THE HISTORY OF ISELIN
CHAPTER 3, The Ecology of modern Iselin
CHAPTER 3, The Ecology of modern Iselin
When the initial research began to determine the how, when and the where, the present suburbia
structure of Iselin began, it was assumed that the criss cross street pattern was a 20th century
phenomenon, and that Iselin was composed of 3 or 4 dozen farms, until after WW I. Nothing could
be further from the truth.
The ecology of Iselin has a genesis dating back to shortly after the Civil War when Iselin was still
known as Union Town. A land promotion scheme was introduced to the public by Edwin Bloomfield
and Thomas Barclay, who subdivided 67 acres of property into 50x100 ft. building lots. (the first
officially recorded subdivision) These lots fronted on Bloomfield, Elizabeth, Indiana & Creamer Aves.
and Woodruff and Berkeley Streets. In 1891, a second subdivision between Green Street and New
Dover Road, became known as the "Iselin Hill" subdivision, and created, Pleasant, Harrison, Grand
Park & Washington Avenues. Again, in 1893, yet another subdivision called "Iselin Park", established
the Streets we know as Pine, Madison, Cherry, Main, Canal and Grand Streets. This project did not
interest a horde of purchasers, and nearly died. It later caught on.
In the decades following WW I, in 1918, 1920,1922-1925, no less than 12 new subdivisions sprang
from the farmlands of Iselin. 1925 brought the development of Commercial Stores, and work would
start on the development of the Iselin Airport, which was located between what is now Middlesex Ave.
and Wood Avenue, along the North side of Oak Tree Rd. now bisected by the Garden State Parkway.
For all of your Real Estate & Insurance needs, contact:
LEGACY REALTY GROUP, EDISON, NEW JERSEY
732.744.0400
structure of Iselin began, it was assumed that the criss cross street pattern was a 20th century
phenomenon, and that Iselin was composed of 3 or 4 dozen farms, until after WW I. Nothing could
be further from the truth.
The ecology of Iselin has a genesis dating back to shortly after the Civil War when Iselin was still
known as Union Town. A land promotion scheme was introduced to the public by Edwin Bloomfield
and Thomas Barclay, who subdivided 67 acres of property into 50x100 ft. building lots. (the first
officially recorded subdivision) These lots fronted on Bloomfield, Elizabeth, Indiana & Creamer Aves.
and Woodruff and Berkeley Streets. In 1891, a second subdivision between Green Street and New
Dover Road, became known as the "Iselin Hill" subdivision, and created, Pleasant, Harrison, Grand
Park & Washington Avenues. Again, in 1893, yet another subdivision called "Iselin Park", established
the Streets we know as Pine, Madison, Cherry, Main, Canal and Grand Streets. This project did not
interest a horde of purchasers, and nearly died. It later caught on.
In the decades following WW I, in 1918, 1920,1922-1925, no less than 12 new subdivisions sprang
from the farmlands of Iselin. 1925 brought the development of Commercial Stores, and work would
start on the development of the Iselin Airport, which was located between what is now Middlesex Ave.
and Wood Avenue, along the North side of Oak Tree Rd. now bisected by the Garden State Parkway.
For all of your Real Estate & Insurance needs, contact:
LEGACY REALTY GROUP, EDISON, NEW JERSEY
732.744.0400
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