Annetta and Anson McDede, Jr

1203 Prospect Street

Born in 1881, and grown up in the neighborhood, he raised 6 children on the site of the future Brightwood Park.

11203 PROSPECT STREET

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1203 Prospect Street Home of Annetta and Anson McDede, Jr.

home 22, on town survey photos

Anson McDede, Jr. was born in Bergen County, New Jersey in 1881 to Anson and Marietta McDede. He was the oldest of what would become eleven siblings. His family moved to the corner of Prospect Street and Madison Avenue before 1900.  Anson attended school but left after third grade to assist his father in his house painting business.

In 1908, Anson purchased one of the lots in the Prospect Heights subdivision - 1203 Prospect Street - just one block from his parent’s home. He had a home constructed on the lot. He married Annetta Wild in 1911 and they had 6 children. The McDedes were one of four white families to live at the future sight of the Park.

In the 1943 Board of Realtors report to the Town, the McDede home at 1203 Prospect was included in the area recommended to be rezoned for apartments. The rezoning never took place.  However, when the Town of Westfield started acquiring land for the Park in the 1960’s, it did acquire vacant lots on Prospect Street for the Park, but it did not include acquiring the 3 existing homes on Prospect Street for the Park.   
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The house at 1203 Prospect Street would remain in the McDede family until 1995.  It still stands today, looking very much like it did in 1911, at the entrance to Brightwood Park.