Welcome to Meadowbrook Neighborhood!

Meadowbrook is a neighborhood in North Plainfield, NJ. The first open house was 2p November 15, 1936 and is celebrating 85 years old in 2021. The neighborhood was created from the former estate and farm of John Taylor Johnston, named Netherwood. JTJ was the first President of the Met Museum and owner of the Central RailRoad of NJ. He united the railroad from Jersey City to PA, elevated the railroad through Plainfield, creating nearby station Netherwood Station, and moved the Scotch Plains station along with the entire stretch of Rail Road to a new location named lovingly after his wife and daughter, both named Frances, who each went by the nickname, Fanny. The Netherwood Estate and Farm was passed down to his daughter, Frances J. Mali, who married Belgain consulate Pierre Mali in 1892.

After their passing the children of Frances (December 1928) and Pierre Mali (Oct 1923) envisioned developing the holdings of the Netherwood Farms Corporation with the primary portion of the Estate and Farm encompassing the Meadowbrook Neighborhood. The first section of Meadowbrook was approved by the Somerset County Clerk with resolution adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough June 26th 1936. Architect, George E. T. Wells, resided and conducted business operations from the former Mali Estate and then moved to Meadowbrook Drive in 1938.

The neighborhood is a time capsule, practically in the shape of a clock, illustrating American tastes in home architecture for three decades. As time ticked on complex events impacted the building schedule: the Great Depression and Recession 1929-1939, World War II 1939-1945, and were further delayed by Mr. Wells unexpected death in 1947. The final section, Section 7, would not be approved by the County Clerk until August 26, 1958, built in 1966, and includes a nod to Mr. Well's legacy with the addition of Wells Road.

Please don't hesitate to contribute with your memories, recollections, photos, news clippings.

Thank you for joining.

Insta: meadowbrookhistory_npnj

Residence group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/meadowbrookneighborhoodhistorynpnj/

This map, published April 1936 in the local paper, is the envisioned plan for the neighborhood which will host its first open house November 1936... again, it will take 30 years to complete but captures changing tastes in American architecture. Do note the extension across the county line, the Green Brook, from Somerset and Union County.... also there are various roads not built as envisioned, or not included as is the case with Wells Road.

The Old Gate-house at Meadowbrook, which is no longer a portion of the neighborhood but still exists, highlights the entrance to the former Johnston/Mali Estate across from Johnston Avenue to the Netherwood Train Station, located at 901 East Front Street Plainfield, NJ Union County

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Meadowbrook timeline of articles

Date Summary

6/18/35 Relief Gardens continue on the Mali Estate and Greenhouse

9/11/35 Rock Oak cut on Mali Estate estimated to be 245 years old

4/3/36 Initial zoning request

4/16/36 Mali Estate Development Plans Shown

4/21/36 Posted Zoning notice by Netherwood Farms Corporation

4/22/36 Mali tract zoning changes welcomed in North Plainfield

4/28/36 1^st map of Meadowbrook Plan published

4/30/36 Board Reserves Ruling on Mali Estate Appeal, page 1 and page 4
(2^nd link notable for discussion of “through streets” vs FHA guidance on developments)

5/5/36 C of C Gives Okeh to Mali Tract Plans

5/27/36 Board reported to favor creation of residence zone

5/29/36 Approval of Mali Estate Change by Finance Committee

6/6/36 Article: Map of Section 1 filed with Somerset County North Plainfield

6/16/36 Meadowbrook Mali Tract Zoning board changes approved

7/3/36 North Plainfield approval for razing barns on Netherwood Farm and Mali Estate

7/11/36 Stolen rowboats from Mali Estate

7/25/36 Ground to be broken for new homes in Meadowbrook on Mali Estate

8/1/36 Meadowbrook sign sizes appealed, backed by realtors

8/1/36 Invitation to view Meadowbrook, with drawing of Gate House

8/1/36 Initial sale is announced on Mali Tract, in Meadowbrook

8/2/36 Mali Estate to be developed into Meadowbrook