Historical Society of Bloomfield | Photo Gallery | Town Improvement Association (TIA) Lantern Slides |
Brick Row Brook Under Franklin St.

The case against the Franklin Street row becomes stronger if we look to the right of the row, the bed of the River has not yet been channeled to a depth of about 10 feet and heavy rains were often the cause of the water rising above, not only this bridge and the one at Bloomfield Avenue, but the Morris Canal aqueduct downstream. The "Five Corners" at Bloomfield Center was often flooded with water that came down Glenwood Avenue, Franklin Street and Bloomfield Avenue, among others, bringing trash, debris, and other pollutions to the Center.

Another eyesore were the outside plumbing facilities, all of which drained into the adjacent stream. Sewers had been installed in the 1890's, but not everybody had the money to construct indoor bathrooms.

Frederick Branch, July 2010