1681 to 1695 - The earliest known structure at site, the John Demarest Mill.
1795 - A letter references Boskirk’s Landing and describes the early commerce at the site.
1829 - A deed to a John Nightengale described the tract as containing Richard Cooper’s Saw Mill, the saw-mill house, a Bark Mill and a dock (Bergen County Liber W3:376).
1873 - The old Cooper mill was replaced by the new four-story Deeds Mill.
1881 - Hackensack Water Company bought the land in November, site developed as a water pumping and filtration plant.
1882 to 1911 - Site built and expanded, remains historically intact from 1911, including important steam equipment from the Industrial Revolution.
1920’s - A method of activated Carbon filtration developed by George Spalding at the site, became the national and international standard for water filtration.
1990 - United Water (formerly Hackensack Water Co.) ceased using the site and offered it to Oradell, then Bergen County.
1993 - Bergen County accepted the site.
1995 - Bergen County offered site to the Borough of Oradell for re-development.
1996 - Preservation New Jersey voted site “One of 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites.” Oradell returned the site to Bergen County.
1997
January - County Executive set up the Hackensack Water Company Task Force. National Historic Landmarks Survey of National Parks Service issued opinion that site has National Landmark potential.
March - Historic Sites Board of the State of New Jersey unanimously voted to register the site as a state and national Historic Site. Registration tabled temporarily until the completion of the Task Force’s Report.
August - New Jersey Historic Trust Fund announced $575,000 matching grant award to Bergen County to stabilize Pump House and explore historic preservation.
1998
November - Task Force Completed its work. Recommends 4 possible scenarios: Complete demolition and Passive Park; Save only 1882 building and Passive Park; save Pumping station and Passive Park; or Save all of Historic Site and Passive Park.
1999
January - Water Works Conservancy, Inc., a 4 year old Oradell citizens organization, formalized and incorporated as a not-for-profit to restore and preserve Site.
March - Bergen County Executive William “Pat” Schuber announces plan adopting Task Force Proposal #4 - to create environmental Park and preserve Historic Site
Decenber - Hackensack Water Co. site designated an “American Treasure” by Save America's Treasuresw, a coalition of White House Millenium Council, National Park Service, and National Historic Survey (National Landmarks Office).
2000
May - Oradell Borough Council votes Resolution to support Letter of Intent from Bergen County to negotiate contract between Oradell, WWC & County
July - Bergen Freeholders Vote to negotiate contract between Oradell, WWC & County to transfer property to WWC.
2001
May - Site listed on New Jersey Register of Historic Places - Period of Historic Importance 1882-1914.
July - Bergen County Executive "Pat" Schuber announces proposal to demolish site and create a "ruined garden," amphitheater, and office space in a "passive park."
August - Site listed on the National Register of Historic Places for National Importance, period of importance extended from 1882 - 1932.
October - Bergen County files request with the NJ DEP HPO to demolish the site.
November - State and National Coalition to Save the Water Works is founded. Includes National Trust for Historic Preservation, Advocates for New Jersey History, American Institute of Architects-NJ Chapter, New Jersey Historical Society, Preservation New Jersey, Save America's Treasures, Society for Industrial Archeology, and US/ICOMOS.
December 20 – Hearing before New Jersey Historic Advisory Council on Bergen County’s Request to Demolish the Historic Site – tabled until Feb. 21, 2002
2002
February - NJ Historic Sites Council votes 9-0 to reject Bergen County's demolition request and sends resolution to NJ DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell.
March - Commissioner Campbell requests 90 day extension to June 25 from all stakeholders - Bergen County, WWC, State and National Coalition to Save the Water Works. All agree.
March - New Jersey Historical Commission announces $20,000 grant to WWC to create a book on the Historic Hackensack Water Company site including photographs and "living history" interviews of former plant workers.
May - Commissioner Campbell meets with Bergen County Executive and staff.
June - National Trust for Historic Preservation places Hackensack Water Company site on its 2002 list of "11 Most Endangered National Historic Places."
June - Commissioner Campbell grants Bergen County one year extension to reassess preserving the historic site and required the County to protect the site from vandals or any other deterioration or damage until a decision is rendered on the site.
July - History Channel broadcasts a documentary, "Save Our History" on the 11 most endangered sites including the Hackensack Water Company site.
A History Timeline of the Former Hackensack Water Company Site
