If you have moved to the Hoboken/Jersey City area in your lifetime, you may want to know more about the development of this vibrant community, about who came toHoboken, and why things developed the way they did. A new exhibit at the Hoboken Historical Museum can shed some light on the subject.
“Hoboken, Ellis Island, and the Immigrant Experience, 1892-1924” is the title of the exhibit, and it appears to be a fascinating subject. Since many of the large passenger shipping lines docked here, it seems Hoboken was sort of a funnel for the “melting pot” experience in America. Guest curator, Dr. Christina Ziegler-McPherson is an immigration historian who actually lives in Hoboken and can expound on the immigration dynamic that shaped the area.
Besides the descendants of the Dutch and English who settled here, Hoboken saw a large influx of German and Irish immigrants during the latter part of the 19th century. Then, around the turn of the century, the Irish immigrants were outnumbered by the Italian immigrants. Also, arrivals from places like Russia, Austria and Norway contributed to the mix. Then, with the world wars came refugees from the Asian countries.
There are poignant stories of people who came with hardly anything but the clothes on their backs, and who went through the Ellis Island experience, and stories of wealthy people who eased right into American society. The conditions on the ships in which they arrived is explored, also. The difference in the treatment of the people in the first-class section and those in second class is one thing. Then there were those who could only afford passage in steerage.
This enthralling exhibit will run six days a week through December 23. In conjunction with the exhibit is a lecture series. Entitled “The Immigrant Experience”, it will address various angles of the topic. Many interesting topics are treated, and there will be something for everyone. Here is a link to the schedule of the lectures.
What is your history, vis-a-vis, the Hoboken Experience?
Edward
Comments(2)