Acquackanonk - now Passaic
The Daniel F. Ryan Elementary School No. 19
It is to Alfred Speer that Passaic owes its name. The settlement was originally known as Acquackanonk. Mr. Speer proposed the name Passaic and took the matter up to the Post Office Department in Washington, which ordered the change. Mr. Speer also established the first newspaper in Passaic, the Passaic Item, in 1870. Speer produced the paper to develop the interests in Passaic and to advertise his own business. The Item ceased publication at the turn of the century when it was "merged into the Passaic Daily Herald," which eventually "merged with the Daily News to form the Herald-News."
The Herald News came together with the merger of a few local papers in the Passaic metropolitan area and for many years was known as the Passaic Herald News. In the 1970s, the paper became known as the North Jersey Herald-News and was one of two widely circulated papers in Passaic County, the other being the Paterson Evening News. Austin Crane Drukker was the owner and publisher of the Herald-News at this time, as well as an owner of other newspapers in northern New Jersey, including a daily newspaper in Dover.
In 1988, the Herald-News and the Evening News merged operations to become the North Jersey Herald & News, centralizing operations at the Herald-News building located on Main Avenue on the Passaic-Clifton border (the Evening News' building, which was located on 16th Avenue in Paterson, is currently occupied by a Paterson elementary school).
Early in the 2000s, the paper dropped the ampersand from its name, and later would drop "North Jersey" as well, just being called the Herald News. Around that same time, the owners of The Record, which at the time operated primarily out of nearby Hackensack, bought the Herald News and merged the operations of both papers. Eventually the Herald News was moved out of Passaic and into its current location in Woodland Park along with some of The Record's operations (The Record still keeps a majority of its operations and its presses in Hackensack). The Herald News' primary area of concentration is in Passaic County, while also covering news in the suburbs of the county (areas of Bergen, Essex, and Morris Counties).
Every day, citizens of Passaic and surrounding areas pick up a copy of the Herald News or its sister paper The Record published by North Jersey Media Group in Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson), New Jersey. The Herald News has a daily circulation of nearly 50,000 and a Sunday circulation over 40,000.
In 2005, members of the Passaic Board of Education (Dr. Alex D. Blanco, President; Mr. Richard Diaz, Vice President; Mr. Vincent Capuana, Mr. Rafael Garcia, Mr. Kenneth J. Lucianin, Ms. Evelyn T. Robinson, Mr. Victor B. Santiago, Mr. Carlos Sinnung and Mr. Jose "Alex" Ybarra) approved the construction of a new school on Main Street and Highland Avenue at the old site of the Herald News, and groundbreaking took place on October 3, 2006. After about three and half years of construction, Daniel F. Ryan Elementary School, a $55 million state-of-the-art building, opened its doors for about 350 students.
 | The school was named after Daniel F. Ryan, former Director of Special Education, vice principal, guidance counselor, and teacher of the Passaic Public Schools. Daniel Ryan played an important role in the lives of many students, teachers, colleagues, family members and friends. At the Opening and Dedication Ceremony of the school on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, Daniel Ryan's life and contributions were honored and celebrated. He was remembered as a coach, mentor and friend; as a generous, compassionate, loyal and supportive individual of both the children and faculty in the Passaic School District. |
Former Grant School No. 7 K-2 students and special education students, including autistic, from within and out of district, once again celebrated their first day of school in a new building on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at the newly-built Daniel F. Ryan Elementary School 19 . Teachers, students, and parents love the new Daniel F. Ryan Elementary School No. 19. Everyone is proud of their facility where students enjoy beautifully large, brightly painted rooms; including art, music, science, and speech rooms, as well as the outstanding media center, computer Lab, gymnasium, cafeteria/auditorium, and underground parking. The Passaic School District is committed to exposing students and staff to modern-day technology critical for success in the 21st century, which is evident in all instructional rooms equipped with smart boards and throughout the school. Principal Dr. Gloria P. Arce Vargas, teachers, and staff are committed to provide, promote and nurture a supportive learning environment that enhances their focus of learning and teaching to maximize the educational opportunities for all students attending School No. 19.
In September 2010, over 750 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten to grade 5, special education, including autistic students, will attend Daniel F. Ryan Elementary School No. 19, where students come first.
