Teaneck and Bergen County residents might recognize the name William DeGraw. In 1892, Mr. DeGraw — the man who was responsible for the trolley line that connected Fort Lee to Hackensack — built a house at the intersection of Teaneck Road and Fort Lee Road. (Fort Lee Road was later renamed DeGraw Avenue.)
In the early 1900s, the DeGraw family sold the home to Max Blochwitz. Some time between 1910 and 1915, Mr. Blochwitz gave us the name "Bright Side Manor" and began caring for people with epilepsy.
In the 1930s, the home was advertised as a place "for the treatment and care of incurables, chronic diseases, and general invalidism."
In 1955, Jesse and Pearl Wallace took over operations at Bright Side. In 1960, they added a one-story wing that allowed them to convert the building into a nursing home. A 1960 article by Mildred Taylor, published in The Sunday Sun, wrote that "the home, as spic and span as the most modern hospital, affords pleasant surroundings for 55 patients ranging in age from 48 to 99."
In 1990, Geriatric Services, Inc., saw potential and acquired the facility, which, at that time, was owned and operated as a residential health care facility by World for Christ Crusade. Geriatric Services, Inc., immediately reached out to the community for support and involvement. With tremendous volunteer and in-kind support, along with grants and private contributions, Bright Side Manor raised the $5 million necessary to transform itself into a modern, clean, and cheerful home. These renovations made Bright Side Manor eligible for licensure as an assisted living facility by the Department of Health and Senior Services. After our 2002 renovation, we went from caring for 50 residents to caring for 65 residents.
Today, that house that Mr. DeGraw built still stands. The sign on the front lawn reads "Bright Side Manor." And inside, older adults live comfortably and are well cared for, and their families don’t have to worry about them missing a meal, a dose of medication, or a mortgage payment.
Each resident has a unique story. And it is that diversity of culture, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status — combined with Bright Side Manor's rich history — that makes our community equally unique.
We're proud to say we're the only place of our kind in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Teaneck, NJ 07666
