By Helen Kull
As I write this, it’s mid-December, and the holidays and all that comes with them are still to come. Here in history-rich central Jersey, many activities are still on the horizon: the annual crossing re-enactment at Washington’s Crossing on Christmas Day, and the many Patriot’s Week events and activities in Trenton and vicinity between Dec. 26 and 31, to name just two. But by the time you read this, the days of 2013 will also be history, and 2014 will have officially begun.
I mention this because 2014 is a significant milestone year for New Jersey, and especially those with an interest in the history of New Jersey, as it marks the 350th anniversary of the creation of the state.
In 1664, King Charles II of England gave a huge hunk of land on the northeastern coast of North America to his brother James, the Duke of York, as a “gift” (Some gift!). James, in turn, divided it up into smaller pieces, and gave one piece to two loyal and trusted noblemen, Sir George Carteret and Sir John Berkeley.
The land, located between two rivers which would eventually become known as the Hudson and the Delaware, was named Nova Cesarea, or New Jersey, named after the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel, where Carteret had protected the future King and his royal family during the English Civil War.
Fast-forward 350 years, and New Jersey is still here, small but mighty! It has contributed much to both the nation and the world over those 350 years, and continues to do so to this day. All sorts of activities, programs, celebrations and other acknowledgements of this milestone are planned, and I encourage you to visit the N.J. 350 website (officialnj350.com) regularly to find ways for you and your family to participate and celebrate everything New Jersey.
Some 50 years ago, in 1964 at the 300th anniversary of the state, the tagline for the celebration was: “Three Centuries – People, Purpose, and Progress.” (How many of you remember that?) This time around, the tagline is “New Jersey 350: Innovation/Diversity/Liberty.” The programs and activities will highlight those aspects of our past and present, undoubtedly celebrating specific achievements and contributions, while still celebrating 350 years of greatness.
So, why mention this in a column on Ewing history?
This year, I would like to have this column — and by extension, Ewing — join in the celebration of the State’s 350th anniversary. I would like to discover and share the ways in which Ewing has contributed to New Jersey (and the world) through its involvement in or commitment to innovation, diversity, and/or liberty.
Thus, my challenge to you, my Ewing Then and Now readers, is this: In what ways do you know of in which Ewing (or maybe we can even extend it to the greater Trenton/Ewing/old “Trenton Township” area) has contributed, even in a slight way, to New Jersey’s history in the areas of innovation, diversity and liberty?
Certainly there are ways in which we have done so, and I am positive that there are many more that I don’t know about.
For example, were you involved in an innovative process when you worked at GM here in Ewing? Or at the Naval Air Propulsion Lab? I would love to receive your thoughts and ideas on this, and then try to flesh them out somewhat, and share them with the other readers. That way we all will be a collective part of the 350th celebration of our home state — and celebrate innovation, diversity and liberty in Ewing as well.
While you’re all reflecting on that, the final two columns on the namesakes of the schools will resume next month with either Dr. Fisher or Mr. Lore (whichever one I can research first!). But then I hope to take several months of columns and dedicate them to the 350th anniversary.
I welcome your thoughts and positive suggestions. Please send them to me at ewingthenandnow@gmail.com. I hope this will be a year of discovery and learning for us all as we celebrate New Jersey’s 350th birthday!
Do you have a Ewing story or memory to share? Please contact Helen at ewingthenandnow@gmail.com.
