“Cliff Notes” is the visitors’ letter for the Palisades Interstate Park in New Jersey. Published occasionally since 1998, each issue has featured a story about the human or natural history of the Palisades. Click the button above for more articles!
A Door to the Past
by Dan Kurela | June 2025
Reconstructing this former 1951 Comfort Station to become an Interpretive Ranger Station required purchase of a new or recycled front door. A new door did not seem to fit the spirit of the Park so an online search for a reclaimed door ensued.
Following three weeks of searching, THE DOOR appeared...
It had only been listed for ten hours without price, location, or history — only a phone number. My call resulted in a visit to an Englewood, NJ location the following morning and a purchase. I removed not only the door but the hardware and door frame from this 150’x100’ elegant and ornate two story stable/carriage house. Workers were salvaging parts of the structure scheduled to be demolished by new owners. Three days following my removal of the door the historic building was gone.
But no one seemed to know the history of 250 Walnut Street in Englewood...
This property was part of a 40-50 acre estate of J. Wyman Jones (1822-1904), a New York lawyer. Health issues prompted relinquishing his practice for outdoor activities. In 1858, a former client George F. Hopkins invited him to accompany him on a project he was engaged in, surveying a new route for the Northern
Railroad of New Jersey, organized by John Van Brunt and Thomas W. Demarest. He became enthralled with the area, saw the potential for dramatic growth with a new rail line and set about that summer to acquire property rights from the original owners. By the autumn of that year, he had control of practically the land that eventually became the Village of Englewood.
He moved his family to the area in 1859 and in meetings held with friends and residents in Van Brunt and Walters’ carpentry shop discussed what to call this area. “Paliscene” and “Brayton” were considered but the group adopted “Englewood,” Jones’ original proposal. Following laying out named streets and mapping the area the group registered Englewood in the County Seat of Hackensack in August 1859. Many view Englewood as one of the first planned suburban communities in the United States.
During the 1860’s Mr. Jones built a main house, a gatehouse, a carriage house/stable, and greenhouse all in an opulent and spectacular style. This was the horse and buggy era and the Civil War was raging. He became President of the St. Joseph Lead Company (Missouri) in 1865 and brought the company from speculation to one of the largest lead producers in the country. He pioneered in the use of diamond drilling operations, and treated his workers fairly with a chief concern to aid in efforts resulting in their pleasure, and their moral and physical welfare. A rarity during that age!
Mr. Jones was born in New Hampshire, and had a home in Bolton, Massachusetts, and a 300 acre winter home in Thomasville, Georgia. The “Winter Resort of the South was where in 1899 President McKinley vacationed with Mr. Jones. Majority of the Englewood estate was sold by Emily L. Jones (widow) in November, 1926.
Editor's Note: Now this door gets a second life at State Line Lookout! The Interpretive Ranger Station looks fantastic with this grand door, and a strong connection to local history. We thank Dan for this article and his continued efforts to make this park a great place. Come on by to see it in person. ~ Francesca Costa