>The character of Ridgewood changed when they subdivided the property across from the high school at what used to be known as the Mastin House and the windmill was torn down
For me, the character of Ridgewood changed when they subdivided the property across from the high school at what used to be known as the Mastin House. The windmill was torn down, the put up the stone house to the south of the Mastin house and then, a few years ago, the house at the corner property on Brookside and E.Ridgewood. It’s a beautiful house but the promise that sledding would be allowed was neutralized by the huge retaining was that destroyed the hill and the homewoner put up mature trees and other plantings which completely block the view of the Brook and the hill. Not saying I would not have done the same thing if I was a newbie but . . . I’m just sayin’
The sight of the Mastin house standing majestically above the Brook was Ridgewood to me.
Wasn’t it though? A wonderful windmill it was too. In the late 90’s it was only 1 of 4 of its kind left standing in NJ. Years ago, the snow covered hill swept laughing students perilously close to the brook while seated in their lunch trays.
Now, the folks who live there can only imagine what it might have been like. As for the new neighbor to the north, who planted mature pines, he was only trying to add value to his home. After all, who wants to look out onto an artificial lawn in front of the high school?
I think the northern neighbor did a good job with landscaping and it looks terrific however, when they did the landscaping, there was no artificial turf. I would have done the same thing as the homeowner; my point was it blocked the view of the hill and the brook and the large retaining wall took away the hill.
I once wound up in the brook trying to stop my child’s speeding sled as it came down the hill far to fast!
