| DEP's
Historic Preservation Office Adds the Battleship New Jersey to
the New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Two other historical
sites listed to the State Register
(04/01) TRENTON - Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell
today announced the listing of the Battleship New Jersey in Camden
to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
"The Battleship New Jersey is our nation's
most decorated battleship and now a permanent fixture in New Jersey's
rich history," said Commissioner Campbell. "Its listing
on the New Jersey State Register will honor and tribute the brave
sailors who served on the Battleship during its long and distinguished
career."
The Battleship served in WWII, the Korean War,
Vietnam and further operations throughout the Mediterranean, near
Lebanon, South America and the Panama Canal until she was decommissioned
for the last time in 1991. The Battleship New Jersey concluded
her long journey home in 1999 and is now a floating museum on
the Delaware River, along the Camden Waterfront.
"Tourists who have visited the Battleship
New Jersey will be pleased to know that such a renowned attraction
is now listed to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The
battleship has been a favorite among visitors who can take a two-hour
guided tour available year-round," said Nancy Byrne, Executive
Director of Travel and Tourism.
The Battleship New Jersey is an Iowa Class battleship
named for the state of New Jersey. Built by the Philadelphia Navy
Yard, she was christened by the wife of former Governor Charles
Edison of New Jersey and launched on December 7, 1942.
Campbell also announced the listing of the St.
Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Jersey City, Hudson
County and the Water Witch Club Historic District in Middletown
Township, Monmouth County to the New Jersey Register of Historic
Places.
"The next step is to recommend that these
properties be placed on the National Register of Historic Places,"
Campbell added. "Long after we are gone, future generations
will be able to envision life as it was lived in previous centuries."
St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church is
an 1892 Gothic-influenced church featuring a granite exterior
trimmed with brownstone; a copper-sheathed steeple and a richly
painted interior illuminated by nearly 30 elaborate stained glass
windows. The church is not only significant for its architecture,
but also as the meeting place and focal point of the large Polish
community in Jersey City.
The Water Witch Club Historic District is an
important intact example of a late 19th and early 20th century
planned summer community.
It was designed entirely by architects who were
also members and residents of the Club. The architecture of the
Club features significant examples of the Shingle, Colonial Revival
and Rustic styles.
Several important architects designed buildings
and resided at the Water Witch Club - Frederick P. Hill, Lyman
A. Ford and Austin W. Lord. The Club's location on a steep wooded
hill overlooking Sandy Hook Bay enhances the picturesque qualities
of the site and the curvilinear street plan gives the site a visual
diversity and a sense of harmony with nature. It has been transformed
into a year-round community.
The State Register is a list of properties and
areas worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural,
cultural or archaeological significance. New Jersey Register law
requires review of any state, county or municipal undertaking
that involves properties listed in the New Jersey Register. These
reviews are designed to prevent destruction or damage of historic
resources by public agencies.
The National Register, administered by the National
Park Service offers protection of historic sites from federally
sponsored or assisted undertakings.
|
