Cranford’s Name Originated on Fourth of July

How did Cranford get its name? Well, it all began with the Fourth of July of 1849.

A group of children were having a picnic at Josiah Crane’s farm that day and were having such a great time they wrote “Craneville” in large letters on the side of the building, according to a pamphlet entitled “300 Years at Crane’s Ford.” However, it was later misspelled as “Cranville” in the deed when the property was sold.

The pamphlet states that this had a large impact in the choice of naming the township Cranford, because it was much easier to pronounce than their original choice of “Crane’s Ford.”

Crane’s Mills and Branch Mills were two mills built by John Crane that provided grain for General Washington’s Army, according to the pamphlet. The road traveled between the two was a main traveled route, which crossed the Rahway River at “Crane’s Ford” known today as where Riverside Drive meets Memorial Park.