Saving Grandma’s House
In 1948 a young Jack and Elizabeth Dunn bought a new home on Tulip Ct. It was one of 93, four-room, cape cod homes measuring 24 feet by 28 feet built west of Columbia Ave. It was in a development locals nicknamed “Mudville” due to seas of mud that existed there at the time.
In a 2010 interview Elizabeth, said, “We paid $8,100 for our home including $800 extra to have a taller attic. This way we could add bedrooms in the future.”
They would have five children (John, William, Stephen, Jeffrey, and Donna) so, the extra $800 proved to be wise investment.
Elizabeth stated with laughter that her husband, a WWII Navy veteran “had to park our car on Columbia Ave. Everything was all mud here. When coming to see our house built, we had to walk on boards. At one point, boards were missing and my foot sank into the mud. When I pulled up my leg, I had no boot on my foot. Somehow, I got back onto another board.” She loved the neighborhood reminiscing, “This was a wonderful neighborhood for children. The street was a cul-de-sac with almost no traffic. The kids played ball in the street and built forts in the woods.”
In the years that followed her children returned often bringing with them her 13 grandchildren and later her many great grandchildren, too. One grandchild, Stephen Dunn, Jr., an Elizabeth firefighter, loved the neighborhood so much that when a house came up for sale on Tulip Ct., he and his wife, Samantha, purchased it. Their own children could play in the same safe neighborhood. They could see Grandma’s house a few doors away. It was an ideal move.
A widow since 2009, Elizabeth passed away at age 96 on Thanksgiving Day, 2021. She was the last of original homeowners in what was officially the Blue Ridge Manor II home section.
In a recent interview, Stephen recalled, “The street was a great place for kids. We played kickball and baseball in the street. My grandparents always liked family to be around. On many Sundays, at Christmas, and for birthdays the family got together there. My grandmother always
had plenty of food. I especially remember her mashed potatoes and chicken. The best part was dessert – her homemade cake. We all called in ‘Grandma Cake’ and looked forward to the end of the meal just for that treat. She was so happy for how it pleased us.”
Stephen reported, “With so many wonderful memories for our family about my grandparents’ home, I was concerned when she passed away that a new owner might tear it down or remodel it so extensively that it couldn’t be recognized. So, my wife and I decided, ‘Let’s buy it.’ And we did. It wasn’t just an emotional attachment, but also one of historic preservation. The home was one of the first built in Kenilworth in the post WWII housing boom. It’s part of Kenilworth history. My wife and I, and the rest of the growing Dunn family, are happy about saving grandma’s house.”
Author’s comment: Elizabeth, one of 11 children, was raised in Kearny. At one time she served as Kenilworth’s court clerk. Jack was Little League president in the 1960s. Stephen is active with the Rails to Trails Conservancy, a member of the Kenilworth Rails to Trails Advisory Committee, and other groups dedicated to cleaning up the railbed of the old Rahway Valley Railroad and preserving it as a nature walkway and bikeway
Research provided by Walter E. Boright, Ed. D., historian, and Historic Signs, Inc. Persons with inquiries about this article or other aspects of Kenilworth history may contact Dr. Boright at drbori@aol.com or 908-256-5200.
