The Radcliffe Section of Nutley

The area called Radcliffe is the former Lambaise Farm one of the last biggest land purchases in Nutley,

Paul Radcliffe came to Nutley in 1920 when the population was 9,431, and upon his retirement as superintendent of schools the town had grown beyond 21,000. During his 14-year reign, Radcliffe spent nearly $2 million on school buildings doubling student capacity. He built additions for all four elementary schools, an addition on Park school and created the junior high.

Radcliffe was a self-made educator who began his career in a one-room school at Raven Rock, Pa., near Doylestown where he was born in 1875. At 19, he gave up teaching and worked his way through schools to Columbia University where he earned his Master's. Before coming to Nutley, he worked in public schools in Flemington and Red Bank, both in New Jersey.

In 1936 the Park Oval Association was formed under Radcliffe as president and F.G. Simmons as vice president proceeded to fence in and improve the stadium with surrounding Japanese cherry trees. The group sold bonds which were repaid from game revenue. The Oval stadium, fenced in and planted, was completed and turned over by the association to the school board at the Thanksgiving Day game with Kearny in 1937. It had cost $16,500 in cash.

Radcliffe died at home on Jan. 14, 1947. A few years later, the board of education began construction on the $600,000 Radcliffe School on Bloomfield Avenue. The one-story building with 12 larger-than usual classrooms was set to accommodate 400 pupils while relieving overcrowding at Spring Garden and Lincoln schools. It opened in 1955.

Source:

Nutley Notables - The Men and Women Who Made a Memorable Impact on Our Home Town, Nutley, New Jersey By Anthony Buccino