South Orange looked to its past and its future at a Saturday symposium at South Orange Middle School. The event was co-sponsored by the South Orange Historical and Preservation Society and the South Orange Public Library. The afternoon event included multi-media presentations and recognition of the two SOHPS scholarship essay winners.
Village President Alex Torpey and SOHPS President Karen Marlowe welcomed the audience to “South Orange and Its Colorful History” by reminding locals that, in Marlowe’s words, “our past is an important part of this community’s present and future.”
Torpey showed video of South Orange’s Village Hall as it undergoes renovation and restoration. The video tour showed the preservation of the meeting room and, exposed after decades, features of the building that date to its time as a fire station. Torpey’s own office, he said with a laugh, was once a changing room for the firefighters with a tile floor still visible. (Note: The Village Green has reached out to Torpey for a link to the video.)
Lee Brodie previewed “Drive By History,” a series that has been picked up, he announced, by PBS. “Look for it in 2015,” said Brodie.
New Jersey diners are always popular, explained writer Michael Gabrielle, author of a history of Garden State diners. Newark Museum curator Ulysses Dietz described the long-lived connection between Newark and South Orange. John Kraft showed slides that illuminated the culture if the Lenape, “the first people of South Orange.” Dara Callender looked back at the historical train station and the impact of train service to this community. Naoma Welk and Amy Dahn shared images of the past in and around South Orange, while Joe Kika related stories of the past and present.
Scholarship winners Abby Baker and Jared Loadholt read their winning essays, each of which described the notable local behind a street name. Loadhold described the history of Duffield Place, “the most famous name you never knew,” while Baker chronicled the Connett family, who gave land for the first library.
“We love our history here in South Orange,” said Marlowe. “Come and join us in finding out more.”
Click on any photo below for a brief slideshow:
