When The Parkway Cut Through Town, Part I
Construction of the Garden State Parkway in Union County commenced in 1947. It cut a swath approximately two miles long and hundreds and hundreds of feet wide through town. Starting in 1948 the uprooting of some 35 homes and a few businesses commenced. Portions of Graceland Memorial Park cemetery and the Galloping Hill Golf Course were taken. The Parkway turned sections of Faitoute, Ashwood, and Union avenues into dead end streets.
In this aerial photograph of nearly 75 years ago, various locations are identified. (1) At lower right is the Beth David Cemetery and the Boulevard entrance to the golf course. (2) At center left is the club house hill with excavation all around. (3) Graceland Memorial Park cemetery is at center right. (4) Homes in the upper area are in Union.
Readers might want to compare this to what is there nowadays. Watch for part 2 of this feature in a future edition of Kenilworth Business Life.
Research provided by Walter E. Boright, Ed. D., historian, and Historic Signs, Inc.
Appreciation to Luke Allocco for obtaining NJ Department of Transportation file photo. Persons with inquiries about this article or other aspects of Kenilworth history may contact Dr. Boright atdrbori@aol.com or 908-256-5200.
Photo credit: NJDOT
