Malapardis
circa 1735
Malapardis was settled circa 1735. Its name is derived from the Lenape word “Malapahus” which is said to mean “place of the poor flint.” The first settlement in Malapardis was located along Stony Brook.
Malapardis was the next natural attraction westward from Whippany on the Minisink Trail. A large impound of water funneling down into a rushing brook made it a perfect site for an industrial settlement. Its proximity to the Minisink Trail, half-way between the natural resources to the west and the markets to the east also made it an ideal location to produce commercial products for trade.
The first industry in Malapardis was an iron forge built on Stony Brook, below Stony Brook Pond, now known as Lee Meadows (in the vicinity of what is now the Hanover Community Center).
In 1820 a school district was set up in Malapardis. It was first established as Hanover Township District 9, later delineated as state School District 86. A school house was built and later replaced by another school house in 1860. In 1955 the Malapardis School became the Hanover Township Hall. Through the years it expanded and fully enclosed the old school. In 2002 the town hall and the old school were razed and replaced by a new municipal building.
The district of Malapardis extends from Mountain Avenue, Elm Place, and Eden Lane, to upper Parsippany Road. It includes upper and lower Countrywood, Lee Meadows, and centers around the intersection of Route 10 and Jefferson Road, and extends all the way to the northern limits of the township.
This description of Malapardis is an abridged narrative from— A Place Called Whippany, 2nd Edition—
Chapter 4— Villages of Hanover Township.
Copyright 2006
All rights reserved
Limited excerpts of this text may be copied or reproduced
with acknowledgment as copy from A Place Called Whippany, by Leonardo Fariello.
Contact Information: Len Sunchild Publishing Co., Len@whippany.net, 973-539-5355