March 10 2011

Growing up in the 60's and 70's was so different than it is for kids today.  Wearing seat belts in the car was a non issue, playing happened outdoors not in front of computers and parents didn't worry about their children being preyed upon by predators. Oh yeah, and we all knew our neighbors.

Around the summer of '72 mom allowed me to ride my bike to visit my granparents in Nutley.  I lived in Belleville then.  Being the explorer that I was, the bike ride took much longer than mom anticipated but I did arrive alive and safe.  The longer than expected ride was all because I found a little neighborhood, a little niche that was fascinating to me then and still is today.

My very first observation of Erie Place was the lack of sidewalks.  This quaint area has just a handful of homes. 

This area seems to be one of the earlier communities in town and I would assume it is rich in history.

The Nutley Little Theater.  It seems to have all the designs of a one time barn.

The yard to this home faces out onto Erie Place but because this street has no traffic at all, privacy seems to not be an issue for this homeowner.  What actually caught my eye is the quirkiness of the tall pole with chains hanging down.

A very rural look for a suburban town.  This house has some nice lines.  Growing a lawn in front of this house is probably impossible because this is a very shady street during the summer.

This house has lots of curiosities.  I like this fence because it's not vinyl, an all too common site.  And who has a BBQ pit these days?  Very cool.......

I still can't figure out if this is a recirculating water feature or some quirky designed rain spout.  Once the construction work is done, I imagine this house will be very nice.

Just around the corner from Erie Pl I found this patriotic looking gem.

About 13 years ago I was looking to buy a house in this very area of Erie Pl..  I decided against it because this area is flood prone.  This is a very nice and well maintained house.  More in line with what I like in a home as far as size and style.

On the very top of this steep hill are the railroad tracks.  Rarely used but occasionally freight trains do pass through at a very slow pace.

Friends that have come to visit me in town always ask if these arches are an entrance to an exclusive community.  Of course the answer is "no" but I can understand the logic to such a question.  The homes in that area are to me, just part of "Nutleys Best Kept Secret". 

March 9 2011

.....and yesterday's theme continues.  I have to admit while taking these pictures I found myself wishing that the park offered more colors of the spring season, but it is still early March.  Being that the winter snow has finally melted, revealed are the decayed leaves of another season, fall.  March is known for her winds so hopefully mother nature will do her part and rid us of this reminder.

Considering the age of these brownstone steps, they are in remarkable condition.  Although the steps have been patched with concrete, the workmanship can still be appreciated.

March 8 2011

I was very surprised by the warmth of the sun today so I was inspired to take a walk through almost the entire park system today.  Although the evenings still have the feel of winter, during the day signs of spring are beginning to show.  Robins are all over poking through the warm soil hungry for worms and the forsythia's are beginning to show a little bit of color.  Nice.

The theme I have going here today are the "Steps to Somewhere".  There are so many brownstone, concrete, stone stairs and walls throughout the park that I think go unnoticed and under appreciated.

Interesting ramp leading up to a staircase.

Looking under Center Street.

At first I began climbing these irregular steps only to realize that these rain gutters left and right of the steps were much easier to walk on.  I guess they served their purpose at one time.

I sat on these very steps in the mid 70's to have my very first cigarette.

Although not stairs, I had to snap this especially with all the rain we had lately.

An old timer in town once told me a photoshoot for Salem cigarettes happen in this very spot.  Back then this area had very mature willow trees that hung over the water bank.

I really like the look of filedstone.  The shade is actually from 2 very large holly trees.

Three bridges in this area.  The recent rain left this area a muddy mess.

Even with all the rain we had, the water remains muddy.  I imagine this must have been a fountain many years ago.  How cool would it be to see this thing action again?

The workmanship here is amazing.  Perhaps one of my favorites.

Different angle of the same picture above.  This was made to last!

Part of the above 2 pictures.  I guess you parked your butt here to contemplate the climb up.  This is a really cool seat!