Hasbrouck Heights 9/11 Memorial

This weekend I visited the 9/11 memorial in my hometown Hasbrouck Heights, NJ. The memorial is a world trade center artifact from the port authority of NY/NJ which included a 16 foot beam cut into two sections to commemorate towers 1 and 2. Flying over the steel beams from the World Trade Center is the American flag. You can see the top of the left steel beam is bent out of shape from the tragic disaster. This monument also honors all the firefighters, police emergency services, and the victims lost on September 11, 2001.

 

The historical site I decided to visit was the General Enoch Poor statue at the intersection of Church St and Court St. in Hackensack NJ. Enoch Poor was a general during the Revolutionary War and he led a group of soldiers out of New Hampshire. This statue commemorates Poor and role in Revolutionary War history. He died near Hackensack on "September 8th, 1780, he is believed to have died of Typhoid fever" although there is conflicting evidence that "suggests he died in a duel", (RWNJ). The plaque on his statue states that he "rendered signal service at many battles especially Stillwater, Saratoga, Newtown, and Monmouth", (RWNJ). Even Washington shortly after his death wrote that "he was an officer of distinguished merit who as a citizen and a soldier had every claim to the esteem of his country", (RWNJ). He was buried in Hackensack at the "First Reformed Chruch Cemetry" near his statue. 

https://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/hackensack_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm

Letchworth Village- Rockland County NY

 Article and Pictures By: Frank LoPresti

                                                    Letchworth Village- Rockland County NY

Letchworth Village opened in 1911 as an institution to provide residency and care to the mentally and physically disabled. It remained in operation until 1996, however throughout those years countless accusations of abuse and cruelty from the staff plagued its reputation. The institution consisted of over 130 structures spread over 3000 acres, most of which remain standing but are in a decrepit state. This along with the infamy raised by the reports of what exactly went on during its operation, led to the entire complex becoming a popular spot for urban explorers and ghost hunters.

                           

Thousands of the residents were forced to live in cramped and unsanitary conditions throughout the property and were subjected to the cruel authority of the staff who oversaw their every waking moment. Allegations of patient abuse ranging from sexual assault to cruel experimentation on disabled residents were commonly made. These allegations led to numerous investigations throughout the years, ultimately leading to the largest one conducted by ABC news and through reporter Geraldo Rivera in which they revealed to the world countless pictures of residents including children, living in cramped and dirty conditions. The report was published as "Willowbrook: the last great disgrace." , and shocked the American Public to its core; over the course of the following years, countless reforms mandated the quality of care of these patients to be improved. However, like many of the other Asylums of the time, it would close.  

These pictures were taken within the morgue and contain images of embalming equipment and what I believe to be a freezer/storage container for corpses. In many of these buildings, paperwork can be found detailing a variety of things regarding the operation of the place. However, due to being exposed to the elements for so long and suffering the wrath of vandals, many of the left-behind artifacts are either damaged beyond recognition or stolen. That being said, there is still plenty to see and do around the property, plenty of the buildings are still accessible, and it could take days to go through all of the remains. What is illustrated in this article is only the result of a short exploration of Letchworth; however, this only showcases a small piece of the history left behind I encourage all who are interested in checking it out.

The majority of the Land is considered a public park, and people during the daytime can often be seen jogging, walking their dogs, and doing other miscellaneous outdoor activities. However, the buildings are "no trespassing" , and some are now private property as redevelopment projects begin to take hold around the area. So to any who do decide to venture to 41.214793,-74.023676 Stoney Point NY, absolutely do not under any circumstance enter any of these fully-intact, well-hidden buildings, especially not after sunset.

Zadroga 9/11 Memorial in North Arlington, NJ

On Saturday, I visited the Zadroga 9/11 Memorial in my hometown North Arlington, NJ. This memorial is dedicated to former NYPD & 9/11 First Responder James Zadroga; who developed a pulmonary condition attributing do his death at the young age of 34. Zadroga was the name sake the federal bill that would be known as the Zadroga Health and Compensation Act, which provided financial aid and health monitoring for many 9/11 first responders, many of whom developed similar health conditions. This memorial has a great view of the NYC skyline, where the Twin Towers used to once stand. 

Soilder’s and Sailor’s Monument, Bloomfield, NJ

 This weekend, I went to Bloomfield center and saw the Soilder’s and Sailor’s Monument. It was erected in 1912 to celebrate the one hundred year anniversary of the town, and as a dedication and memorial to honor those in the Army and Navy in Bloomfield. On One side it reads “A tribute to the dead, a memory for the living, and inspiration for posterity.” And on the other “God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it.” Behind the Statue it reads, “Dedicated in connection of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Bloomfield 1812-1912.”

World War II Memorial - Hoboken

 

This World War II memorial features two soldiers returning from battle surrounded by guns with helmets on top of them. There are a total of 21 guns with helmets on top of them, and there is also a plaque which honors over 150 Hoboken soldiers who lost their lives in the war. It is located around Pier C in Hoboken which is very close to Frank Sinatra Park. The memorial was designed by Dean Marchetto architects. It cost $750,000 to build, and the money was funded by a combination of both city and state money. When the lovely citizens of Hoboken take a stroll along the Hudson they are blessed to see many wonderful parks and memorials, however, this memorial is always the one that catches my attention the most. 

The Eternal Flame War Memorial of Roxbury

 

This Memorial is located in my hometown of Roxbury, New Jersey.  A plaque on the memorial reads, "Erected by the people of Roxbury Township to perpetuate the memory of all those who have faithfully served their country.  The memorial is split into four sections representing World War I, World War II, The Vietnam War, and the Korean War.  In each section it list the names of Roxbury residents who have died in battle at their respected war.  The middle of the memorial is a circle filled with stones.  In the circle, their is a hand holding in a torch sticking out of the stones.  The torch represents the eternal flame that makes sure we remember everyone's name on the memorial.  Roxbury Township has a Memorial Day Parade every year and The Eternal Flame War Memorial of Roxbury is the destination of the parade and ceremonies take place there every year at the end of the parade.

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

 

The Great Falls National Historical Park in Paterson, NJ is one of the important NPS sites in the country because of its significance as the first planned industrial city.  First inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape peoples and settled by Dutch farm families, in 1792 Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton envisioned the area to be a center of economic development and industry as he advocated throughout his career in first presidential administrations in the Early Republic. Many years later toward in the late 19th century, Paterson became one of the leading centers of industrial production, specially in the manufacturing of silk textiles with its nickname "Silk City."  Some of the major labor movements and strikes occurred in the city, such as the Silk Strike of 1913 in which workers fought for better working conditions.  As of this time, the NPS and the city of Paterson are working to improve various aspects of the part to attract more visitors, such as the area around the amphitheater.

Works Cited:

National Park Service. "The Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution." Last modified October 15, 2018.

    https://www.nps.gov/pagr/learn/historyculture/the-birthplace-of-the-american-industrial-revolution.htm. 

Memorial Park at Van Neste Square/RIDGEWOOD NJ

 

In the city of Ridgewood, there is a beautiful park in the middle of the town. the park is located at van Neste square. The significance of this park is i
t hosts a monument that is dedicated to the people that lost their lives during world war I. Both on and around the statue are the carved names of the fallen heroes that gave their lives to protect justice and liberty from the fascist hands of the opposing force.

Wallington Veterans Memorial

 As the name states, the monument pictured is the town of Wallington, New Jersey's own veterans memorial. It features two different monuments erected in honor of the towns veterans. The tallest of the two monuments features four different plaques on all of its sides. The front features a plaque of those who served in the armed forces during World War I, the right and left sides showcasing the same kind of plaques, those being from World War II. The back of the monument features a plaque made of the metal from the S. S. Maine, the ship that was sunk and helped lead to the Spanish-American War. It was also the first monument built here, as the residents wanted to dedicate it to those soldiers during The Great War. (History) The monument behind the front most features two plaques honoring the war veterans of both the Korean and Vietnam wars, with the other side of the stone left empty, perhaps for plaques to be dedicated in the future. It is a point of pride for the residents of Wallington, and is on the towns most busy street to be seen by the most amount of people.

A picture of the main monument, displaying a bald eagle statue.

A picture of the U.S.S Maine Plaque, displaying a solemn image of a woman holding a shield with the famous stars and stripes imagery of America.

The Koren and Vietnam Veterans Monument, located directly behind the main one.

Works Cited

History. Wallington NJ. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.wallingtonnj.org/about-borough/pages/history

Yogi Berra Stadium

 

For this post I decided to go with a place that is a little bit more well known to all of the students in this classroom, Yogi Berra Stadium. The stadium was opened and built in 1998 and have hosted both the Montclair State Redhawks Division III baseball team, and the New Jersey Jackals since they opened. In 2015 they also started to host Montclair State's Club Baseball Team. The field was named after legendary New York Yankee Yogi Berra who was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey. Yogi Berra stadium has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the years. The stadium has a museum and learning center off the side of it detailing the life and career of Yogi Berra, and even has a box for scouts from Major League Baseball. The stadium is in a gorgeous location, and due to the popularity of the New Jersey Jackals it had experienced numbers that lead to the building of a Restaurant and Bar inside the stadium, and a merchandise shop for the team. In 2022 the Jackals announced that after 24 years, they are moving their team to Patterson. The field continues to host both the Montclair State Division III team and the Montclair State Club Baseball team. This field is an important historical location because in the area of Northern New Jersey, there are few stadiums that can host minor league level teams, especially on College campuses. This is one of the few exceptions in the country. It is also significantly important to honor the legacy of a legend who was born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey. To a point where I am not sure of any other stadiums hosting a museum, and field named after a famous Major League Player in their hometown. 

Dey Mansion

 This is an imagine of a tree that fell on  the golf course of Dey MANSION in Wayne NJ. This was used by George Washington during the American Revolution. He used this as a head quarters and had many conflicts between the Colonial Army and the British Army. Inside the building is documents from the Revolutionary War and muskets. This is an amazing place and I love driving by it everyday. 

Branch Brook Park

 

Branch Brook Park became the nation's first county park in 1895. The land that we know today began to first be used and noticed in 1862. The park was used as a training ground for New Jersey volunteers during the Civil War. As the years went on the park continued to build and grow. In 1927 Caroline Bamberger Fuld would bring what makes the park well known. She donated “2,000 Japanese flowering cherry trees to a display in Newark that would rival that in Washington, D.C. The Olmsted Brothers' firm laid out the trees naturalistically on the tiered slopes along the narrow valley of the Second River, evoking the way the trees would be seen in Japan and distinguishing Branch Brook Park's display from all others. Eventually the collection would grow to more than 3,000 trees.” In 1981 the park was placed on the National register of historic places. The park continues to bring hundreds of visitors every year during the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Camp NoBeBoSco

In honor of Halloween being right around the corner, I decided to honor New Jersey's very own famous horror spot. You may not know it by its actual name, but Camp NoBeBoSco was the filming location of the famous horror franchise, Friday the 13th. That's right, Camp NoBeBoSco is the infamous Camp Crystal Lake where Mrs. Voorhees lost her marbles and went on a killing spree in revenge of her late son, Jason, who later becomes the killer for the rest of the franchise. The filming location was chosen aroun 1979 while the film was released in 1980.

I had the honor of joining my sister and her fiancée for their engagement shoot at this camp recently, as they will be wed on Friday the 13th. NoBeBoSco first opened its grounds to boy scouts in 1927, and has been a successful camp ever since, having housed over 500 boys for their first year. This camp is a privately owned camp, and trespassing is illegal, however, the camp does offer a few tours throughout the year for horror and film buffs. The original 'Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake' sign, when not being used around the camp for photo opportunities, can usually be found in their trading post. The camp has only, exclusively, been used for the Boy Scouts of America, and for filming horror films. The camp has been open so long, it even survived through World War II.

My sister's engagement shoot wasn't the only time I've visited this iconic camp, however. I'd walked these grounds a few times before when my brother was a boy scout and used to camp here. The grounds are beautiful and if you ever get a chance to visit this beautiful piece of land, legally, I highly suggest it.

P.S. - Fun fact, my dad dressed up like Jason for this photo shoot.

Brandon Lee: Fall 2022: Belleville Dutch Reformed Church

    

Located in my hometown of Belleville, New Jersey, the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church, built in 1697, is perhaps one of the most significant historical sites in the United States. Though my personal connection to said Church is limited as it is not something I see every day because it is on the opposite side of town, it is the Church's overall history that is quite intriguing. To begin, the Church played a huge role during the American Revolution regarding General George Washington's retreat route (“REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.”). With that, the Church's cemetery is the resting place for over sixty Revolutionary war soldiers (“REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.”). Moreover, the Church was a significant part of the route for the Underground Railroad as escaped slaves would hide inside the Church during the day and continue their journeys north during the night (Perrone 1). All in all, the Belleville Dutch Reformed Church has an intriguing history that I had not known prior to completing this assignment.   

Works Cited 

“REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES IN BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY.” Belleville New Jersey Revolutionary War Sites | Belleville Historic Sites. Newark, N.J., The Carteret Book Club. Accessed October 19, 2022. https://www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/belleville_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm.

Perrone, Michael. “Historian: Belleville Was Anti-Slavery Stronghold.” North Jersey Media Group. NorthJersey, February 9, 2018. https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/essex/belleville/2018/02/05/belleville-historian-town-stronghold-anti-slavery-movement/301622002/.

Photo Credit: Brandon Lee

 

9/11 Memorial in Bayonne, NJ

Bayonne, NJ is home to an incredible 9/11 memorial called "To the Struggle Against World Terrorism." This sculpture is 10 stories tall and was created by the Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The sculpture is usually referred to as the teardrop by local Bayonnites and was dedicated on September 11, 2006. The sculpture was given to the United States by the Russian government as an official gift and Russian President Vladimir Putin was even at the original groundbreaking ceremony. The memorial is situated right next to Bayonne's cruise port with a clear view of New York City and the Statue of Liberty. As a kid, my school class went on a field trip to visit this memorial when I was in 2nd grade and I remember being in awe of just how tall it is. This wonderful memorial is a hidden gem of Bayonne as it's somewhat out of the way, but it's definitely worth visiting. 
 

 

The Marcal Paper Factory is located on Market Street and River Road, Elmwood Park, New Jersey. It  is one of the iconic sites in town, and used to light up US-80 highway before a fire destroyed part of the factory. The factory produces Marcal products such as toilet paper and paper towels. In January 2019 a fire ripped through the site. The smoke was visible all the way across New York City. Multiple fire departments were called to help put out the blaze, but the factory could not be saved, including the famous Marcal sign, which welcomed residents of Elmwood Park on their commute home. 

M60a3 Tank in Montville

VFW Post 5481, 132 Changebridge Rd. Montville, NJ

On October 19th, 2022, I revisited the Vietnam Era Tank in my town. I had always seen this tank growing up because it was adjacent to the soccer fields at the community park. As a child, my friends and I would climb the tank after practice and try our hardest to figure out a way inside. We would crawl underneath and jump around it while to comprehend its size and significance. It took two days for the massive 60 ton tank to travel from Fort Dix to Montville with roads and bridges being closed. This Vietnam era army tank alongside the memorial now rests in the Community Park on Changebridge Road.

Database of Armored Fighting Vehicles:

https://www.afvregister.org/Details.aspx?AfvId=2398&Page=0 

The Stone Pony, Asbury Park NJ

 For this post I went to The Stone Pony in Asbury Park New Jersey. The Stone Pony opened its doors in 1974 and was formerly a restaurant called Mrs. Jays. The concert venue got its name when the owner saw a girl's shirt at their first show covered in horses and was inspired by it. Many legendary music artists performed at this venue from its creation to modern time. I picked this place for my post because I come to many concerts here all year round. In the summertime they open up the parking lot for the "Summer stage" to allow for big festivals for a variety of music. 

The Stone Pony History

This is a statue of post office mail man created by Steward Johnson that is located in Ridgewood, NJ upon further research of the statues origins I’ve come to understand that there are multiple types of these statues not just the mail man scattered across numerous memorials, exhibitions of new arts, public parks, and government buildings or resource centers. It’s very interesting to me because these statues are meant to almost serve a better cultural understanding of that areas main specialty. It’s a learning experience while giving a look at something memorialized to keep that memory in one spot. For example this mail man is in front of the post office on the main road almost in the center of the busiest part of that street, I could see the connection making it known that the post office in this town is very essential to the towns history and growth. 

All Veterans Memorial

 I visited the All Veterans Memorial, located at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake, NJ. In a small local park is this rather grand memorial. Different features of the memorial have been erected over the past twelve years, such as the Pentagon Platform (which resembles the Pentagon located in Arlington, VA), and the Global War on Terror bridge, which displays the names of veterans from New Jersey that has lost their lives during combat. The memorial also has a monument dedicated to the war dogs of the United States military. Interestingly, it is located right next to the Seward House, which is another historic site located at the park. I would recommend everybody who is interested and is in the area of West North Jersey to come to visit the park. For more information, you can visit here. 

Fort Lee Historic Palisades Park

 

These photos I took here are at the historic site of Fort Lee is in the town of Fort Lee New Jersey. It was originally built in 1776 in response to the British attempting to overtake Boston. This design of the Fort was smart since it was on top of the Mountain giving the Americans a significant height advantage over the British coming from the south end of the Hudson River. The Fort was originally called the Fort Constitution though it changed to be named after General Charles Lee. Eventually later that fall of 1776 the British would overcome the Fort and the Americans had to evacuate, since they left in quick fashion the Americans left back much military artillery and weapons. Which some are still preserved to this day inside the Historic site. The site itself is a building filled with old weapons and cannons inside that viewers can observe, as well as outside the fort people can see cannons and other objects used during these times scattered across the whole field this Historic site contains.  

Link to Fort lee website: https://www.njpalisades.org/fortlee.html   

9/11 Memorial Park: East Rutherford, NJ

 

On September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists hijacked 4 airplanes and carried out a suicide attack against the United States. Two of the airplanes flew right into the Twin Tower of World Trade Center in New York City, and almost, 3,000 people lost their lives and were injured that day. Many Americans were affected that day because of this attack. Although there are many memorials located in many towns, the front of the 9-11 Memorial Park in East Rutherford has a piece of structural steel from the World Trade Center to show the remembrance of those who lost their lives and those who responded so bravely during this attack. Behind this monument, there are names of those who lived in East Rutherford whose lives were taken. It also includes the different times where the 4 airplanes attacked: World Trade Center 1, World Trade Center 2, The Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA. This memorial is right at the end of the train track that separates Rutherford from East Rutherford. I have seen this 9-11 Memorial Park as I pass by and continue to pass by everyday as I am heading home or leaving Rutherford. Every night, this memorial is lit to remind all of Americans that we will always remember and never forget. 

Below is the link which shows a closer picture of the Memorial Park:

https://www.eastrutherfordnj.net/about/slideshows/9-11-memorial-park

George Washington/ Continental Army Encampment Monument

Picture Credit: Ashley Sutherland

    Growing up attending high school at Wallkill Valley Regional High School, I never knew about the American Revolution monument on the school grounds. In front of Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Hardyston, NJ, stands an American Revolution monument. This monument is in reference to George Washington having the Continental Army housing on the grounds of the present-day Wallkill Valley Regional High School. On the same grounds, one of Washington’s top generals, General Lafayette informed Washington on his journey through Sussex County that the French were sending 5,000 soldiers to help the Continental Army in its war effort, which would prove vital in the colonists’ victory. The monument itself is in a poor location off to the side, and behind a sign on the front grounds of the high school. The monument can be hard to find if it is not being looked for. Hardyston, NJ is known for its monuments commemorating the American Revolution due to the many stops the Continental Army made throughout Sussex County. To this day tours of the American Revolution monuments in Hardyston, and Sussex County as a whole are still given. For information about other American Revolution monuments in Sussex County and tours visit this website.