfast Dances." The Record, 15 July 1938, p.5. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource McDonald, LeRoy (?-?) Subject The topic of the resource Businesses, Local Businesses, African American Description An account of the resource LeRoy McDonald was the manager of the nightclub Harlem-on-Hudson in Englewood Cliffs. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle African American Recreation https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/11e04a5f3c0cac09f0cd2d2cfbdcce64.png 2690b976fc7c4ea9e42b2e4077e38a9b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1933-05-11 Birthplace The Bronx, New York, New York, USA Occupation Religious Leader Clergyman Source of File Attached “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Farrakhan">Louis Farrakhan</a>.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 July 2024. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Farrakhan, Louis (1933-?) Walcott, Louis Eugene Muhammad, Louis Abdul-Haleem Farrakkan, Sr. Louis X Black Power Movement Subject The topic of the resource Black Nationalism Religion, Islam Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <div>kingkongphoto</div> Description An account of the resource Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933) is a prominent African American religious leader, orator, and political figure best known for his leadership of the Nation of Islam (NOI). Over the course of his long public life, Farrakhan emerged as one of the most influential—and controversial—voices in late twentieth-century Black political and religious life, particularly in moments of racial crisis involving state violence. Farrakhan’s connection to Englewood, New Jersey, came into sharp focus in April 1990 following the police killing of Phillip Pannell, a 16-year-old Black teenager fatally shot in the back by a Teaneck police officer. The killing sent shockwaves through Englewood, Teaneck, and the wider Bergen County Black community, igniting grief, anger, and sustained calls for justice. In the days following the shooting, Farrakhan traveled to Englewood and attended Pannell’s wake at Community Baptist Church. His presence—alongside civil-rights leaders such as Al Sharpton—was both symbolic and strategic. For many mourners, Farrakhan represented national recognition of a local tragedy; his appearance signaled that Pannell’s death was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of racialized police violence affecting Black communities across the country. Contemporary reporting described a packed church and surrounding streets filled with hundreds of residents—young and old, Muslim and Christian—drawn together by grief and shared outrage. Farrakhan did not come to dominate the proceedings; rather, his role was that of witness and moral presence. His attendance underscored the Nation of Islam’s longstanding emphasis on community solidarity, discipline, and public accountability in moments of racial crisis. Englewood itself had a notably active local chapter of the Nation of Islam during this period. The NOI was part of a dense ecosystem of Black civic, religious, and political institutions in the city—alongside churches, civil-rights organizations, and neighborhood groups—that mobilized in response to the Pannell shooting. Members of the Nation were visible at vigils, marches, and public gatherings, contributing to the broader demand for an independent investigation and systemic reform. Farrakhan’s visit thus resonated not only because of his national stature, but because it aligned with an already-organized local Muslim presence. Englewood’s NOI members functioned as community anchors, emphasizing order, protection of youth, and collective self-respect during a moment of profound trauma. Farrakhan’s connection to Englewood also extended beyond activism into family life. Englewood native Karen Tinsley, a member of two long-established Englewood families—the Tinsleys and the Akridges—married Farrakhan’s son, Mustafa Farrakhan. This familial link further situates Farrakhan within the social fabric of the city, connecting national Black political leadership to long-rooted local histories and lineages. While Louis Farrakhan’s national legacy remains complex and deeply debated, his role in Englewood during the aftermath of the Phillip Pannell shooting is remembered as part of a broader moment of communal reckoning. His presence at the wake, alongside local clergy, activists, and residents, reflected Englewood’s position within a national struggle over policing, race, and justice at the close of the twentieth century. In Englewood, Farrakhan is thus not only recalled as a national figure, but as one who stood—however briefly—within a grieving community, at a pivotal moment when local pain demanded national attention. Sharpton, Farrakhan at Wake. By Caroline Herzfield and Thomas Moran. The Record (Bergen County, NJ), April 16, 1990, A-6. Black College Students Told to Fight for Justice: Response Is Loud but Peaceful. By Laurie C. Merrill and Thomas Moran. The Record (Bergen County, NJ), April 19, 1990, 22. Hundreds Pay Their Last Respects to Slain Youth; Sharpton, Farrakhan Join Mourners for Teenager Shot by Teaneck Cop. By Mitchell Seidel. The Record (Bergen County, NJ), April 16, 1990, 14. On Easter, Calls for Hope, Renewal, Reconciliation. By Neil H. Reisner and Mary Anne DeMarco. The Record (Bergen County, NJ), April 16, 1990, A-6. Sharpton, Farrakhan Join Mourners for Teenager Shot by Teaneck Cop. The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), April 16, 1990, 15. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource John Matthew Smit Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available wikipedia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain Race Religion https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/cd5834c54a3d8bae97ec34282132789d.jpg 9b68885441dbb98431a2cb8615f03d10 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Source of File Attached "'Dutch John' Confesses." The Daily Item, 12 May 1886, p.1. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hugg, John"Dutch John" (?-?) Baum, John Description An account of the resource John Hugg was a convict who shot George Coe during a burglary. He received fifteen years for his crime. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "'Dutch John' Confesses." The Daily Item, 12 May 1886, p.1. "Hugg Gets Fifteen Years." The Courier-News, 20 Sept. 1886, p.3. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Crime https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/86836df9eebdc285a1f833a0b4c942b8.jpg eae25b5fa69c45f0cc230b1834633d3d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1863-06-24 Birthplace Brooklyn, New York, USA Death Date 1939-10-26 Occupation Business Owner Source of File Attached "An Appeal to Republican Voters." The Record, 25 Sept. 1915, p.4. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Coe, Louis Stevenson (1863-1939) Subject The topic of the resource Businesses, Local Sports, Baseball Politics, Englewood Description An account of the resource Louis Stevenson Coe was a business owner who grew up in Englewood. He established and owned the New Jersey Paper Tube Company. He ran and was elected to the Board of Freeholders. He was also head of the Englewood Field Club. His father was William Patten Coe and his brother was George Simmons Coe Jr. He was the nephew of George Simmons Coe Sr. He married Anne E. Burdett. He had two daughters, Julie Burdett Coe Papst and Marie Clinton. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "<a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132539790/louis_stevenson_coe">Louis Stevenson Coe</a>." Find A Grave. "Louis S. Coe, 76, Will Be Buried At Englewood." The Record, 27 Oct. 1939, p.2. "Freeholder Coe to Seek Renomination at the Primaries." The Record, 7 June 1917, p. 1. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Businesses Sports https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/7742062f5bf2a36d3f06e559961ad467.jpg a6fcd75f0d301dae2a799d5efcce2fe4 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/b008f449704ce648ef0284d0af976e69.jpg 699c88e900fc593b820d6a88372d4176 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/fd50d1a39db1fc47a75f0d762688128d.jpg 21f85a78db20d1e8611f7b99b21d8499 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource People People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Birth Date 1840-12 Birthplace Stanwich, Connecticut, USA Death Date 1912-02-29 Occupation Government Official Philanthropist Banker Source of File Attached "Englewood's Foremost Citizen Passes Away." The Jersey Journal, 1 Mar. 1912, p.13. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mackay, Donald (1840-1912) Subject The topic of the resource Civil War Veterans Politics, Englewood Description An account of the resource Donald MacKay was one of Englewood’s most respected civic leaders in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, known for his military service, public leadership, and lasting philanthropic contributions. A veteran of the Civil War, MacKay enlisted as a young man and saw combat at the Battle of Bull Run, one of the war’s earliest and most consequential engagements. His wartime service shaped a lifelong sense of duty that later defined his civilian career. MacKay relocated to Englewood in 1867, where he became a central figure in the town’s civic, financial, and social life. He rose to prominence in banking, serving as president of the Citizens’ National Bank of Englewood and as a director of the Merchants’ National Bank and the Harriman National Bank of New York. Through these roles, he played a key part in guiding local and regional financial institutions during a period of rapid growth. His commitment to public service culminated in his election as mayor of Englewood, a position he held from 1906 to 1910. Widely regarded as the city’s foremost citizen during this period, MacKay was known for his steady leadership and broad public support. His belief in civic responsibility extended beyond officeholding and into tangible acts of philanthropy. MacKay’s most enduring legacy is Mackay Park, the land for which he personally donated. Intended as a public space for all residents, the park reflected his conviction that access to open, communal spaces was essential to the well-being of a growing town. In addition to his civic and financial leadership, MacKay was deeply involved in Englewood’s religious and social institutions. He served on the board of trustees of the First Presbyterian Church and was an active member of the Elks Club, further underscoring his role as a unifying figure across the community. Donald MacKay died suddenly on March 1, 1912, while traveling home from New York City to Englewood by train through the Hudson Tunnel en route to the Erie Railroad station. After attending business meetings earlier that day, he was discovered deceased in his seat when the train reached its destination. His death shocked the city, prompting widespread mourning and flags flown at half-mast throughout Englewood. Remembered as a soldier, mayor, banker, and philanthropist, Donald MacKay left a profound imprint on Englewood’s civic landscape—one that endures most visibly in the public park that bears his name and in the institutions he helped guide. He married Jennie Wise. He had three children, Malcolm S., Duncan, and Jennie L. "Englewood's Foremost Citizen Passes Away." The Jersey Journal, 1 Mar. 1912, p.13. "Many At Funeral of Donald Mackay." The Morning Call, 4 Mar. 1912, p.6. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Englewood's Foremost Citizen Passes Away." The Jersey Journal, 1 Mar. 1912, p.13. "Many At Funeral of Donald Mackay." The Morning Call, 4 Mar. 1912, p.6. "Donald Mackay Dies Suddenly." Passaic Daily News, 1 Mar. 1912, p.4. Finances Politics Social Work