Museum of Jersey City History Opens With "Frank Hague's Jersey City: Yesterday and Today"

Over the years, this Jersey City property has supported Leni Lenape labyrinth land, a private home, a funeral parlor and community workplaces in the heart of Bergen Square where the Dutch established one of the first Colonial-era settlements in the New World.

On Saturday, December 2, the 2-story structure at 298 Academy St. called the Apple Tree House will handle a new role, as home to the Museum of Jersey City History, featuring as its opening exhibition, "Frank Hague's Jersey City: Yesterday and Today."

Why Hague? "No one else has as much name recognition," described Martin Pierce, who chairs the museum's board of directors. And, he said, the museum's decision to lead with the mayor with the longest tenure here during a 30-year period (1917-1947) of unprecedented changes is consistent with its mission: "promoting interest in and understanding of the city's history."

To that end, Pierce included, the exhibit will provide an unbiased view of the political kingpin. " This is not a show commemorating Hague however rather, the achievements achieved of his age."



As mentioned in its site, the museum hopes that visitors will learn how the "profound and lasting modifications to Jersey City's physical landscape, political culture, transport sector and entertainment culture," together with healthcare and education that unfolded throughout Hague's reign had far-reaching repercussions that "affected the lives of thousands."

2 significant modifications mentioned by board member and long time educator/writer James Dievler were the city's "transitioning to an auto city" as the consequence of Hague greatly taxing the railways and the advancement of the Jersey City Medical Center with federal Depression-era support..

" The hospital offered health care to a great deal of individuals who otherwise may not have received it and the care was complimentary for the majority of part," Dievler said. And, he noted, due to the fact that of its credibility, lots of moms-- including those from outdoors Hudson County-- opted to have their shipments at the Margaret Hague Maternity Center, part of the JCMC complex.

On the other hand, Dievler stated, one of the city's constant attractions-- which stayed strong throughout Hague's period-- was the Journal Square entertainment culture. "It was the place to choose three theaters, restaurants, where working people could have a good night without breaking their budget plan. Now, Journal Square is in shift once again and we wish to get people believing critically about that today.".

Undoubtedly, he said, the museum's objective is to encourage visitors to forecast a vision of the city's future based on what has occurred in its past.

For the Apple Tree House, getting to this point has been a long period of time coming.

The structure was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 2006 but it wasn't until October 2022-- after the museum included as a nonprofit, formed an initial board of directors, then broadened to its current 15-member board-- that it effectively worked out a 5-year lease with the city for usage of the property at a token amount each year.

Pierce credited the city's Public Works Department for mostly exterior remediation work, notably painting. The city paid more than $3 million over a number of years to fix the roofing system and related problems. The city also supported setup of track lighting and to work with Museum Partners Consulting, of Maplewood, to design the exhibition and CEO Claudia Ocello as manager.

At the exact same time, in action to demands by neighborhood residents, the city has likewise undertaken infrastructure modifications in Bergen Square near the Apple Tree House with the positioning of benches and shade trees at intersections formerly inhabited by parked automobiles, a re-designed and re-located bus pickup zone at the northeast corner of Bergen Avenue and Academy and changing the flow of traffic to one-way west along Academy between Tuers and Van Reypen opportunities.

In the meantime, volunteers will staff the museum, Pierce said.

The general public is invited to the December 2 grand opening, from midday to 5 p.m. Admission is totally free however a "recommended contribution" of $5 for adults and $2 for kids is welcome. There's no charge for students and senior citizens.

The exhibit will continue through the balance of the year and through 2024, with a series of speakers and panel conversations touching on different aspects of the tradition of the city's longest-serving chief executive.

As these occasions are scheduled, the museum will publish advance notifications, with more details, on its website which may be accessed by visiting https://mjchistory.com. Museum hours for the balance of the year can also be discovered on the site.