Lulu & Oliver Burton

168 Netherwood Avenue

Born in South Carolina, Oliver moved to NJ sometime after 1910.

168 NETHERWOOD AVENUE

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168 Netherwood Avenue

Oliver Burton was born in Ida County, South Carolina in 1882.

He travelled to New Jersey sometime after 1910. He first appeared locally in the 1912 Polk Street Directory living on Quimby Street and working as a Laborer.

In 1917, Oliver married Lula Stirewalt in Manhattan  and they moved to Plainfield Avenue in Scotch Plains. In 1920, they rented a home at Randolph Place and Netherwood Avenue.

In 1930, they purchase land on Netherwood Avenue, across the street from their rental home, so their daughter Edna and husband Garfield Roach can build a house for themselves and their two children. 

In 1936, Edna died and her husband moved to Plainfield with his two children. As a result, Lula and Oliver moved into their daughter’s home. 

Oliver was a deacon at Metropolitan Baptist Church.  Oliver died in 1957 at the age of 74.  In 1965, after the Town of Westfield had commenced acquisition of all the properties for the Park, Lula sold their home to Allen McPhaul, a neighbor who lived at 176 Liberty Street.