Harriet Tubman Square
Harriet Tubman Square is a city square formerly known as Washington Park in Downtown Newark, New Jersey.[1] It is the northernmost of the three downtown parks, along with Lincoln Park and Military Park, that were laid out in the colonial era.[2] The triangular park is bounded by Broad Street, Washington Street, and Washington Place at the end of Halsey Street. It is home to several public statues and is surrounded by historic civic and commercial buildings. In a ceremony on Juneteenth 2022, the city re-named the park in honor of Harriet Tubman.[3][4]
District
James Street Commons Historic District | |
Coordinates | 40°44′41″N 74°10′14″W / 40.74459°N 74.17067°W |
---|---|
NRHP reference No. | 78001758[5] |
NJRHP No. | 1275[6] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | January 9, 1978 |
Designated NJRHP | February 10, 1977 |
Originally known as the North Common or the Upper Green,[7] the park is a contributing property to the James Street Commons Historic District and is surrounded by notable landmarks. It forms the northern end of the city's central business district.
The North Reformed Church was built in 1857-59 without the use of ore, iron, or steel.[citation needed] The Ballantine House, a National Historic Landmark, was built by the brewer of Ballantine beer, John Ballantine, in 1885. It is part of the Newark Museum. The main Newark Public Library was built in 1903. Residential brownstones are found along James Street.
Among the office buildings located in the district are the American Insurance Company Building, One Washington Park, IDT Corporation, 550 Broad Street, 33 Washington Street, and the Cablevision Call Center. Several facilities of Rutgers-Newark and the headquarters of Audible are on the park.[8]
Statues
Several statues and tablets are in the park.[2][9]
- Indian and the Puritan (1916), is one of four public works by Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum in Newark, which also include Seated Lincoln (1911), Wars of America (1926), and a stele with bas-relief, First Landing Party of the Founders of Newark (1916).[9][10]
- A J. Massey Rhind work of the park's namesake, George Washington (1912), depicts the general taking leave from his troops at Rockingham.[9][11]
- A statue of Christopher Columbus, which was made in Rome by Giuseppe Ciochetti and presented to the city by Newark's Italians in 1927.[12][13][14] It was removed (with pedestal left in place) in June 2020.[15][16]
- A work by Karl Gerhardt of Seth Boyden, who was one of Newark's leading citizens, captain of industry in the 19th century, an inventor of patent leather and innovation for train locomotives.[9][17]
Wednesdays at Washington Park
Since 2009 a weekly green market and outdoor concert is held at the park from June to October.[18][19][20]
Transportation
The Newark Light Rail Washington Park station lies along the Broad Street side of the park. Riverfront Stadium station is a block away. The Newark Broad Street Station, served by New Jersey Transit (NJT), is two blocks north. Numerous buses serve Newark and environs, including Newark Liberty International Airport.[21]
See also
- List of public art in Newark, New Jersey
- Mulberry Commons
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey
- List of tallest buildings in Newark
- List of monuments dedicated to George Washington
References
- ^ "TAPinto".
- ^ a b Newark: The Golden Age, Arcadia Publishing, 2003, ISBN 9780738512143
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ignored (help) - ^ "Newark to rename Washington Park to honor Harriet Tubman, replace Columbus statue with hers". 8 October 2020.
- ^ Strunsky, Steve (June 20, 2022). "On Juneteenth holiday, Newark renames Washington Park as Harriet Tubman Square". NJ.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Essex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. January 10, 2010. p. 3. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Walking Tour 1: Newark History" (PDF). www.newarktours. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ NJ.com, Dan Ivers | NJ Advance Media for (2016-01-11). "Audible to expand operation into historic Newark church". nj. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ a b c d Federal Writers' Project (2013), The WPA Guide to New Jersey, Trinity University Press, ISBN 9781595342287, retrieved 3 November 2015
- ^ Thurlow, Fearn, "Newark's Sculpture: A survey of public monuments and memorial statuary," The Newark Museum Quarterly, Winter 1975, vol. 6, no. 1,
- ^ "George Washington, (sculpture)". siris-artinventories.si.edu.
- ^ "Newark - Christopher Columbus Statue in Washington Park". vanderkrogt.net. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ "Newark's Christopher Columbus". newarkhistory.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ "Newark - Christopher Columbus Statue in Washington Park". statues.vanderkrogt.net. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ NJ.com, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for (2020-06-26). "Another Christopher Columbus statue removed from N.J. city park". nj. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ NJ.com, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for (2020-06-26). "Another Christopher Columbus statue removed from N.J. city park". nj. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
- ^ "Seth Boyden Statue". www.newarkhistory.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ "Wednesdays at Washington Park". www.newarkpulse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
- ^ ""WEDNESDAYS AT WASHINGTON PARK" - Glocally Newark". glocallynewark.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ "Wednesdays at Washington Park in Newark New Jersey profile at farmers market online". farmersmarketonline.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ "New Jersey Transit". njtransit.com. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- Parks in Essex County, New Jersey
- Squares in Newark, New Jersey
- Tourist attractions in Newark, New Jersey
- National Register of Historic Places in Newark, New Jersey
- Historic district contributing properties in Newark, New Jersey
- Neighborhoods in Newark, New Jersey
- New Jersey Register of Historic Places
- Parks on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey
- Memorials to Harriet Tubman