Halcyon Park, Bloomfield, New Jersey

About

Halcyon Park is an unincorporated community that was developed by Reverend Cyrus Kemper Capron in Bloomfield, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, in 1895 as a planned community of homes with trees and shrubs, picturesque cottages, ponds and common grounds to be maintained by a caretaker and gardener. It is believed that Halcyon Park was inspired by Llewellyn Park, the first planned garden suburb about three miles away. Capron envisioned a private residential park for individuals of moderate means to offer all the advantages of the city (proximity to two railroads and a trolley for access to Newark and New York City, water, gas, sewer and paved streets) and the country (trees, ponds, picturesque landscape). The original plan laid out 182 lots and common grounds to include a club house and tennis courts for common use by a lot-owners association. The Club House contained a bowling alley, billiard table, library and stage. The common grounds included a gate house, a conservatory, and two ponds. The land was developed with water, sewer and gas lines and paved streets, innovative at the time.

In the early 1900s most of the lots remained vacant. Development was halted in 1907 due to the Financial panic of 1907. The common properties fell into disrepair and the Clubhouse burned down in 1910. Capron declared bankruptcy.