Utopia, New Jersey: Travels in the Nearest Eden

by Perdita Buchan

Winner of the 2008 Honor Book by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities

Utopia. New Jersey. For most people—even the most satisfied New Jersey residents—these words hardly belong in the same sentence. Yet, unbeknown to many, history shows that the state has been a favorite location for utopian experiments for more than a century. Thanks to its location between New York and Philadelphia and its affordable land, it became an ideal proving ground where philosophical and philanthropical organizations and individuals could test their utopian theories.

In this intriguing look at this little-known side of New Jersey, Perdita Buchan explores eight of these communities. Adopting a wide definition of the term utopia —broadening it to include experimental living arrangements with a variety of missions—Buchan explains that what the founders of each of these colonies had in common was the goal of improving life, at least as they saw it. In every other way, the communities varied greatly, ranging from a cooperative colony in Englewood founded by Upton Sinclair, to an anarchist village in Piscataway centered on an educational experiment, to the fascinating Physical Culture City in Spotswood, where drugs, tobacco, and corsets were banned, but where nudity was widespread. Despite their grand intentions, all but one of the utopias—a single-tax colony in Berkeley Heights—failed to survive. But Buchan shows how each of them left a legacy of much more than the buildings or street names that remain today—legacies that are inspiring, surprising, and often outright quirky.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2007

About the author

Perdita Buchan was born in England and came to America as a child. She grew up in Philadelphia and has since lived in London, Florence, Italy, New York and, for many years, New England (Vermont and Massachusetts). She now lives on the Jersey shore. Her essays and short stories have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, House Beautiful, Family Circle and New Jersey Monthly. Her work has appeared in anthologies, including the O. Henry Prize Stories, and her nonfiction book, Utopia, New Jersey, was named an Honor book by The New Jersey Council On The Humanities.

Interests: myth, fairy tale, carousels, horses, utopian communities, classical music, especially piano, England, the Pre Raphaelite/Arts and Crafts Movement, Italy, Romania, the Roma

Reviews

[alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did its job and was a comprehensive history of Utopian experiments across New Jersey (can't believe there were so many, but appreciated how the author pulled together the sociological and economic conditions that supported this). But, naturally, was a bit dry and dense in details. Wish it focused more on the philosophies behind these experiments themselves, in some chapters more than others. But an informative and, at times very interesting, read.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utopia, New Jersey looks at 8 different utopian colonies in the state. Most of these are failed colonies, with one still hanging on but slowly dying. The founders had good ideas, but they met with different problems while trying to implement them. The colonies started out as delightful and charming, attracting new members that had their own ideas how to 'improve' things, and ultimately the colonies lost their original delight and charm. I couldn't help but draw this analogy to the many foreigners (not all) that want to live in delightful and charming America, but they bring their own culture and religion and ultimately make this country less delightful and charming.

[Mary Timbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very informative book about a little known facet of New Jersey history--the utopian colonies that sprang up in the state in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Perdita Buchan reveals the stories of Helicon House, Upton Sinclair's utopian experiment in Englewood, and seven other settlements espousing everything from physical fitness and nudism to anarchism and Jewish agriculture. It's an interesting trip, full of juicy anecdotes and unknown stories.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really fascinating look at 8 experimental utopian communities in New Jersey. Who knew Upton Sinclair started one (although, brief) in Englewood? And that there was an anarchist community in Piscataway (Stelton)? Filled with interesting stories and little known sides of NJ.