THE RADBURN ASSOCIATION
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THE LAST LAMP POST ​

By Rick Hampson and Stephen Taylor
  A piece of Radburn history has been lost.
Picture
Radburn’s last original, in-situ PSE&G cast iron lamp post – one that was saved years ago through the efforts of a feisty preservationist – has been removed from the Townley-Reading path and replaced by a standard-issue, very unhistoric-looking utility pole.
Picture
Picture
​A spokesman for PSE&G, Anthony Garrihy, said the utility’s Streetlight Department had the pole replaced “because it was no longer possible or safe to properly maintain it.’’ He said the work crew “found it necessary to cut it into pieces during the removal, and the pieces have been sent for disposal.’’ 
The Radburn Association says PSE&G did not inform it of the move.
Radburn historian Larry Koplik says the original street lights, which were installed around 1929, were owned and maintained by the electric utility (as are those in place today). Radburn’s developer, the City Housing Corporation, apparently may have paid for part of their original cost.
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The lamp posts are considered public "street lighting" for the paths, which are themselves municipal rights-of-way and property of the Borough of Fair Lawn.
PSE&G began removing and replacing Radburn’s original cast-iron light poles more than 50 years ago. Many Radburn residents were incensed, none more than a South Side resident named Helen A. Harden.
There’s no question that Harden personally helped prevent removal of the lamp post on the Townley-Reading path. But how?
“Folklore says she chained herself to the pole. She didn’t,’’ says Eileen Maloney, a longtime Radburn resident and Harden family friend. “But she stood there and would not let them remove it.’’

Picture
R Park Path (Cropped from Karl Mydans, 1935)
What happened to Radburn’s other original lampposts? Some were said to have been relocated to the Great Falls park in Paterson, others to the Village of Ridgewood.
PSEG has used a number of similar vintage lamps in downtown Ridgewood. But none seem identical to the Radburn lamps .

Picture
Picture
The Great Falls lamps are cast iron, but appear quite different from Radburn lamps (Google Maps is the source of this photo).
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Two cast-iron poles, apparently Radburn 1929 originals, were found in the basement of the Grange and installed on the pool deck as part of the B-pool replacement project. 
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Although the light poles PSE&G has been installing are taller and brighter than the 1929 versions, they suffer by almost any aesthetic measure. The old poles were delicately detailed, with fluted bases. They featured "PS" (for "Public Service") cast into the service panel at the base of the pole (Below is a closeup of the Reading path  lamp).
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The original poles also supported signs identifying the roads associated with the paths. They also are long gone, and have been replaced by signs made as part of an Eagle Scout project.
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Original  Radburn lamps lit the perimeter of the Plaza Building  as well (Karl Mydans, 1935, cropped).
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Helen Harden, who lived at 18A Townley Road, died years ago after moving to Tom’s River. 
“She was a preservationist before it was popular to be one,’’ says Maloney. She was “small, but full of vim and vinegar,’’ she adds. “If she had a cause, she really went after it. And she really cared about Radburn.’’

Rick and Stephen are Radburn residents who are developing a walking tour of this National Historic Landmark.


Office Hours

M-F: 9am - 5pm

Telephone

201-796-1300
Email Address 
radburn1929@gmail.com 
  • About Us
    • About
    • Map Of Radburn
    • Radburn History >
      • Radburn Views: Manhattan’s Skyline Reappears
      • RADBURN IN “THE CITY:” SCENES OF THE PAST
      • The Battle of the Footbridge
      • The Last Lamp Post
      • Frank Exner: From ‘Rad Lab’ to Radburn
      • The Radburn Scale
      • RADBURN’S PARKS: WHY THE ALPHABET SOUP?
      • Cricket’s Hearth Rediscovered
      • Radburn History Trivia Scavenger Hunt
      • 1927 Radical New Community
      • In the Beginning..The Radburn Association
    • In the News >
      • Landslide Magazine - HISTORIC RADBURN ARTICLE
    • The Board
    • Management Team
    • Ryokuen Toshi, Japan, - Sister Community >
      • Winner of the 16th “The Residential Townscape Award”.
    • Contact us
    • Website Registration
  • Bulletin
    • Board Updates
    • Manager message
    • Bulletin Archive
  • Calendar
    • 2022 Pool Calendar
  • Communications
    • Commercial Page Application
    • Youth Commercial Page
    • Commercial Page >
      • Commercial2
      • Commercial3
      • Commercial4
  • Lifestyle & Activities
    • Pride
    • Tours
    • Covered Dish Dinner
    • Fitness Class -Heathy Living >
      • Fitness Classes >
        • Fitness Class Registration
    • Library
    • GRANGE USE REQUEST FORM >
      • RENTALS - GYM / CLUB ROOM
      • GRANGE USE EVENT KEY POLICY
    • Radburn Clubs >
      • Book Club
      • 50 + Lifestyle Club
      • Radbirds- Radburn's Birding Club
    • Radburn Getting to know your Neighborhood >
      • Getting to know your Neighborhoods Series
  • Members
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022 MEETING SCHEDULE >
      • May 16, 2022 - Open Board Meeting
    • ADR Committee Application
    • Architecture
    • Billing & Payment Options >
      • Billing & Payment Resources
      • Pay Dues
    • Committees 2022 >
      • FUNraising Committee
      • Grounds Committee
    • Crossings at Radburn
    • DESIGNING THE NEW GRANGE
    • Electronic Voting
    • 2021 END OF THE YEAR REPORT
    • Finance
    • General Documents >
      • MINUTES ARCHIVE
      • 2022 Meeting Recordings >
        • 2021 Meeting Recordings
        • Meeting recordings
    • Policies
    • Voice Broadcasting Registration
  • Summer Programs 2022
    • Family Day 2022 >
      • “Fox” Tee Shirt Design
    • Health Director Application
    • Movies Under the Stars 2022
    • Music in the Park
    • POOL SEASON >
      • Lifeguard Employment Application 2022
      • Gate Guard Employment Application
      • POOL PASS Registration Program >
        • Guestpasses
      • 2022 Swim Team
      • Swim Programs >
        • Tot Swim Lessons
        • Aquasize Classes
        • Deep Water Testing
        • SwimTeam2022
    • Registration - 2022 Summer Programs
    • Summer Camp >
      • Counselor Employment Application 2022- Summer Camp
      • SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS 2022
      • Swim Instructor Employment Application
    • Tiny Tot Program
    • Tennis Courts >
      • Pickleball Lessons
  • Preschool
    • Preschool Substitute Teacher Opportunity
    • Policies