Friends of Brightwood Park
  • Home
  • PRESERVE & RESTORE
    • Ecology >
      • RutgersSiteVisit
      • Ponds
      • Reforestation
    • Invasive Species
    • NativePlants
    • Trails Maintenance
    • Clean Ups
    • ScoutProjects
    • noelTaylor
  • ENJOY
    • Calendar
    • Photos
    • GreenHerons
    • Birding
    • Trail Maps
    • coyotes
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
    • neighborhood
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo >
      • archive
    • presidentReport-Jan-21
    • Volunteer Spotlight
    • newsletters
    • PastEvents >
      • Halloween-24
      • brightwoodDay-24
      • Halloween-23
      • halloween-22
      • PleinAirPainting
      • brightwoodDay-23
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • JPL blog
  • Home
  • PRESERVE & RESTORE
    • Ecology >
      • RutgersSiteVisit
      • Ponds
      • Reforestation
    • Invasive Species
    • NativePlants
    • Trails Maintenance
    • Clean Ups
    • ScoutProjects
    • noelTaylor
  • ENJOY
    • Calendar
    • Photos
    • GreenHerons
    • Birding
    • Trail Maps
    • coyotes
  • B W Kids
    • Nature Detectives - the latest news
  • History
    • neighborhood
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Chuan-Chu Chou Blog
    • Perspectives on the Park
    • MemberInfo >
      • archive
    • presidentReport-Jan-21
    • Volunteer Spotlight
    • newsletters
    • PastEvents >
      • Halloween-24
      • brightwoodDay-24
      • Halloween-23
      • halloween-22
      • PleinAirPainting
      • brightwoodDay-23
  • Shop
  • JOIN
  • JPL blog
Picture

Aina & Jordan Cladopulos

1128 Fanwood Avenue

Aina Nickola, from Finland, and Jordan Cladopulos, from Greece, married in 1922 and moved to Fanwood Avenue.
1128 FANWOOD AVE​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture
The white house in the background was the home of Aina and Jordon Cladopulos at 1128 Fanwood Avenue.
Aina Nickola arrived in New York City from Finland in 1904.  Jordan Cladopulos arrived from Greece to New York in 1915.  They married in 1922 and purchased two lots on Fanwood Avenue in Turkey Swamp.

They had a house built and had a son, John Jordan, in 1923.

Jordan found work in various jobs as a painter, candymaker, peanut peddlar, and eventually found steady work as a laborer in a Foundry. John only completed 8th grade in his education; he left home sometime after 1940. 

Not much is known about the Cladopulos family.  What is documented is an unexplained group of individual land purchases by Jordan Cladopulos, Moses Hines, and Hunter Bullock, all residents of Turkey Swamp, in 1929.  What is consistent about the purchases is that they all occurred in the same year, were all for multiple lots, all bought from one seller, and the lots were in the swampy area of the neighborhood.  I suspect that the three men may have planned to raise farm livestock there, as Hunter Bullock would be arrested a few years later by Westfield police for keeping and raising pigs.   

Jordan and Aina both died in 1962 before the acquisition plans by the Town were confirmed.  John Cladopulos, their son, sold the property to the Town of Westfield in 1965. 

If you walk along Fanwood Avenue today in the Park, you can see the remnant of the masonry wall Jordan built along the western edge of his home.

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

Email
Donate

BECOME A MEMBER!
We'd love to have you join us!