The Beacon, a complex that was originally built in the 1930s as the Jersey City Medical Center, is now a luxury mixed-use development that has won accolades for its historic restoration. And next week it will be part of a history tour.
The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce kicks off their new Hudson County History Series with the first event highlighting “The History of Jersey City” at the Beacon on Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City. The event will be held this Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The series is meant as a way to bring local history and business networking under one roof.
Tuesday’s kickoff will start with a tour of the Beacon given by Ulana Zakalak, the Beacon’s Historic Restoration Consultant, to show off the details that were preserved in the building such as the original chandeliers. After the tour, there will be a book signing by Cynthia Harris & Leon Yost, co-authors of the recent book “Changing Jersey City: A History in Photographs,” and then a lecture on Journal Square history, “A Suspended Place,” given by Dr. Eric Friedman, a dean at Hudson County Community College.
The event will be held this Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
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The chamber, which has served the Hudson County business community since 1888, has 250 companies with over 1,000 people and businesses as members. Among them is Metrovest Equities, the development company responsible for the Beacon.
Dunlap said the chamber is also planning events for the history series in other towns such as Bayonne, Weehawken, and Hoboken over the next year.
The business of history
Dunlap, who became the chamber’s president and CEO last summer, said in creating the history series he was looking to “invigorate” the Chamber of Commerce and bring “pride” and “possible theme” to their business networking events. Dunlap also looked at the rich history of Hudson County, and especially Jersey City, which is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year.
“I felt there were some opportunities to have an interesting theme and event around the history of Jersey City,” Dunlap said. “And since the chamber is countywide, we looked to show off the history in different towns in the county.”
Dunlap also said the Beacon’s developer, George Filopoulos, wanted to show off what he has done in terms of the restoration.
The History of Jersey City takes place Tuesday, March 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 4 Beacon Way (at Montgomery St. and Mill Road) in Jersey City. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. The registration fee is $25 for Hudson County Chamber of Commerce members and $40 for non-members. Payment is required upon registration. Convenient valet parking will be available for $5.
To register, contact Janet Estremera at (201)386-0699, ext. 27. You can email her at janet.estremera@hudsonchamber.org, or visit www.hudsonchamber.org.
For more information on The Beacon, visit www.thebeaconjc.com.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.