Friends of Brightwood Park
  • Home
  • PRESERVE
    • Ecology
    • Invasive Species
    • Ponds
    • Clean Ups
    • Trails
  • ENJOY
    • halloween-22
    • Photos
    • Birding >
      • greenHeron
    • Trail Maps
    • Calendar
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • Who We Are
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo
    • presidentReport-1Q-21
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • Home
  • PRESERVE
    • Ecology
    • Invasive Species
    • Ponds
    • Clean Ups
    • Trails
  • ENJOY
    • halloween-22
    • Photos
    • Birding >
      • greenHeron
    • Trail Maps
    • Calendar
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • Who We Are
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo
    • presidentReport-1Q-21
  • Shop
  • JOIN

Julia & Moses Hines

156 Netherwood Avenue

​​After the sudden passing of her 37 year old husband in 1915, Julia Brown married Morris Hines and moved across the street from her home on Netherwood Avenue.
Picture

Picture
Picture
In 1915, Julia Brown was 37 years old, married to Morris Brown, and living on Netherwood Avenue in Westfield.  Morris died suddenly in 1917.

Less than 2 years later, Julia had met, married, and purchased land with Moses Hines on the opposite side of Netherwood Avenue from where she had lived with Morris Brown. Moses was 47 at the time of his marriage and originally from South Hampton, Virginia, just north of Julia’s birthplace of Greensboro, North Carolina.  Moses had been a laborer in the brickyards at Haverstraw, New York.  

It is documented that the Haverstraw Brickyard owners had difficulty finding workers locally to work in the extreme heat of their kilns and had gone to the South to recruit African-Americans to come North to work in their brickyards. Since Westfield was 40 miles away from Haverstraw, it is fair to conclude that Moses was seeking other job opportunities by his move; he was listed as a pickler in a factory in the 1920 US Census. It is also interesting to note that two other African-Americans who lived Haverstraw bought land near the home of Julia and Moses, but never built homes on their land. 

In the 1930’s Moses joined with neighbors to form a third church organization - Metropolitan Baptist Church, which eventually built a church on the corner of John Street and Jerusalem Road.  Moses rose to become a Deacon for the Church and regularly served as a pallbearer for funerals of church members.  

Julia passed away in 1952.  In 1954, Moses was struck by a car as he walked along Brightwood Avenue.  He moved in with Cordelia and Mac Manair, also a pallbearer at Metropolitan Church, to recuperate from his injuries, and ended staying with them for the next 8 years until his death at the age of 90. 

​In 1958, he sold his home to his grand-nephew, Clarence Smith, who lived in Plainfield.  Smith sold the property to the Town of Westfield in 1969 for $3,250.   
​

Location

Brightwood Park is on the North end of Prospect Street.  Go past Franklin School and look for the entrance on the left.

What Our Members Are Saying

"I love the work you are doing at Brightwood.  Your efforts have shone a light on the essential elements of the park that we all cherish: its natural beauty and tranquility."

"I have a deep fondness for Brightwood park and would like to see it restored, remain natural and continue to be a site of passive recreation."

"I loved growing up in Brightwood Park !"


"I found Brightwood a few years ago and it's a great place to find wildlife, fish, and enjoy nature. Nice and quiet; good place to un wind and relax. Love it!!!"

​"As a resident for almost thirty years in the Brightwood area of Westfield, I am thrilled to see what is happening to improve and preserve Brightwood park for today and future generations. "


Contact Us


Become a Member!  We'd Love to Have You Join Us.