Fairytale Franklin Lakes Cottage On Pond For Sale For First Time In Century

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — The Bergen County town of Franklin Lakes does, indeed, have lakes — but not every family gets to live along the water. For the first time, a cottage on a local pond — built by a wealthy family in 1930 — is being offered publicly for sale.

"This home has never been on the market publicly," said Matthew De Fede, the owner of Realty Executives Elite Homes. "It was built as a lakefront cottage by a wealthy NYC family to use as a lakefront home."

The three-bedroom home, which has 2.5 baths and a stone fireplace, overlooks Conrad's Pond.

The pond was named for Willard Conrad, considered a founding father of town, who lived in Franklin Lakes from 1932 until his death in 1993, according to Conrad's obituary. De Fede said he was unsure whether it was Conrad's family who built the home.

But De Fede knows one thing: "This cottage is brimming with so much charm and warmth."

The home includes a brook flowing down to the dock, "where the blue heron can be seen nesting on the pond along with the turtles," he said. "A great place for yoga or morning tea! There is opportunity to expand and customize and enjoy what Franklin lakes as to offer."

He noted, "Conrad Pond is one of those old-school Franklin Lakes spots that feels like 'North Jersey before North Jersey got built out.' "

The 1,000-square-foot home, located on Colonial Road, is offered for sale at $749,000. See its listing here.

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