Shadow Lawn (New Jersey) facts for kids
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Shadow Lawn
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The Great Hall at Shadow Lawn
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 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cedar and Norwood Avenues, West Long Branch, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | Thompson–Starrett Co. |
| Architect | Horace Trumbauer, Julian Abele |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001780 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 28, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | February 4, 1985 |
Shadow Lawn is a very old and important building located in West Long Branch, New Jersey. It's in Monmouth County, which is part of New Jersey, United States. Since 1956, this amazing building has been a part of the Monmouth University campus. It's a place with a lot of history!
Contents
The Story of Shadow Lawn
Who Built Shadow Lawn?
The Shadow Lawn building you see today was finished in 1927. It was built for a man named Hubert T. Parson. He was the president of a very famous store called the F.W. Woolworth Company. Imagine having a house this big!
How Did the Great Depression Affect Shadow Lawn?
Sadly, Hubert T. Parson lost a lot of money during the Great Depression. This was a time in history when many people lost their jobs and money. Because of this, the house had to be sold in 1939 for only $100. That's a tiny amount for such a huge building!
Shadow Lawn Becomes Part of Monmouth University
In 1956, Monmouth University bought Shadow Lawn. It became a key part of their campus. Students and faculty now use this historic building every day.
The Original Shadow Lawn and a President's Summer Home
The current Shadow Lawn building stands where an even older estate once was. That first building, also called Shadow Lawn, belonged to Joseph Benedict Greenhut. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire.
Before it burned down, the original Shadow Lawn was very special. In 1916, it was used as the "summer White House" for President Woodrow Wilson. This meant the President of the United States lived and worked there during the summer!
Why Is Shadow Lawn So Important?
Shadow Lawn is recognized as a very important historical place. In 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's special for its art, architecture, and even its gardens.
Then, in 1985, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This is an even higher honor! It means the building is important to the history of the entire United States.
Shadow Lawn in the Movies
Did you know Shadow Lawn was in a movie? In 1982, this big building was used in the film Annie. It was the mansion of the rich character, Oliver Warbucks, played by Albert Finney. It's fun to think of a movie being filmed right there!
Keeping Shadow Lawn Beautiful
In 2004, Monmouth University worked to raise money to fix up the building. Keeping old buildings like Shadow Lawn in good shape takes a lot of effort and care.
The Name Change and Why It Matters
For a while, the building was called Woodrow Wilson Hall. This was because the original Shadow Lawn was a summer home for President Wilson. However, President Wilson had some policies that were not fair to all people.
Because of this, in 2020, the university decided to change the name back to Shadow Lawn. This change helps everyone remember the importance of fairness and equality.
