Memories of My Hometown Jersey City "Neighborhoods" Volume 2

Memories of My Hometown The Neighborhoods

This album is designed to visit the neighborhoods where you Grew and lived in. It is impossible to look at every block so it is designed to give a broad picture of those neighborhoods.

Paulus Hook Park in Jersey City

Paulus Hook Park consists of four pocket parks at the intersection of Grand and Washington Streets. During the Revolutionary War the British held the fort that was located near the park. The Battle of Paulus Hook, in which an American force, led by Major Henry Lee overtook the fort. To commemorate the Battle of Paulus Hook the Daughters of the American Revolution erected this obelisk in 1903. This park is located in one of the oldest neighborhoods.

The Colgate Clock in Jersey City

The octagonal Colgate Clock historical landmarks visible from New York City and the Hudson River. The clock is located near the former site of the Colgate-Palmolive & Company, is one of the largest clocks in the world.

The Main Jersey City Post Office.

The grand Jersey City Post Office at Montgomery and York Streets was built in 1911. 1913. The Italian Renaissance design graces the building with exterior walls of Mt. Waldo granite. The façade on Washington Street has fluted Corinthian columns and carved capitals flanked by piers with Corinthian-style pilasters.

The Brownstones on Sussex Street in Downtown Jersey City

These brownstones are located just blocks from the Colgate Plant in downtown Jersey City. I have to start my Memories of My Hometown here because this is the street I lived on for the first 8 years of my life. Basically this section of Sussex looks pretty much as it did when I lived here from 1942 to 1947.

Brownstone at 76 Sussex Street Jersey City

My mothers family lived in this brownstone on Sussex Street in Jersey City. It was where I spent the first seven years of my life.

214 Warren Street Jersey City

This apartment building on the corner of Sussex and Warren Streets in Jersey City where my father's family lived.My grandparent lived on the top floor. The two windows on the corner apartment was there living room. One of the things I remember was that the bathroom was in the hall and shared by the two apartments on that floor. They had what was railroad rooms. To get from one end of the apartment to the other you had to walk through each room.

The Churches of Paulus Hook in Jersey City

There were three large parishes in this section of the city. St. Peter's was the largest shown on the right of the picture. St Peter and St Paul Russian Orthodox Church on Grand Street and Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Polish Parish

Warren Street Jersey City Brownstones in Paulus Hook Jersey City

Currently, there are four historical neighborhoods in downtown Jersey City that are on the National Register of History Places that highlight original Jersey City Brownstones. These neighborhoods include Paulus Hook, Harsimus Cove, Van Vorst Park and Hamilton Park

Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church Jersey City

While I was born and raised Roman Catholic this church holds a very special place in my heart. My grandparents were founding members of this church. I went to many Sunday service and family celebrations here in this church.

The Corner of Grand and Warren Street in Jersey City

This is a view look west on Grand Street at the corner of Warren Street. The building on the corner was Kowalchuk's Funeral Home.

St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City

Saint Peter's Preparatory School (called "St. Peter's Prep") is a private, all-male, Jesuit, college-preparatory school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. The Society of Jesus founded the school in 1872 and today the school is operated as part of the Jesuits' New York Province

St. Peter's Parochial School in Jersey City

St. Peter’s Original Parish School and St. Peter’s Hall and Parochial School have been fixtures of the corner of York and Van Vorst Streets since the beginning of the Civil War. I attended school here from K thru 6th grade. In fact, three years before he became the president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, who was the president of Princeton University at the time, came to St. Peter’s Hall to deliver his first campaign speech of the general election while running to become New Jersey’s governor.

Brownstones on Grand Street in Paulus Hook Jersey City

The old brownstones line Grand Street across from St. Peter's Prep and Church

Jersey City Fire House

Located at 106 Grand Street in Jersey City this fire house was originally built for horse -drawn fore apparatus

The Whittier House in Jersey City

These two redbrick buildings were once Whittier House, a social settlement house founded by Cornelia Foster Bradford. Modeled closely on Chicago's Hull House social settlement, it served the immigrant poor of Jersey City from its beginnings in December 1893 through the Great Depression. The Boys and Girls Club of Jersey City traces its origins in part to Whittier House. The oldest part of the building was constructed in 1862 as the residence of William Clarke, a mayor of Jersey City (1869-1870), and was known as the Clarke Mansion. In 1898, a new building was constructed next to the 1862 structure and served as a gymnasium; together they were called Whittier House.

The Original Parish Hall for Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Polish Parish

This was the old auditorium for Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Polish Parish in Jersey City. Not only parish functions were held her but other events like the Butler Brothers Review (Local Warehouse Company) were held here as well as Polish dances

Jersey City City Hall

Completed in 1896 Jersey City City Hall is a large marble and granite building designed by Lewis H. Broome. From 1912 to 1970 it was the home of one of the most powerful Democratic political machines in the USA. The most famous of the political bosses was Mayor Frank Hague. Just as powerful but not as well known was his successor John V. Kenny.

Pictures of the Jersey CIty City Hall Today

The City Hall of Jersey City is an elaborate granite and marble structure of mixed Victorian and Classical architecture. It was designed by the architect Lewis H. Broome and completed in 1896. A park-like setting and landscaping around the building, similar to that of the City Hall of New York, was planned for the city's second seat of government. An entire city block containing commercial structures and residences was leveled to make room for the new building

Old City Hall Pictures

Top picture shows the Jersey City Commission in 1955. I shows Commissioner Joseph Soriero, Commissioner Donald Spence, Mayor Bernard Berry, Commissioner Lawrence A. Whipple, and Commissioner Josha Ringle. 1955, large brass cupolas at the square corners and central towers were removed in the interest of safety. n the Botton row we have Mayor Charles Witjowski ( Actor Jerry O'Connell's grandfather) Mayor Thomas A. Whelan, and Mayor Thomas Gangemi

The Gregory Apartments in Jersey City

These are the Gregory Apartments in Jersey City. The redevelopment efforts date back to 1949 when the Gregory Park Project was initiated. It the first redevelopment project ever in Jersey City.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and the Barrows Mansion

St. Matthew's is located in downtown Jersey City. Our ministry is based in two historic buildings, the 1897 church and 1835 Barrow Mansion. The Barrow Mansionwas built between 1835–1837 and also known as the Ionic House, the wooden Greek Revival structure has five Ionic columns gracing a two-story portico.

The Van Vorst Park Historic District in Jersey City

Currently, there are four historical neighborhoods in downtown Jersey City that are on the National Register of History Places that highlight original Jersey City Brownstones.