Ed Potash Reflects on Three Generations of Family Service in Oakland

Sitting in the conference room of a building that formerly was named Alexander Potash & Sons, where the walls are covered in awards and honors, Ed Potash reflected on his family’s generations-long love for Oakland and service to the borough.

His parents, Alexander and Velma, moved to Oakland in 1926.

During the Depression years life was hard, but Alexander and Velma, parents of six children, based their lives in Oakland on hard work and faith.   

 In 1937, Ed incorporated his business and the Potash Family, including Ed’s maternal grandparents, moved to the Van Allen House, which stood alone surrounded by forest. 

The house was much larger in those days.  There was no central heat, only spring water, which froze in winter, and no plumbing.  Plenty of wood was chopped and chickens and goats raised to accommodate all the Potashes.  The children attended a five-room schoolhouse, two grades to a room, and then attended Pompton Lakes High School.   Some school days when the kids were needed as “helpers” in the family business, notes were written indicating “children needed at home.”

Due to the shortage of men during the WWII years, Velma worked nights at the Dupont Plant in munitions from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., coming home just in time to make breakfast for her six children.   

Alexander devoted his energies to his business and to his community. He began as tax assessor, then served as councilman.  In 1950, he was elected mayor of Oakland and served several terms.

“He had a knack for taking care of people’s needs,” said Ed.  

As acts of goodwill, Potash & Sons dug the Ponds Church foundation and the foundations of some of Oakland’s other churches, as well as the excavation of an empty lot in the center of town which became Veterans’ Park.  Potash even brought over the canon from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which sits in its center.

 Alexander’s sons came into the business in 1946, and as time passed, the business grew.  Al became known as the mayor who dressed as Santa.  It made him happy to visit the children of Oakland at Christmas in their homes and in our schools. 

Oakland was growing quickly as more families discovered the natural beauty of the area and its good schools.  With the help of parents and Al’s involvement as mayor, Oakland’s recreation program was born.  Today it is unrivaled in Bergen County, as is Oakland’s volunteerism.

Ed Potash served in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953, returned to Oakland and married Jean Van Dyk, whose parents had a summer home in Pleasureland. 

They became congregants of Ponds Church.  He and Jean had four children, all educated in Oakland schools.  As the family grew, Ed began his voluntary service with the Ponds Cemetery, becoming its custodian in 1962. 

Each year Bergen County sends 175 American flags to Ed’s office which he then has placed on the graves of veterans in the Ponds Cemetery, formed in the 1700’s.  Ed also served in the American Legion and in Civil Defense after World War II when Oakland’s population was about 1,000.   Brother Bill Potash was active in the Lion’s Club and First Aid Squad; another brother Jim was a charter member of the Elks Club.

With the passing of Alexander in 1990, Ed’s sons came into the business.  The company was relocated in the late 1980’s from the top of the hill, where Route 287 eventually came through to a parcel of land below on Edison Road.  In the 1900’s Tom Potash, Ed’s son, began serving on Oakland’s Planning Board and serves to this day.  Most of Ed’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren live in or near Oakland.  Based on Potash family history, it is not unlikely that some also will serve in Oakland in the fourth and fifth generations.

When Ed was asked what he would advise the young people of Oakland, he replied, “Boast about Oakland, its schools, its churches, its natural beauty and your parents’ involvement in our town.” 

On the lessons he learned in life, he said, “I’ve learned that in order to have success in life, you must be friendly to all, even your enemies.  Help them whenever you can and they will help you. It’s a style of living I learned from my parents. I am always thinking of the children, that they should know what I have seen in my life and that they are heading in the right direction.  I guess I’m like my Dad, a public servant.”