,
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.Ð4:30 p.m. Free.Hoboken Historical Museum Newsletter Volume 2, Number 3 July/August 1996
City Sentries
From their perch high above the City of Hoboken, they have seen it all: political speeches, parades, the renovation of Washington Street, double- and even triple-parking. The eagle-eyed sentries of City Hall have weathered through and watched the Mile Square city's many changes.
But in their 85 years on top of the former Second Empire, now Beaux Arts Classical building, the pressed-metal eagles have lost a little of their former luster. The Hoboken Historical Museum, in partnership with the City, has decided to restore and gold-leaf the ornamental statues. Laura Jakob, who last volunteered her services with Corinne Solter to refurbish the City Hall clock in November 1995, is again donating her time and skills. Restoration materials will be paid for by the City of Hoboken.
The gilding of the eagles, which were first poised above our city in 1911, is our way of celebrating the ten year anniversary of the incorporation of the Hoboken Historical Museum. They were last painted twenty years ago, as part of the City celebration of the Bicentennial.
Look for the eagles' return near the close of the year in time, perhaps, to add a little extra shine to the holiday decor on the Avenue.
Play Ball! Hits Home Run
June 21 was Opening Day for our ninth annual exhibition, Play Ball! The Making of a National Pastime. Baseball enthusiasts came from across town and over the river (some sporting old-style baseball caps or wearing the Hoboken Historical Museum's newest tee-shirt) to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first organized baseball game and to enjoy a spirited slide lecture by local baseball authority Nicholas Acocella.
Before and after the lecture, guests enjoyed artist Nestor Lagman's triple-tiered, baseball-themed fruit display (including dozens of oranges with carved baseball stitches), chocolate baseballs donated by Lepore's owner Ed Shirak, and a Carlos Bakery sheet cake decorated with a replica of the 1866 Grand Championship baseball game played at Elysian Fields.
And, of course, visitors took in the exhibition itself: two floors of City Hall devoted to New Jersey's contributions to our national pastime.
Many people made the exhibition and its opening possible. Our gratitude goes to our main sponsor, the New Jersey Historical Commission, and to the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Hudson County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs for additional support. For publicity we thank Charles Lee, who mentioned our event in his five-part series on baseball, written for the Hoboken Reporter. The exhibition itself was prepared by McKevin Shaughnessy, Bob Foster, Ciorsdan Conran, Holly Metz, and Claire Lukacs; the evening's festivities were coordinated by Barbara Lippman, Theresa Castellano, Claire Lukacs, Marie & Lenny Luizzi, Jack O'Brien, Nona & Vinnie Wassmann, and Jean Valentin. We thank Assemblyman Louis Romano for his support of local history and for his recognition of Hoboken as the birthplace of baseball. Baseball Day help was provided by Debra Kindervatter, Marsha Herman and Marie Luizzi. Additional help was furnished by City Hall staff Tim Calligy, Tom Oliveri, Cathy DePalma, and Kenny Klotz. And, as always, we extend our appreciation to the Museum's trustees, our membership, and to our mile-square community, for your ongoing support.
Purvi Patel
History Achievement Award Winner
At last month's Hoboken High School graduation ceremonies, the Museum was proud to present its History Achievement Award to graduating senior Purvi Patel, in recognition of her attainment of the highest grade point average in the school's Advanced Placement History Program. It was the first conferral of the annual prize of $100, offered this year in memory of Paul Lippman, a Museum trustee and editor of our magazine Hoboken History.
In addition to receiving the Museum award, Purvi, the school's 1996 valedictorian, was recognized as an athlete who maintained a high grade-point average throughout the year, and was the winner of the Zamrin Memorial Essay Contest. She will attend Rutgers University in the Fall.
Meet the Museum
Ariana Matos, Student Representative
Ariana Matos, a Demarest graduate who will be attending Hoboken High School in the fall, was elected at our last board meeting,in a unanimous vote,as the Museum's student representative. A bright student who has independently researched Hoboken history for several years, Ariana intends to work on projects with fellow students and Museum members. Her first undertaking is a photographic survey of Hoboken school exteriors, to be compared with early postcard views.
Students who would like to work on history-related projects can send their ideas to Ariana c/o the Hoboken Historical Museum, P.O. Box 707, Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Donations
The Museum welcomes donations of Hoboken-related artifacts to add to its permanent collection. The following is a list of recent gifts.
Wooden ballot box (depicted left) formerly used in Hoboken elections, circa 1920. Donated by Mario and Jane Mercado.
Booklet, Souvenir of Hoboken and Vicinity, published by Nelson Company, 1906. Donated by Danielle Frankenthal and David Ruzich.
Packet of black and white snapshots of Hoboken during the 1940s. Donated by Jude Fitzgibbons.
Book, The Book of Baseball Lineups by Nicholas Acocella and Donald Dewey. Donated by Nicholas Acocella.
Book, The Ball Clubs by Donald Dewey and Nicholas Acocella. Donated by Nicholas Acocella.
Membership pin and ribbon from the Societa S. Donato, Hoboken, N.J. Donated by Robert Foster.
Eight 8x10 color copy prints of Hoboken scenes from the1940s. Donated by Michele Russo.
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:
Fortune Magazine, September 1937 issue on United States shipping, featuring a photographic portfolio by Margaret Bourke-White on the Hoboken-docked S.S. Leviathan.
Harper's Weekly, January 7, 1889 article on the evolution of the ferry boat in Hoboken, pages 17Ð20.
Outdoor KD Kanopy.
Ten serving platters.
Six Books: Black Diamonds: Life in the Negro Leagues from the Men who Lived It by John B. Holway; When the Game was Black and White by Bruce Chadwick; The Rules of Baseball: An Anecdotal Look at the Rules of Baseball and How They Came to Be by David Nemec; The Jersey Game by James M. DiClerico and Barry J. Pavelec; Only the Ball Was White by Robert Peterson; and Who Invented the Game? by Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns.
Ten postcards depicting various aspects of baseball, 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 post it here in the next issue, scheduled for mailing in early September.
Please note events listed are subject to change. To avoid disappointment or rage call the contact number to confirm the event.
July
Saturday, July 13 The Third Annual Puerto Rican Cultural Festival, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Puerto Rican flag and the 30th anniversary of its raising in Hoboken. Food, arts & crafts, flea market, and live entertainment: Sergio Ortiz y su Orquesta Cundiamor; Grupo La Plena Dulce; Trio Bayama; La Rubia de Oro, Elisa; Raymond Medina y su Orquesta; Jose Gerena y su Trio; Los Hermanos Gaitan. Church Square Park, between Fourth and Fifth Streets on Garden, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Hoboken Historical Museum will be participating,visit our table! For more information call Tom at 420-2017 or Lucy at 217-0586.
Saturday, July 20 through Friday, July 26 St. Ann's Feast, with music, food, procession, games and rides. The Hoboken Historical Museum will be Participating,visit our table! For more information call 659-1114.
Sunday, July 21 Bus Tour of Liberty State Park, CRRNJ Terminal at 1:30 p.m. Free. Call 915-3411 for more info.
Sunday, July 28 The Bridges of New Jersey, lecture by Mitchell Dakelman. Liberty State Park in the Blue Comet Auditorium, CRRNJ Terminal at 1:30 p.m. Free. For more information call 915-3411.
August
Sunday, August 4 New Jersey Railway Post Office History, lecture by Fred MacDonald. Liberty State Park in the Blue Comet Auditorium, CRRNJ Terminal at 1:30 p.m. Free. For more information call 915-3411.
Sunday, August 11 The Jersey Central in Jersey City lecture by Bill McKelvey. Liberty State Park in the Blue Comet Auditorium, CRRNJ Terminal at 1:30 p.m. Free. For more information call 915-3411.
Sunday, August 25 Folk Art in New Jersey, lecture by Bob Foster and Holly Metz. Liberty State Park in the Blue Comet Auditorium, CRRNJ Terminal at 1:30 p.m. Free. For more information call 915-3411.
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.
Wednesday, September 11 Board Meeting of the Hoboken Historical Museum, City Hall. 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Sunday, September 15 Hoboken Art & Music Festival, sponsored by the City of Hoboken, 11 a.m.Ð6 p.m. on Washington Street. The Hoboken Historical Museum will be Participating,visit our table! For more info call 420-2207.
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.Ð4:30 p.m. Free.
Through Labor Day Exhibits at the CRRNJ Terminal, Liberty State Park: ...Been Working on the Railroad... ; The Canals of New Jersey; Twenty Years at Liberty State Park; Climbing Jacob's Ladder: Rise of Black Churches in Eastern American Cities, 1740Ð1877 (July 6-August 8); The CNJ Stations of Hudson County; First Stop! Liberty State Park; Moving the Fire: The Removal of Indian Nations to Oklahoma (July 18ÐAugust 18); Standard Tool & Manufacturing Co. of Kearny, N.J.; Paintings by James Boral; PATH: Thirty Years of Progress; Folk Art of New Jersey. 10:00 a.m.Ð5:00 p.m. daily. Free Admission. Call 915-3411.
The Elysian Photo Club meets every other Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at Hoboken's Barnes & Noble. Newcomers are welcome. Please bring work! For more information, 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.: July 30 & 31 Birdcage. The Shannon Lounge, First St. between Washington and Bloomfield in Hoboken. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Movie begins at 8 p.m. $5. Call 217-4077 for updates.
Movies Under the Stars presented by The City of Hoboken and Projected Images. Thursday nights: July 18 Dracula; July 25 Pee Wee's Big Adventure; August 1 TBA; August 8 Take the Money and Run; August 15 TBA; August 22 Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein; August 29 Planet of the Apes. Located at the Erie Lackawanna Train Plaza in Hoboken at 9:00 p.m. Limited seating,bring lawn chairs or blankets. Free. For more information and updates call 217-4077.
Correction
In the catalog accompanying our exhibition Play Ball! we accidentally omitted one very important person: Museum Trustee Barbara Lippman. Our apologies.
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; 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,Deborah Angelo, Lillian Carrig and Claire Merz, Joseph and Angelina Finnerty, and Mark Nyhan; 1-year family,Mr. and Mrs. John Bincoletto, Marjorie Kleiman and Luis Torres, Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Leegan; and thanks to the following renewing members for their continued support: 1-yearÑSada Fretz, Charles Lee, Kathryn Harp Schmalz; 2-year,Daniel Ruddy, McKevin Shaughnessy; 3-yearÑSusan and Phil Moody.
Seeking HHM Online?
Thanks to Museum Trustee Steve Kilnisan you can find us on the Internet at http:\\www.diamonds.net\babylon\museum.htm. In addition to listing HHM events, Steve has included sample stories from our magazine, Hoboken History, and turn-of-the-century postcard views of our city. Check it out!
Join Us!
Membership
does have its
privileges...
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