Llewellyn Park

Llewellyn Park is a historic gated community within West Orange in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Llewellyn Park is thought to be the country's first planned residential community, and the site of the first large-scale naturalization of crocus, narcissus, and jonquils. The community features 175 homes on 425 acres (172 ha) and is located 12 miles (19 km) west of New York City.[2]

Not to be confused with Llewelyn Park.
Llewellyn Park
Gated community
Glenmont
Glenmont
Llewellyn Park is located in Essex County, New Jersey
Llewellyn Park
Llewellyn Park
Location in Essex County
Llewellyn Park is located in New Jersey
Llewellyn Park
Llewellyn Park
Location in New Jersey
Llewellyn Park is located in the United States
Llewellyn Park
Llewellyn Park
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°47′15″N 74°14′29″W
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyEssex
TownshipWest Orange
Elevation
318 ft (97 m)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00
ZIP code
07052
FIPS code34-40990
GNIS feature ID0883314[1]

Llewellyn Park was one of the first planned suburbs in the United States, where natural beauty was both carefully cultivated and allowed to remain undisturbed. The landscaping is in the 19th century romantic style of New York's Central Park, and includes winding paths, ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.[3]

In 1985 and 1986, the Llewellyn Park Historic District was added to both the New Jersey and National registers of historic places.[4]

History

Llewellyn Park was founded in 1853 by Llewellyn Solomon Haskell, a New York City businessman and was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis. Haskell discovered the lush, wooded area on the eastern slope on the first range of the Watchung Mountains which was originally farmland owned by Ira Harrison Condit.[5] Purchasing 100 acres from Condit in 1855, Haskell set out to create a suburban community of country estates. These finely crafted homes would stand amid majestic trees and running streams. The first annual meeting of proprietors was held at the Park's Gatehouse on January 1, 1858, and continues today.[6]

The Park became home to many residents of note, especially Thomas Edison, whose home Glenmont is part of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. Other residents over the years included abolitionist James Miller McKim, whose charming house contained secret chambers to hide escaped slaves traversing the Underground Railroad, the Merck family (George W. Merck was raised there), and the Colgate family.

Its annual meeting, going on for 158 years, is the longest continuous string of meetings of any residential association in the United States.

A number of Llewellyn Park's homes were designed by prominent American architects including Alexander Jackson Davis, Calvert Vaux, Charles McKim, Stanford White, and Robert A.M. Stern.

Location
Main Street Gatehouse

The main entrance to Llewellyn Park is located on Main Street in West Orange, near Thomas Edison's factory complex, now a museum and also a part of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. The entrance is within West Orange's historic district, which is entering a phase of major revitalization. There is a side entrance to Llewellyn Park located on Eagle Rock Avenue that is electronically monitored and activated by the security guards within the Gatehouse on the Main Street entrance.

Llewellyn Park residents enjoy the combination of close proximity to New York City, a relaxed semi-rural lifestyle, and exceptional privacy.

Community
A road in Llewellyn Park

The Ramble is a common area of 50 acres (200,000 m2) landscaped with streams and paths. Period gas lamps line the curving streets of the community. The Llewellyn Park Ladies Association is largely responsible for the beautification of the Park. Its activities include annual plantings; purchasing, and selecting appropriate sites for rustic architecture including gazebos and benches; and directing the Park's maintenance staff to care for the trees, shrubs and flowers.

A major function of the Ladies Association is its commitment to fostering a sense of community among Park residents by planning social activities for adults and children. These activities include a Halloween Party for the children and a Holiday Party for adults. Recently the Ladies Association has also sponsored a barn dance, an Easter egg hunt, a Victorian picnic, and a High Tea. Residents' professions and occupations range widely and include business persons, professionals, academics, and artists.

Residents operate a Llewellyn Park Historical Society dedicated to preserving historic artifacts relating to the creation and history of the Park. The Llewellyn Park Preservation Foundation (an independent 501 c(3) charitable organization) is dedicated to maintaining and restoring the historic character.

Notable people

References
  1. "Llewellyn Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  2. https://llewellynpark.com/Page/13266~93841/History
  3. Llewellyn Park New York Times, 1865 April 23
  4. https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists/ESSEX.pdf
  5. Condits and their Cousins Family Website
  6. W. Hawkins Ferry (1968). The Buildings of Detroit A History. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-1665-8.
  7. The New Jersey Law Journal, Volume 22; Volume 1899, p. 348. Accessed June 28, 2018. "Mr. John L. Blake, of Llewellyn Park, West Orange, N. J., died October 10, after an illness of several months."
  8. Mansnerus, Laura. "Choosing Her Fights, While She Can", The New York Times, January 29, 2005. Accessed June 28, 2018. "Mrs. Codey, 49, grew up in West Orange, where she and her husband now live with their sons, Kevin, 20, and Christopher, 16."
  9. Fairleigh Dickinson University Commencement Honoree: Richard J. Codey, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Accessed December 31, 2006.
  10. Jailer, Mildred. "Preserving the Victorian Look", The New York Times, March 19, 1978. Accessed November 1, 2018. "Together with the Bloomfield Historical Society, the North Jersey group has purchased a tombstone for the previously unmarked grave of Alexander Jackson Davis, the noted Victorian who lived in Llewellyn Park in West Orange."
  11. New Jersey Governor Charles Edison, National Governors Association. Accessed November 1, 2018. "Charles Edison, the fifty-eighth governor of New Jersey, was born in West Orange, New Jersey on August 3, 1890."
  12. Pace, Eric. "Theodore M. Edison; An Illustrious Father Guided Inventor, 94", The New York Times, November 26, 1992. Accessed May 23, 2012. "Theodore M. Edison, an inventor, environmentalist and philanthropist who was the last surviving child of the inventor Thomas Alva Edison, died on Tuesday at his home in West Orange. He was 94 years old."
  13. Thomas Edison National Historical Park, govnotes.com. Accessed November 5, 2007. "Half of Edison's astonishing 1,093 patents were earned during the 44 years he lived in West Orange."
  14. Bondy, Halley. "Whoopi Goldberg moving to West Orange", The Star-Ledger, October 5, 2009. Accessed January 17, 2011.
  15. Acts of the General Assembly of the State of New-Jersey, p. 910. I. Collins, 1873. Accessed May 27, 2016. "An Act_to change the name of Thomas Frost Haskell: Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly the State of New Jersey, That the name of Thomas Frost Haskell, of the township of West Orange, in the county of Essex, be and the same is hereby changed to Llewellyn Frost Haskell... Approved January 29, 1873."
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