Nelson Haas
Articles

 

NELSON HAAS
Hackensack’s Famous and beloved Educator passes


     Nelson Haas was the father of the Hackensack School system as we know it today.
 
He was very committed to the students, which comes through in the very first paragraph of
The Evening Record December 29, 1905, telling of his death, where it mentions his training of scholars to pass Army and Navy entrance examination. Nelson Haas helped H. Kent Hewitt pass a contest exam and entrance examination to the Naval academy in 1903, only two years before he passed away. H. Kent Hewitt writes about this in his memoirs in a book written by Evelyn Cherpek, 2004 historian of the Naval War College. 

The articles below from The Evening Record are reporting on the passing of the beloved and respected educator from Hackensack. 

The Plaque which is still outside the High School Auditorium today, was presented by those people who cared for him, mostly his students. 

The article on January 16, 1906 states that over 100 graduates from the Washington Street School and the High School, at the time on First Street, attended the meeting for the creation of the Bronze plaque which is still displayed today.

 

Click here to view Friday December 29, 1905, The Evening Record, front page article, first reporting on the death of Nelson Haas while on vacation in Asbury Park.  He apparently had a sudden heart attack in Kinmonth’s Drug store where he was purchasing medicine and while talking he collapsed to the floor and passed away quickly.
Click here to view Friday December 29, 1905, The Evening Record page 4 left column article. This article was on the first day they reported Nelson Haas’s death and pays tribute to his life and the great influence he had on the communities’ development at large.
Click here to view Saturday December 30, 1905, The Evening Record, front page article telling of the funeral services the following day at Christ Church. All High School students were to assemble in front of the High School at
2 o’clock, where they were to ‘march in body’ to attend the funeral where seats were reserved for them.

Click here to view Saturday December 30, 1905, The Evening Record, page 4 article where
Pastor Herman Vanderwart pays tribute to his friend Nelson Haas.
Click here to view Tuesday January 2, 1906, The Evening Record, front page story on Nelson Haas’ funeral at
Christ Church in Hackensack.
Click here to view Thursday January 4, 1906 The Evening Record, article telling of the replacement for Nelson Haas Charles J. Vogel.

Click here to view Saturday January 6, 1906, The Evening Record, Front page articles. The article on the left titled
“IN REGARD TO A MEMORIAL” is discussing the different proposal’s to honor Nelson Haas. Among them was to name the High School after him and another was to actually have a statue made of him but the board thought such funds could be better used for the students.
Click here to view The Evening Record, January 6, 1906 article titled “A TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR HAAS”
which is a wonderful tribute and quite long and informative on Nelson Haas personally.
Click here to view Tuesday, January 9, 1906 The Evening Record, front page article where the School Board passes resolutions to honor Nelson Haas one of which was to fly all school flags at Half Mast for 30 days.
Click here to view Tuesday January 16, 1906, The Evening Record Front page article which is titled
“ENTHUSIASM FOR HAAS MEMORIAL” is just that more praise for Professor Haas and the assembling of a
Tablet Committee which is what we see today the plaque which is outside the High School auditorium.