Cunningham said one
of his campaign promises was the reconstruction of the Apple
Tree House. He was now calling on the City Council and community
groups to work toward the restoring of the landmark.
According to Catherine
Burke, vice president of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy,
the Apple Tree House's greatest claim to fame was as a meeting
place between General George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette
during the early years of the American Revolutionary War.
"The story is that
Washington and Lafayette dined under an apple tree while the
American Army was in Hudson County," said Burke. "Behind the
house there was once a very large apple orchard."
During that period,
Jersey City was not the united metropolis that it is now.
The Apple Tree House is located in what was then a smaller
town called Bergen.
"It was owned by
Hartman Van Wagenen, a member of a prominent family [in Bergen]
at the time," said Leon Yost of the Jersey City Landmarks
Conservancy.
Burke said the Landmarks
Conservancy had been working with a number of Jersey City
administrations to get work done on the historic Dutch homestead.
"We're happy to see
the mayor's interest," Burke added.
During the press
conference, Cunningham outlined his plan for the restoration
of the Apple Tree House.
Cunningham announced
that he would soon submit to the City Council resolution dedicating
$500,000 for stabilization of the pre-colonial landmark. These
funds would be used, Cunningham said, to stabilize the structure
of the building.
"We would also look
into grants for further improvements on the historic site,"
Cunningham added.
"The first thing
that would have to be done to the house would be to see if
the roof leaks," said Burke. "Then the exterior of the building
could be worked on."
With the completion
of proposed restoration on the Apple Tree House, Cunningham
suggested the transformation of the homestead into a history
museum. "We could have our own little Williamsburg in Jersey
City," said Cunningham, alluding to the reconstructed colonial
village in Virginia, at which people dress in period clothing.
Cunningham said the
museum would positive tourist attraction for the Journal Square
area. In addition, it would also be an education center for
Jersey City.
"We already have
an art museum and the African-American Museum as part of the
library," Cunningham stated. "We should have a museum dedicated
to the history of the city."
Burke agreed with
Cunningham's idea for a Jersey City history museum located
in a restored Apple Tree House. "Since Jersey City is one
of the first cities of New Jersey," said Burke. "It is fitting
that this old house be the site of a collection of Jersey
City history."
Cunningham went on
to note that much of the funding for area museums comes from
grants and stressed the need for funds for the creation and
operation of a museum at the Apple Tree House.
"The African-American
Museum gets funding through grants," Cunningham said. "This
would be a way to fund a museum here."
The apple corps
At the end of the
press conference, Cunningham announced the creation of a committee
of advisors to help with the restoration of the Apple Tree
House.
"This informal committee
will be drawn from people in the community," said Cunningham,
adding that the committee would be composed of about seven
members, including representatives from historical preservation
organizations and the Jersey City Board of Education.
"Most people don't
know the Apple Tree House is here," Cunningham added. "There
is a need to educate people about this building. I promise
you the Apple Tree House will be brought to its full potential."
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