Auld Lang Syne

Published April 19 and 22, the Mali (Johnston) Heirs visited the homestead for the last time in 1947....

but here is a fun newspaper correction and discovery!

The caption says the man pointing in the photograph is George Wells, but the editors here at the Meadowbrook Neighborhood History blogspot have recently connected with a member of the Mali family who recognized and verified the tall pointing man is his grandfather!! Two other evidence pieces: no hat! and the draft card that says George was 5'6" (when open, click 'next' for height)

Unfortunately, as was the case when trying to get copies of these photos,

the newspaper is still not available for comment, so here then are more reprints of the articles.

George Wells in his hat in similar era ground breaking ceremonys

alrighty then, enough of that old hat stuff... onto the mansion that everyone was there to see...

from the Library of Congress are these excerpts in 1890 https://www.loc.gov/item/01007771/

Annotated map with arrow pointing to green open space on Brook Ave.

Two months after the last visit, demo and ground breaking took place June 1947

and in August 1947 the owner of the gatehouse asked for a revaluation of taxes

Here is a map illustrating the various estate features and their locations

Another map highlighting Netherwood Farm at the top

a photo from the opening day of officials, 2nd from right is George Wells' hat...

Excerpted article from large screenshot below

The above is from 1936 so if standing at 72 years of age, it was then 83 when taken down 11 years later in 1947.

Another good selection of recollections about the estate can be found here

https://meadowbrookhistory.blogspot.com/2023/06/a-profile-on-former-mali-estate.html

A fitting Scottish song for the Johnston homestead ...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne