Bayonne Community Museum facts for kids
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Bayonne Trust Company
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 Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 229-231 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey |
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| Area | 0.9 acres (0.36 ha) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Built by | Wells & Marvin |
| Architect | Lansing C. Holden Sr. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000693 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 8, 2006 |
The Bayonne Community Museum is a special place located in the Bergen Point area of Bayonne, a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. This historic building used to be a bank, but now it's being transformed into a museum for everyone to explore and enjoy!
A Look Back: The Building's Story
The building that houses the Bayonne Community Museum was originally known as the Bayonne Trust Company. It was designed by a talented architect named Lansing C. Holden Sr. This building is a great example of something called Beaux-Arts architecture. This style was popular a long time ago and is known for being grand and fancy, often inspired by ancient Greek and Roman designs.
Construction of the bank began on May 1, 1912. The main builder was a company called Wells & Marvin from New York. The beautiful granite work was done by the George Brown Company. The project was expected to cost $100,000, but it ended up costing $150,000 when it was finished. The bank officially opened its doors on November 8, 1913.
The first bank to use the building was the Commercial Trust Company. In 1948, this bank closed, and the building was sold to the United Jersey Bank. Over the years, it was also owned by Summit Bank and Fleet National Bank. In 2001, FleetBoston Financial, which had merged with Summit Bancorp, sold the building to the City of Bayonne.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 8, 2006. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
What the Building Looks Like
Before the city bought it, the building was always used as a bank. This helped keep its amazing original design safe. In the 1970s, some changes were made inside. For example, new drop ceilings were added, which covered up three beautiful stained glass windows. In 1979, the original bronze doors were replaced with new glass and metal doors.
The building is two stories tall and covered in Vermont granite stone. It has two tall, fluted (grooved) columns on either side of the front door. These columns are in the Ionic style, which means they have scroll-like designs at the top. Above the doorway, there are curved windows. The main entrance is set back a bit, under a triangular roof section called a pediment portico.
Above the door, a stone carving says "Incorporated 1902." The original granite stairs leading up to the entrance are still in good shape. There's also a modern wrought iron railing, which was added later. On each side of the entrance, a large, shiny gold lamp adds to the grand look.
The Museum Today
Fleet Bank generously gave the building to the city of Bayonne in October 2002. Since then, it has been known as the Bayonne Community Museum. The plan is to open it to the public once all the renovations are complete and the first exhibits are ready.
The museum is a non-profit organization. It is busy collecting many different artifacts and donated items to create its exhibits. In September 2010, the museum received $240,000 from Hudson County to help with the ongoing renovation work.
The project has cost more than the original $3.1 million estimate, but work continues. This includes restoring the beautiful terrazzo floor, which is a type of flooring made from chips of marble or other stones set in cement. In January 2012, the Bayonne City Council approved a $175,000 contract to install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
While the museum isn't regularly open to the public yet, the building is available for special public and private events.
See also
