Volume LXIX, Number 48 Princeton Schools Mobile Access Program Provides Online Educational Resources . . . . . . . . . . 9 New Jersey Symphony Presents Holiday Concert for Thanksgiving . . . . 18 “As Time Goes By” — Returning to Paris and Casablanca to Mark Ingrid Bergman’s 100th Birthday . . . . . . . . . . 19 PU Women’s Hoops Wins Loyola Marymount Tourney . . . . . . . . . . . 30 PDS Soccer Star Bunce, Hun Football’s Mayfield Earn Nods as Town Topics’ Standout Fall Performers . . . . . . . . 34
Former Wilson School Dean and Author of Unfinished Business AnneMarie Slaughter Speaks at Dodds Auditorium . . . . 7 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 29 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Classified Ads . . . . . . . 42 Music/Theater . . . . . . 18 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 13 New to Us . . . . . . . . . . 26 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 40 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 42 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Service Directory . . . . 41 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Princeton University Plans a New Role For Bainbridge House Bainbridge House, the historic building that has served as home to the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) since 1967, is being turned into an arts-focused information center and gathering space. The circa 1766 house at 158 Nassau Street will also be home to new administrative space for the education staff of the Princeton University Art Museum, the University announced Tuesday. The Historical Society, which has been renting the building from the University for $1 a year for several decades, is relocating to Updike Farmstead on Quaker Road. Currently closed, the HSP will reopen on January 6 at Updike Farm. The organization has been dividing its operations and exhibits between the two locations since purchasing the six-acre farm in 2004. The University is planning a renovation and restoration of Bainbridge House. When completed, it will be used “to inform visitors about arts and humanities offerings, including those at the Princeton University Art Museum, and the Lewis Center for the Arts, and encourage further participation by the wider Princeton community and visitors in the University’s programs,” according to a press release issued by the University. There will be galleries, gathering spaces, a showcase for local artisans, and a ticketing center on the ground floor. The Art Museum education staff will run the public spaces. “The focus of the project will be to provide a location that is both open and welcoming to the community and visitors to the region, and encourage all to discover the rich cultural opportunities available in Princeton,” the release continues. Murphy Bunrham & Buttrick Architects of New York City has been engaged to help come up with a preservation and restoration plan for the building’s historic features while simultaneously updating it and making it more accessible. Construction is expected to begin next year, with the building targeted for occupancy in spring 2017. Built in 1766 by Job Stockton, a prosperous tanner and cousin of Richard Stockton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, Bainbridge House is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Princeton and one of the area’s best preserved examples of mid-Georgian architecture. Continued on Page 12
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Historic Designation Urged for Witherspoon-Jackson
At a lengthy and often emotional meeting of Princeton’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Monday evening, a consultant to the municipality recommended that the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood be designated a local historic district. A standing-room-only crowd including neighborhood residents, architects, and local officials packed the main meeting room at Witherspoon Hall to hear a presentation by Wise Preservation Planning, the Chester Springs, Pa. company hired to survey the area that has been home to the town’s African American community and other ethnic groups for generations. Following an informative presentation by longtime neighborhood resident and historian Shirley Satterfield, the HPC opened the floor to members of the community. Several spoke passionately about how African Americans had landed in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood after being forced out of other parts of town, and urged the HPC to vote in favor of recommending the measure to Princeton Council, which makes the final decision. Some other residents and property owners questioned the study’s conclusions and expressed concerns that creating a historic district would negatively affect the neighborhood. At the start of his talk, Bob Wise said that he had prepared studies for many
potential historic districts, but had never seen such a large turnout for a presentation. The company prepared a 110-page study covering the history and architecture of Witherspoon-Jackson, surveying 395 properties. They classified them into “contributing,” or buildings and sites more than 50 years old that retain their integrity, and “non-contributing,” defined as being up to 45 years old and altered to an extent that they no longer fit in with the neighborhood’s character. About 71 percent are considered contributing, and 19 percent
non-contributing. Four properties are considered key for obtaining the historic designation: the Paul Robeson House, Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, Dorothea’s House, and Witherspoon School. The consultants based their conclusions on the municipality’s own criteria as well as guidelines from the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service Department of the Interior. Continued on Page 8
Heroin Arrests in Princeton Reflect National Epidemic, Ominous Trend Describing last week’s two heroin arrests as only the “tip of the iceberg,” Princeton Police Chief Nick Sutter is certain this problem “is not going away any time soon.” “People are turning to heroin because of the price,” Mr. Sutter said. “There has been a huge spike in the cost of pills, prescription pain killers, and heroin is a cheaper alternative. It has become the second most popular street drug after marijuana.” Princeton Police made two arrests last Tuesday, November 24 at a John Street
residence: Jordan Walden, 22, of Princeton for possession with intent to distribute — also possession of marijuana, cocaine, and prescription legend drugs; and Laura Sliwa, 19, for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. The drug distribution charges were within 1000 feet of school property and within 500 feet of a public park and public housing. Both were taken to Mercer County Correctional Center, with $225,000 bail for Mr. Walden, $10,000 bail with a 10 percent posting option for Ms. Sliwa. Continued on Page 4
REFLECTED GLORY: The faces of children tell you all you need to know about the beauty of the Palmer Square tree the moment the lights came on Friday night . (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)
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