$90,000 John List House in Westfield, New Jersey

The John List house, known as Breeze Knoll, stands as one of America’s most notorious residential properties. Located at 431 Hillside Avenue in Westfield, New Jersey, this 19-room Georgian-style mansion became the center of a tragic story that shocked the nation. On November 9, 1971, John Emil List committed an unthinkable crime that would forever change the property’s history. The house, valued at $90,000 in 1971, was considered the most expensive residence in the neighborhood at the time.

Who Was John List?

John Emil List was an accountant and family man who lived with his mother, wife, and three children in the sprawling Breeze Knoll mansion. He appeared to be an affluent and respected member of the Westfield community. However, beneath this facade lay a troubled individual facing financial difficulties and personal struggles.

List worked as an accountant but had lost his job, keeping this secret from his family while pretending to go to work each day. The mounting pressure of maintaining their lifestyle and the expensive upkeep of their 19-room mansion eventually led to devastating consequences.

The family’s life in Westfield seemed perfect from the outside, with their children attending local schools and the family actively participating in church activities. However, List’s strict religious beliefs and controlling nature created tension within the household.

The Tragic Events at Breeze Knoll

On that fateful day in November 1971, List methodically murdered his wife Helen, 46; his daughter Patricia, 16; his sons Frederick, 13, and John Jr., 15; and his mother Alma, 84. After the murders, he cleaned the crime scene, wrote detailed letters explaining his actions, and disappeared.

The bodies weren’t discovered for nearly a month, as List had carefully planned his escape. He had even stopped milk and mail delivery and told the children’s schools they would be visiting their grandmother in North Carolina.

The case remained unsolved for 18 years until List was finally captured in 1989 after the television show “America’s Most Wanted” featured his story. He had been living under the alias Robert Clark in Virginia.

Features of Breeze Knoll Mansion

The List house boasted numerous impressive features:

Main Floor Features

1. Grand Entrance Hall

• Double-height ceiling reaching 20 feet, crowned with a $15,000 Austrian crystal chandelier
• Handcrafted mahogany staircase featuring intricate Victorian-era carvings and brass fixtures
• Imported Italian black and white marble flooring laid in a classic checkerboard pattern
• Hand-carved oak wainscoting running 4 feet high along all walls
• Cedar-lined coat closet with brass hooks and built-in shoe storage
• Powder room with original 1920s fixtures and hand-painted wallpaper

2. Signature Ballroom

• Sprawling 1,000 square feet of entertainment space with 15-foot ceilings
• Centerpiece Tiffany stained glass skylight measuring 12×15 feet, valued at $100,000 in 1971
• Four matching Victorian-era crystal chandeliers, each weighing 75 pounds
• Quarter-sawn oak herringbone floors with mahogany inlay borders
• Six built-in window seats with hidden storage beneath
• Eight sets of 10-foot French doors leading to a wraparound stone terrace

3. Formal Living Spaces

• Two 400-square-foot sitting rooms connected by pocket doors
• Hand-carved Italian Carrara marble fireplaces with original brass fittings
• 12-foot coffered ceilings with hand-painted details
• Triple-bay windows with custom-made window seats and storage
• Floor-to-ceiling mahogany bookcases with glass-fronted cabinets
• Original brass wall sconces with hand-blown glass shades

4. Dining Room

• 600 square feet of formal dining space
• Brazilian cherry wood paneling with hand-carved details
• Two wall-length china cabinets with beveled glass doors
• 1920s Waterford crystal chandelier worth $25,000
• 100-square-foot butler’s pantry with copper sink and dumbwaiter

Second Floor Features

1. Master Suite

• 800-square-foot private sanctuary
• Separate 200-square-foot sitting room with fireplace
• 150-square-foot walk-in closet with cedar lining
• Marble bathroom featuring original claw-foot tub and separate shower
• Working fireplace with original Victorian mantle
• Three large windows overlooking the 2-acre front gardens

House Design and Style

The Breeze Knoll mansion showcased classic Georgian-style architecture, perched atop the highest hill in Westfield. Built in the Victorian era, the house represented the pinnacle of luxury living in suburban New Jersey.

The exterior featured symmetrical design elements typical of Georgian architecture, with red brick walls and white trim work. Large windows lined each floor, allowing natural light to flood the interior spaces. The grand entrance featured a columned portico, leading to heavy wooden double doors.

Multiple chimneys served the home’s marble fireplaces, adding both function and architectural interest to the roofline. The property’s elevated position made it a landmark in the Westfield community, visible from several blocks away.

Interior Design & Highlights

The interior of the List house showcased the wealth and social status of its owners. The crown jewel was undoubtedly the ballroom, featuring a magnificent Tiffany stained glass skylight that casts colorful patterns across the room when sunlight streamed through.

The formal living spaces included multiple sitting rooms, each with a marble fireplace. Dark wood paneling and ornate moldings decorated the walls, while crystal chandeliers hung from elaborately decorated ceilings.

The kitchen and service areas reflected the era’s separation between family spaces and servant quarters. A butler’s pantry connected the formal dining room to the kitchen, with built-in cabinets for storing fine china and silverware.

Outdoor House Spaces

The Breeze Knoll property included extensive grounds that matched the grandeur of the house. Mature trees lined the long driveway leading up to the mansion, creating a sense of privacy and exclusivity.

Formal gardens surrounded the house, with manicured lawns and carefully planned landscaping. Stone pathways wound through the grounds, connecting various outdoor sitting areas and garden features.

A circular driveway in front of the main entrance allowed for easy access and added to the property’s impressive approach. The elevated position of the house offered sweeping views of the surrounding Westfield neighborhood.

Market Value and Comparisons

Other Houses Associated with John List

Virginia Residence

After fleeing Westfield, List lived under the alias Bob Clark in Midlothian, Virginia. In February 1988, he and his second wife moved to a house in the Brandermill neighborhood. This modest home stood in stark contrast to the grandeur of Breeze Knoll.

Michigan Connection

Before his capture, List also spent time in Bay City, Michigan, though specific details about his residence there remain limited. His time in Michigan represents another chapter in his 18 years as a fugitive.

Conclusion

The John List house, Breeze Knoll, remains a powerful symbol in American true crime history. Though the mansion no longer stands, having been destroyed by fire in 1972, its story continues to captivate people’s attention. The property’s value of $90,000 in 1971 would translate to approximately $600,000 in today’s money, showing the significant worth of this Westfield, New Jersey estate.

The tragic events that occurred at 431 Hillside Avenue forever changed the peaceful suburban town of Westfield. Today, the property serves as a reminder of how a beautiful home can hide dark secrets, and how the real estate market often carries the weight of historical events.

John Emil List died in prison in 2008, but the story of his house continues to draw interest from true crime enthusiasts and local historians alike. The loss of Breeze Knoll mansion to fire somehow serves as a fitting end to this tragic chapter in New Jersey history.

Sources: Historical records, newspaper archives, court documents, real estate records, and local historical society documents have been used to compile this comprehensive article about the John List house.