RIP on this day 1947, George E. T. Wells - before building our neighborhood he built Washington Park in Maplewood, NJ (across from the Yellow Rose bakery on Ridgewood Ave) in 1919, then a few hotel projects in Miami, one of which, the Watson Hotel built in 1926 on Biscayne Blvd, rebranded as the YVE Hotel, still exists today. I'm still trying to find details on the naming of Wells Road which was done after his passing but yet to find any details.
Local newspaper Obit
NY Times Obit...
Ad for the Washington Park neighborhood in Maplewood.
Details about properties he built in Miami....
Photos of Theater built in Miami with pic of him too
Man-on-the-street quote after the Great Depression in NYC
As President of Meadowbrook Inc, George and also the Meadowbrook name
were actually employed by Bankers Trust Company of NYC
After his passing Bankers Trust Company wanted to make the remaining neighborhood lots not built even smaller
spurring residents to form a neighborhood association to fight it
and they won along with the Borough and County's help
to maintain the 1936 zoning as submitted.
were actually employed by Bankers Trust Company of NYC
After his passing Bankers Trust Company wanted to make the remaining neighborhood lots not built even smaller
spurring residents to form a neighborhood association to fight it
and they won along with the Borough and County's help
to maintain the 1936 zoning as submitted.
Here is what the neighborhood looked like in 1947
The east side of Mali Drive will soon change in architecture style from the 30s and 40s
as post war trends update for the 50s and 60s
Its a chronological time capsule the evolved.
as post war trends update for the 50s and 60s
Its a chronological time capsule the evolved.
This drawing is by George E. T. Wells illustrating the proposed Meadowbrook neighborhood
on either side of the Green Brook up to Mountain Ave. to help socialize the development.
You'll notice missing components that weren't built.
The Union County Plainfield residents fought this design of and wound up with
apartments in place of houses, apartments also design by George as per
this blue print for Meadowbrook Village
You can visit George Wells, his wife Mable,
and nearby Frances and Pierre Mali
at the Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains
here is a helpful map they provided
...
ironically in April 1947 the old Mali (Johnston) mansion which George had been living in
and operating from as a sales office was torn down
ironically in April 1947 the old Mali (Johnston) mansion which George had been living in
and operating from as a sales office was torn down
