The Meadowbrook neighborhood has a connection to nearby local annual celebration Fanny Wood Day, in nearby Fanwood, because this was her former home. Mrs. Frances Mali is daugher to John Taylor (JTJ) and Frances Johnston, who both went by the nickname "Fanny". Here is the Original Fanny with narrated description by her daughter on its origins. (serious #squadgoals right there)
As Presisdent of the NJ Central Rail Road Mr. JTJ had the rails moved, from what is today 3rd Street becoming Midway Ave once crossing Terrill Road, to it's present location. Here is the rail road pre-Fanwood Park development.
Station stops named after his daughers were Evona (which then became grant and was decomissioned) and also Fanwood Park which was a real estate enterprise for a new neighborhood just south of Scotch Plains.
Now, this later article says that Fanwood was named after his wife Fanny, Frances Johnston...
however... her surname was not Wood
and the spelling is incorrect as it was with a Y, not 'ie'
Here are some other interesting "Fanny" mentions in the press over the years. She attended the addition to the Obelisk in Central Park... afterall, JTJ was the first President of the Met Museum...
Frances after her marraige to Pierre Mali, inherited from JTJ the Netherwood Farm and Johnston Estate, renaming it the Mali Estate
Frances J. Mali a.k.a. "Fanny"
An early sketch of Netherwood
The arrival of daughter Fanny to mother Fanny ....
And to tie it all back, that same "park" atmosphere that was developed for Fanwood Park, was carried over to the Meadowbrook neighborhood when developing the former Estate and keeping that same aesthetic in mind.
Wishing you a Happy Fanny Wood Day from Meadowbrook Neighborhood History
