20th Century | towns-and-villages

The 20th Century

New innovations came to the town and village after 1900. The first automobile was brought to the village by George Banfield in 1906, though it was not until 1915 that the first paved road was laid down. It stretched from Erin to the outer edge of the village. The first telephone was installed around 1907 and electric lights came in 1915. After World War I, immigrants, mainly from Finland, arrived and developed large poultry farms, leading to the opening of several large feed mills in the area. The population of Van Etten in 1900 was around 1,400. That number dropped to about 1,000 in 1930 but rose to over 1,500 by the end of the century.

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Van Etten

Downtown Van Etten, c. 1930s
In the 1930s, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was established on Jackson Hollow Road near Van Etten. The reforested land is now the Arnot Forest. During World War II, the camp was used to house German prisoners of war.
The very first school in Van Etten was started in 1803. In 1967, voters approved the formation of a combined Spencer-Van Etten school district. The brick high school building was constructed in 1971.
Watercolor of Swartwood Home located on Route 224 in Van Etten by Talitha Botsford
Pitcher from the Davenports Family Farm, Van Etten

The 20th Century

Downtown Van Etten, c. 1930s

In the 1930s, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was established on Jackson Hollow Road near Van Etten. The reforested land is now the Arnot Forest. During World War II, the camp was used to house German prisoners of war.

The very first school in Van Etten was started in 1803. In 1967, voters approved the formation of a combined Spencer-Van Etten school district. The brick high school building was constructed in 1971.

Watercolor of Swartwood Home located on Route 224 in Van Etten by Talitha Botsford

Pitcher from the Davenports Family Farm, Van Etten