Llewellyn Park is a 425-acre (1.7 km2) gated residential community of 175 homes within West Orange, New Jersey. Llewellyn Park does not have its own municipal government, but operates as part of the Township of West Orange. It is located just 12 miles (19 km) west of New York City.
Residents enjoy the Ramble, a common area of 50 acres (200,000 m2) landscaped with streams and paths. Period gas lamps line the curving streets of the community adding historic charm and a warm glow. There is an active social life organized by the Llewellyn Park Ladies Association. Throughout its history, the Ladies Association has been 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 of Llewellyn Park.
Llewellyn Park residents enjoy the combination of close proximity to New York City a relaxed semi-rural lifestyle and exceptional privacy.
Llewellyn Park was founded in 1853 by Llewellyn Solomon Haskell, a New York 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 and 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.[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.[2]
The Park became home to many residents of note, especially Thomas Edison, whose home Glenmont is part of the Edison National Historic Site. 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.
The main entrance to Llewellyn Park is located on Main Street in West Orange, near Thomas Edison's factory complex, which is now a museum. The entrance is within West Orange's historic district, which is entering a phase of major revitalization.
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