Walk Jersey City History

Jersey City is one of the most important American cities you’ve never heard of. We hope to change that. Walk JC History is a citizen-based group focused on creating self-guided walking tours that celebrate Jersey City’s storied past and present. Historic sites include: Dutch settlements; Revolutionary War battles; Underground Railroad; canal stretching to PA; railroads; architecture; old factories; WWI domestic attacks; temporary home of Brooklyn Dodgers; home of Kool and the Gang; and more. Today, JC is one of the most diverse US cities which speaks to its past nickname as “America’s Golden Door.” So, do you want to discover Chilltown (80’s nickname) at your own pace? Voting for this initiative would fund research, interviews, development, creation and promotion of walking tours for every neighborhood in the City. This effort aims to instill pride in current residents, restore nostalgia for past or life-long residents, develop tourism, and build national awareness of our Home.

How would you use the $1,000 to turn your idea into a reality?

We would use the $1,000 to bring Walk JC History from a concept to a reality. We will launch a sustainable website and hold a kickoff event with the intention to attract current and past residents of all ages.
Breakdown:
$0 research (photo collection; copying and scanning materials)
$0 interviews (local historians; life-long residents)
$0 development (aggregation; route creation)
$300 creation (graphic design; site markers production; web design; web hosting)
$400 promotion (flyers; ads; shirts; stickers)
$300 public/kickoff event (permits; refreshments; snacks; materials)

Discussion

Jumped back into the top twenty. Let's try to get back to the top ten.

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

Example 1: Follow the link for an example of self-guided walking tours. They used SMS auto-reply to give tour goers information. Oh, and don't forget to cast you vote for Walk Jersey City History. Link: http://candychang.com/cripplebush-ghost-tour/

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

Fact 4: Jersey City is one of the most artistic cities in the US with more than twice the national average of resident artists relative to the total city population. One of the most notable resident artists residing is Ron English who is well known for his Abraham Obama portrait. Sources: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2011/11/most-artistic-cities-america/592/#slide10 -and- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJdhVREpFrk

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

IN THE NEWS: Follow this link to read more about this submission in the Jersey City Independent: http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2012/08/10/walk-jc-history-neighborhood-tours-project-competing-for-1000-in-funds-through-online-contest/

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

Fact 3: The ubiquitous yellow Ticonderoga pencil, most associated with test taking by students, was made in Jersey City for over a century. The American inventor and manufacturer responsible for the familiar writing implement was Joseph Dixon (1799-1869), founder of Dixon Crucible Company. His invention did not replace the popular quill pen as a less expensive writing instrument until the practicality of the pencil became apparent to the soldiers during the Civil War. With its fast gaining popularity during the war, Dixon designed a machine that planed and shaped enough wood for the manufacture of 132 pencils a minute. Dixon moved his business to Jersey City in 1847. The plant closed its doors in the 1980's. Today, the former Dixon plant is now a mixed use complex with 452 apartments. Source:http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/D_Pages/Dixon_Crucible_Company.htm

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

Fact 2: The Black Tom explosion on July 30, 1916, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was an act of sabotage on American ammunition supplies by German agents to prevent the material from being used by the Allies in World War I. The explosion caused $100,000 (US$ 2,136,000 in 2012) worth of damage to the statue of liberty, and from then on Her torch has been off limits to tourists. Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/06/photogalleries/statue-of-liberty-pictures/photo9.html -and- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Tom_explosion#cite_note-historyplace-12

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

Fact 1: the baseball color line was broken in Jersey City's Roosevelt Stadium when Jackie Robinson of the Montreal Royals made his organized baseball debut there as a visitor on April 18, 1946. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_City_Giants

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

History Fact 1: The baseball color line was broken in Jersey City's Roosevelt Stadium when Jackie Robinson of the Montreal Royals made his organized baseball debut there as a visitor on April 18, 1946. source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_City_Giants

by wardmatthewb

10 months ago | Reply

If you want to see more pictures of Jersey City, both past and present, click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wavz13/sets/72157622579761251/with/6780923272/ This is a great flickr page hosted by a JC enthusiast.

by wardmatthewb

11 months ago | Reply