I got an email a few days ago from one of our collective friends and a potential key to revealing our history:
I recently visited my mom and read the article in the Ewing Observer. I can verify that my dad, Alexander Savonick, did indeed name the streets in Hillwood Manor after his family: Alexander (Drive), my mom Alice (Way), my sister Nancy(Lane), my brother Tom (Thomas Place) and me — Susan (Drive). He named Bakun Way after his good friend Marty Bakun. The rest of the streets up the hill were named by his associates Herb Moore and Bob Lang. He started building [Hillwood Manor] around 1952 on farm land that he purchased from Mr Drake and Mr Snook. I still hold Hillwood Manor dear to my heart — even though I [now live elsewhere]. Thank you Carol (Susan) Savonick Petruska
I was touched by the message and decided to write Carol back:
Carol, I’d really like to share your story on the blog and our group, if that’s all right with you. I’ll make sure to keep the details of where you live and your email private, but I think we’d all love to know these details are facts rather than the relative rumor we have right now. Would you mind?
For instance, for starters, I think we’d all like to know how Bakun is properly pronounced. Some say ‘Bacon’ and some say ‘Bakoon’ Others, usually who live on the street say ‘Bocken’ which is the supposed ‘right’ way. Can you clarify?
Thanks so much for your kind email – we all hold Hillwood Manor dear to our hearts too, and have a great debt of gratitude to your family for the wonderful places that we all live.
John LeMasney, Hillwood Manor Community Group Coordinator.
Carol was gracious in her response:
I have no problem with sharing the info. I grew up in the 50’s and early 60’s on Nancy Lane. My dad used to have a water company there that supplied well water (long gone) to the neighborhood and I used to read the water meters for my dad. I recognize the Kalafut’s name as there were 2 families in Hillwood Manor — one on the corner of Nancy Lane and Alexander Drive and one on Bakun Way..(pronounced Bah {as in sheep} and kun rhymes with gun). Definitely not Bacon. I will be in Ewing the first of April – maybe I can get to meet some of the neighborhood. Thanks for letting me “tell my tale”. Carol
