Events

May 10, 2008

In the late 1850’s the Erie Railroad organized a company known as the Long Dock Improvement Company to built a terminal on the Jersey City waterfront as well as build a railroad tunnel through Bergen Hill. When completed in 1861 the tunnel was 4,300 feet long; cost $1,000,000; and was considered an engineering marvel. To build the tunnel a large force of largely Irish immigrant labors were employed and squatted on the land the company bought for a right of way, besides spreading over the adjoining vacant property. Over time a large shantytown of largely Irish workers developed in the area of Hudson City, now the Heights section of Jersey City.

Financial problems plagued the railroad during this period causing suspension of work on several occasions followed by riotous demonstrations by the workers. In September, 1859 one such stoppage caused a major riot with workers stoning the mayor’s home and destroying railroad property. The rioters blocked all of the railway tracks into the city causing a disruption of commerce. Milk trains could not get into the city and the milk spoiled. Livestock trains sat idle will their cargos died for want of food and water. Finally the militia was called upon to put down the riot by means of force.

Bob Leach, the Director of the Jersey City Historical project and noted local raconteur, has put together a delightful and informative video about this period and the local Irish immigrants titled: "Parade of the Shantytown Dead". The video covers this time in Hudson County history and the establishment of Saint Joseph’s church. This video will presented at the next meeting of the Hudson County Genealogical Society on May 10 at 11 AM. The meeting will be held in another Hudson County landmark, the old Jersey City Medical Center now restored to its former glory as The Beacon Condominiums.

Joining us at the meeting will be Leon Yost, noted Documentary Photographer and local activist. Leon is active with the Jersey City Landmarks Conservatory and is the vice chairman of the Jersey City Planning Board. Leon will give a short talk on preservation efforts underway in Jersey City and answer questions about preservation and Jersey City history.

Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location:
The Beacon (fmr. Jersey City Medical Center)
Beacon Place
50 Baldwin Avenue and Montgomery Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
Directions:
Mapquest - Note: only use MapQuest for a general area map. For driving directions please use below:

You will probably not find "Beacon Place" on any map or the Internet since it is a "made-up" name for the old ramp leading into the Beacon from the south side of Montgomery Street. The old Medical Center (now the Beacon) is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Montgomery Street and Baldwin Avenue. The only way to enter the complex is by way of the ramp on Montgomery Street below Baldwin.

Approaching from the West on NJ Turnpike Extension
(Eastbound, toward Holland Tunnel on Route 78):

1. After paying the toll take the second exit on the right marked Columbus Dr - Jersey City. Keep to your right down the ramp.
2. The traffic light at the bottom of the ramp is Montgomery Street but you can not make a left turn at that intersection. Continue straight across Montgomery Street keeping right.
3. Follow Columbus Drive as it bears to the right. (Ahead of you will see the old railroad embankment which gave Columbus Drive it's original name, Railroad Avenue.)
4. Go one block and make a right turn on Brunswick Street.
5. Go one block back to Montgomery Street and make a right turn back onto Montgomery Street.
6. Continue up Montgomery Street. (On the left will be the site of the Jack Dempsey-Georges Carpentier heavyweight Champion Fight in 1921) About half way up the hill you will see two street signs on the left, one for Mill Road and one right behind it for Beacon Place.
7. Make a left turn into Beacon Place and go up the drive to the guard gate. Tell the guard you are with our group he will instruct you where to go. The Beacon is providing free mandatory valet parking for the event.

Approaching from the North or South

1. If you are coming from the north or south take Kennedy Blvd to Montgomery Street (Saint Peters' University) and turn east.
2. Go a few blocks until you get to the complex and enter as above.

More about the old Medical Center

> Jersey City Landmarks
> Jersey City Medical Center Complex

More about The Beacon

> The Beacon Condominiums