Henry Otto Wittpenn

Henry Otto Wittpenn (October 23, 1871 – July 25, 1931) was an American politician who served as the Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, from January 1, 1908, to June 16, 1913. He was a member of the New Jersey State Highway Commission and was the president of both the Hoboken Land and Improvement Company and the First National Bank of Hoboken. He was also a director of the First National Bank of Jersey City.

Early life Henry Otto Wittpenn was born on October 23, 1871, to Dora and Henry Wittpenn in Jersey City, New Jersey. Wittpenn worked for his father, and later for his uncle, at family-owned stores.

Career Wittpenn became interested in politics when he gave a speech for James J. Murphy at a convention in Jersey City. Murphy lost the election, but Wittpenn's speech was remembered. He formally entered politics in 1904 as one of the Hudson County, New Jersey, supervisors.

His run for mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, was in 1907 against the Republican incumbent Mark Fagan. Whitpenn remained in office until 1912 when he lost to Frank Hague. While in office he appointed Cornelia Foster Bradford to the Board of Education. While mayor he saw the completion of the Jersey City Medical Center begun under Mayor Mark Matthew Fagan.

Wittpenn died at 9:30 p.m. on July 25, 1931, aged 59, from blood poisoning, following a two-day coma. He was buried in Hoboken Cemetery.

Legacy The Wittpenn Bridge opened in 1930, and crosses the Hackensack River between Jersey City, New Jersey, and Kearny, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey Route 7 and is a four-lane lift span. In 2021, a new Wittpenn Bridge was opened replacing the 1930 bridge.