Newsletter
Volume 2, Number 4
September/October 1996
The Brewmeister Speaks
Rick Gontarek loves beer. A frequent lecturer on the topic, and a microbiologist with a Ph.d from Johns Hopkins University, he also knows how the suds are made, and why some beers taste better than others. On Saturday, October 5, at 4:00 p.m., Rick will l let us in on the secrets of beer-making at the very best possible location?Hoboken?s own micro-brewery, Hoboken Brewing Company, 1125 Hudson Street.
Rick will be joined by Mile Square?s brew master, who will provide a tour of the factory?newly outfitted with selected artifacts from the Hoboken Historical Museum?s permanent collection, including beer bottles from Hoboken breweries.
This Oktoberfest lecture is free to members; $3.00 for non-members. Samples of the local hops will be provided.
A Star is Forged
A star-shaped plaque, designed by artist and Museum trustee McKevin Shaughnessy to commemorate the birthplace of Frank Sinatra, is being cast in bronze this month by the West Virginia foundry Art in Bronze. Once cast, the plaque will be shipped back to Ho Hoboken for installation at Old Blue Eyes? place of birth, 415 Monroe Street.
The idea for the plaque was first put forward about a year ago. The Museum began raising funds by selling our fabulous blue-and-black Sinatra T-shirts. Slowly, and steadily, we put aside money for the project. But two months ago, the fabrication of the star was assured, when local businessman Ed Shirak (author of Our Way) made his generous donation, covering the cost of the copper-and-tin blending process known as bronze casting.
Coinciding with Mr. Shirak?s donation was the conclusion of our Star Contest, in which we asked people to choose the few words we would place under Frank?s name, to sum up his career. Some suggested ?Chairman of the Board,? others ?Entertainer? or ?Old Blue Eyes.? But the phrase we liked best was ?The Voice,? chosen by Mike Conti, a born and raised Hobokenite, Museum member?and now, winner of the Sinatra Star contest.
With McKevin?s design in the hands of the metalsmiths, the Museum moved on to the next stages: After we met with Mayor Anthony Russo and Director of Public Works Tim Calligy, the City agreed to contribute the necessary concrete and masonry work to secure the plaque in the sidewalk. And property owners Bobby Ferrante and Frank Palmisano gave their all-important go-ahead for the installation.
Museum trustees, members, and all the people who made the Sinatra Star possible will be having a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 415 Monroe on a Sunday in mid- to late October. Look for our announcement in the local press or call the Hoboken Grapevine at 222-1212 for an update.
Student Rep Gets Scholarship
The Hoboken Historical Museum s student representative, Ariana Matos, a graduate of the Brandt School, has just advised us that she will be attending Hoboken s Academy of the Sacred Heart, on a full scholarship. Congratulations Ariana!
Students can send their ideas for history projects to Ariana c/o the Hoboken Historical Museum, P.O. Box 707, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Feasts and Festivals
The Hoboken Historical Museum and its many enthusiastic volunteers made quite a showing at two of Hoboken s biggest summer festivals. For St. Ann s 86th Festival in late July, we installed a slide projector in our tent (lined with our fabulous T-shirts) a and shared with festival-goers images and stories of Hoboken?s past. We also brought out the pressed copper City Hall eagles, recently removed from their lofty perches for restoration. For the entire week of the Festival, passersby were invited to come up
with names for the two statues; the winner will get Museum benefits and some items from our gift shop.
Earlier in the month, the Museum participated in the Puerto Rican Day Festival, giving out historical information, displaying the City Hall eagles, and talking with Hobokenites about the Museum?s many projects.
Our thanks go to the volunteers who helped bring the Museum out to the community. For St. Ann s Festival: Jeanne Valentin (who was there every night), McKevin Shaughnessy, Barbara Lippman, John DePalma, Charles Lee, Maureen Alex, Bob Foster, Marcia Herman Herman, Debra Kindervatter, and Marie Luizzi. For the Puerto Rican Day Festival: McKevin Shaughnessy, Holly Metz, and Bob Foster.
We are grateful, too, to St. Ann?s Festival chairwoman Marie Totaro, St. Ann?s Public Relations Chairman Maurice Fitzgibbons, and Hispanic Affairs Director Tom Oliveri and his staff, for making our participation in these festivals so enjoyable.
Donations
The Museum welcomes donations of Hoboken-related artifacts to add to its permanent collection. The following is a list of recent gifts.
Two 8" x 10" color copy prints of Hoboken scenes on the west side of Hoboken, circa 1940. Donated by Michele Russo.
Book, The Indians of New Jersey, Dicken Among the Lenapes by M.R. Harrington. Donated by Anna Geldon.
Purchases
The Museum also makes purchases, including equipment for our events, books, and items from Hoboken s past, to add to our permanent collection. Recently, we purchased the following items:
Four 8" x 10" black and white contemporary prints from original negatives, circa 1910, showing the Lackawanna train and ferry terminal with trolley routes.
One-inch pin-back button advertising the Continental Hotel in Hoboken, N.J.
Eight postcards of Hoboken:
Hudson Street from Third, published by Fred W. Olmesdahl, Hoboken, NJ., circa 1910.
Trolley Terminal, Hoboken, N.J., circa 1905.
The Chapel, U.S.A. Embarkation Hospital No.1, Hoboken, N.J., circa 1919.
Deutscher Club, Hoboken, N.J., circa 1910.
Statue of Liberty, Immigration Depot and Continental Hotel, Hoboken, N.J., circa 1907.
Campus of Stevens Institute, Hoboken, N.J., circa 1910.
Events
If you d like to share a happening of interest to other Museum newsletter readers, send a short notice with all the pertinents, along with photo or art if available, to the Hoboken Historical Museum Newsletter, P.O. Box 707, Hoboken, NJ 07030, and we ll p post it in the next issue, scheduled for mailing in early November.
Please note events listed are subject to change. To avoid disappointment or rage call the contact number to confirm the event.
September
Saturday, September 7 Slide lecture by Hoboken Historical Museum president, Bob Foster at the New Jersey Historical Society, 230 Broadway, Newark. A visual tour of Hoboken?past and present will be presented. 10 a.m. For more information call 483-3939.
Sunday, September 8 Music Among Friends Coffeehouse at the United Synagogue of Hoboken, 115 Park Ave (between 1st and 2nd Streets). Evenings begin at 6 p.m. with 5 two-song open mike slots (sign up at 5:30 p.m.) followed by two featured folk musicians: Hugh Blumenfeld and Linda Sharar. Admission: $5, Seniors: $2, Under 12: Free. Refreshments available. For more information call 659-6300.
Wednesday, September 11 Board Meeting of the Hoboken Historical Museum, City Hall. 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Saturday, September 14 Flea Market sponsored by the Hudson School. Church Square Park. 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Free. Call 656-8335 for more information.
Sunday, September 15 Hoboken Art & Music Festival, sponsored by the City of Hoboken, 11 a.m.?6 p.m. on Washington Street from Newark Street to 7th Street. Art, crafts, photography, music, food, and historical exhibits. The Hoboken Historical Museum will be there. Visit our table and say hello. For more information call 420-2207.
Saturday, September 28 Flea Market sponsored by the O.L.G. Home School Association. Church Square Park. 10 a.m.?4 p.m. Free. For more information call 659-0369.
October
Saturday, October 5 The Secrets of Beer-making. Lecture presented by Dr. Richard Gontarek, sponsored by the Hoboken Historical Museum at Hoboken Brewing Company, 1125 Hudson Street. 4 p.m. Free to HHM members. $3 for non-members. For more info call
656-2240. See story on page 1.
Sunday, October 13 Music Among Friends Coffeehouse at the United Synagogue of Hoboken, 115 Park Ave (between 1st and 2nd Streets). Evenings begin at 6 p.m. with 5 two-song open mike slots (sign up at 5:30 p.m.) followed by two featured folk musicians: Kate Jacobs and Rich Deans. Admission: $5, Seniors: $2, Under 12: Free. Refreshments available. For more information call 659-6300.
Sunday, October 20 Hoboken Artists Studio Tour. This city-wide self-guided tour features more than 100 artists. 12 noon?6 p.m. For more information call 420-2207.
Saturday, October 26 The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John the Baptist, Hoboken, presents Oktoberfest in Church Square Park. German dancers, refreshments. 10 a.m. 4 p.m. The Museum will be there, so visit our table. Vendors call 656-7834; for genera general information call the Hoboken Grapevine 222-1212.
Ongoing & Upcoming
Events
The Hoboken Historical Museum presents Play Ball! The Making of a National Pastime, an exhibition focusing on New Jersey?s contributions to baseball, and featuring innovators such as Alexander Cartwright, Hoboken pitcher Nat ?Iron Man? Hicks, and Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball?s color barrier in Jersey City?s Roosevelt Stadium. First and second floors of City Hall, weekdays 8:30 a.m.?4:30 p.m. Free.
Uptown Annex of the Hoboken Historical Museum, at Hoboken Brewing Company, 1125 Hudson Street, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.?5 p.m. Selected artifacts from the Museum?s permanent collection. For more information about visiting the brewery call 792-BEER.
The Elysian Photo Club meets every other Sunday at 5 p.m. at Hoboken s Barnes & Noble. Newcomers are welcome. Please bring work! For more info, call Joan Cohen at 792-7611.
The Hoboken Harriers Running Club offers running meets every day of the week. Call Allan Hoffman at 222-8464 or Susan Bowman at 798-4932.
Projected Images Film Series Tues. & Wed.: September 3 & 4 Moll Flanders; September 10 & 11 Young Poisoner?s Handbook; September 17 & 18 L?america; September 24 & 25 The Umbrellas of Cherbourg; October 1 & 2 I Shot Andy Warhol; October 8 & 9 Cold Comfort Farm; October 15 & 16 The World of Apu; October 22 & 23 Two Friends; October 29 & 30 Nadja. The Shannon Lounge, First St. between Washington & Bloomfield in Hoboken. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Movie begins at 8 p.m. $5. Call 217-4077 for updates.
Projected Images Film Series Saturday, October 5 at 8 p.m. & Sunday, October 6 at 6 p.m. The Strange Animation of Ladislaw Starewicz, pioneer of stop-action animation, at Demarest School, 4th and Garden Streets in Hoboken. Live musical accompaniment by Brian Dewan, hosted and programmed by Irwin Chusid. Films: The Scarecrow, The Mascot; Town Rat, Country Rat; Frogland; The Cameraman?s Revenge. 1921?1926. $10. Call 217-4077 for updates.
Got time, talents, special skills to share?
The following Museum committees welcome additional people power: Exhibitions: McKevin Shaughnessy, 659-6154; Fascinating Facts: Charles Lee, 792-1884; Internet: Steve Kilnisan, 659-0802; Lecture: Bob Foster, 656-2240; Magazine: Lenny Luizzi, Sr., 420-1803 420-1803; Newsletter: Ciorsdan Conran, 222-7924; Permanent Site: Debra Kindervatter, 798-8482.
For general Museum information, call 656-2240.
Membership News
The Museum welcomes the following new members: 1-year?Barny Allen, Paul Borysewicz, John Evans, Lois Lynch, Hilario Melendez, David Morrow, Rick Perdian; 1-year family?Mike and Sheila Massoni; 2-year family?David Tee Theresa and Family; and
thanks to the following renewing members for their continued support: 1-year?Paul Chandler, Deborah Ferrigno, Vincent Mastandrea, George N. Pappas, Keith Rauschenbach, Lucille Ruggiero, Anthony L. Romano Jr.; 1-year family?John and Patricia Cummings, Dierdre Comey and George Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Vecchio; 2-year?Gloria M. Lambson; Lifetime?Steve Kilnisan.
Surfing?
Thanks to Museum Trustee Steve Kilnisan you can find us on the Internet at http:\\www.diamonds.net\babylon\museum.htm.
Hoboken Historical Museum
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Telephone: (201) 656-2240
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As a member of the Hoboken Historical Museum you will receive our quarterly magazine, Hoboken History, our bimonthly newsletter, a discount on Museum merchandise, plus invitations to all Museum exhibitions and events, to which you are admitted free of charge!
Individual Membership: o l year $20 o 2 years $35 o 3 years $50 o Lifetime Membership $125
Family Membership: o l year $25 Is this a o new membership or a o renewal?
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To become a Museum member, send completed form with check payable to the Hoboken Historical Museum to P.O. Box 707, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Hoboken Historical Museum P.O. Box 707, Hoboken, NJ 07030 Telephone: (201) 656-2240