Staying cool in Summer in Meadowbrook

Happy Summer!!   Here are some images and mentions of air conditioning, the Meadowbrook Pool, and of course large leafy shadowy stately trees - do plant one soon!!    Click articles or images to enlarge them.

6 July 1943, the pool was opened and that year was heated after some oil negotiations

this 1967 ad for a lifeguard is the latest note about the pool I can find, not sure when it was finally closed

Oh, and incase you were wondering like me if the AC by "Gar Wood Industries, Inc" was local, with the similar looking name to Garwood, NJ ... nope, they were actually in Detroit, MI

All's well that ends Wells Road

As we saw in posts from April, which followed the early starts of the neighborhood, both distant history in naming origins to actual "nearer" history with zoning ordinances to create Meadowbrook, it is with this photo ad published May 1963 that marks the "completion" of the neighborhood at long last, just shy of 30 years after getting started in April 1936.

Irv Velinsky was not only the realtor but also the builder, which had some building delays in January 1963

As this is the only house on Wells Road I could not find any detail if Irv was involved in the naming of the Road, as a tribute to George Wells the Meadowbrook Inc. President who died just 11 years after the first open house, but I don't think so...

I found this ordance discussing extending infrastructure from Mali Drive through to Netherwood Ave in Nov 1947 and Wells Road is the only road to do so...

I think the road was created and named just prior to 1954 as these next two article snippets are the earliest mentions of the road that I could find... so quite a few years after George Wells' passing in Sept 1947.

One builder in 1954 wanted the storm sewer to just drain into the Green Brook... this was not approved.

While in this 1954 article mentioning Wells Road, there's a potential Playground?

I'd have thought there would've maybe been a dedication or small ceremony for Wells Road? Neither storm sewers or playgrounds seem the right moment.

but then again, maybe another change of plan, because the map of "Section 7" with Wells Road wasn't filed for 4 more years... until 1958.

So, as the history of the neighborhood has proven here yet again, from the opening in 1936 to the publising of this house photo ad for the home on Wells Road in 1963... "... whate'er the course, the end is the renown."

Happy Mali Wedding Anniversary

On this day 30 April, 1892 - the spring wedding ceremony that brought the Johnston's and Mali's together. Though the wedding took place at their NYC home it is the event that gives us "Mali Drive" (44 years later in 1936)... conceived you might say... "Mr. Mali ... left with his bride last evening for the Johnston country place at Plainfield."
Another favorite excerpt, "... floral alters... are the craze now at home weddings."

Honeymoon at Netherwood Estate !!

And so, like Mali Drive, that brings us full circle for the month of April...
from today's nuptials all the way from the start of April and the beginning stages of the neighborhood.

Cheers !!

Happy Arbor Day Weekend (25 April)

 Hey Meadowbrook - Happy Arbor Day Weekend (25 April) !!!

Trees have always been an important part of our neighborhood. This year is a super reason to plant more as a succession to many of our older ones. What is your favorite tree memory or fun-fact?

Some of the young trees which are still today found on Mali Drive and Meadowbrook Road from a 1947 aerial photo

Look how young they were!

early intersection photo of Mali Drive at Meadowbrook Road illustrating young trees
vs google street view "today"

artist vision come to life !!

Published 12 April, 1947 ... North Plainfield being known as "Stump Town" for improper tree removal

Postcard found at an antique shop of the old estate

Published 19 May, 1955 - planting a tree at nearby Blue Star Memorial

So please please please plant a tree when you can because the best time to plant a tree is today

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!! We have a long history of planet friendly initiatives in Meadowbrook, even a catchy phrase, "Accent on Environment"

It is a good time to remove invasive species like Bradford Pear trees or Knotweed so as not to harm the environment... consider removing Stumps, vs Snags which could be woodpecker homes. https://www.nwf.org/treesandsnags

And get ready, Arbor Day is this weekend, so it's not too late to start planning where to plant a new tree