Are you one of those residents who yearns for the old Hoboken? Do you reminisce about the times before the hi-rise buildings, condos, and chain stores that line Washington Street? Glancing at work by artist Carroll Jones III will remind you of those old times, when the city was filled with small, family-owned stores.
‘In his blood’
Jones was born in Palm Springs, Calif. His father, also named Carroll Jones, served in the army, and was stationed on the west coast during World War II.
“After the war was over, we moved back to New York City,” Jones said. “We lived with my mother’s parents and then moved to New Jersey when I was one or two. I’ve lived in New Jersey ever since.”
‘If I had the money and if I had a parking space, I would move back to Hoboken.’ – Carroll Jones III
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“My father worked for magazines,” Jones said. “My grandfather was also an artist, and he would walk in the mountains and paint trees.”
Passing by as a commuter
Jones grew up in New Providence, N.J., but attended school in New York City.
“I used to go to school in New York City and I had to take the train and the bus to school,” Jones said. “But I loved Hoboken, and this was in the 1960s. I came here to photograph in 1977 and I loved it so much that I moved here and began painting storefronts.”
Jones, 66, has been painting since he was 20-years-old, and now resides in Jersey City.
The artist names the realist painter Edward Hopper as one of his major influences. Hopper similarly painted storefronts, and other common features of American life – like gas stations, motels, restaurants, theaters, railroads, and street scenes – and its inhabitants.
Jones lived in Hoboken for 15 years beginning in 1977. His work showcased storefronts throughout Hoboken, and recently, the Jersey City resident revisited some of his Mile Square City roots.
Revisiting Hoboken
Jones was recently commissioned by a friend, Dr. Merry Naddeo of Hoboken, for a drawing of city landmark Schnackenburg’s Luncheonette, which opened in 1931 and still retains its original façade and much of its period decor.
“I had it done for my son’s birthday,” Naddeo said. “My son, growing up, used to always love Schnackenburg’s. I would say, I’ll make you a grilled cheese, and he would say no, and would always go to Schnackenburg’s.”
Naddeo is the former owner of Ricco’s, a restaurant on 10th and Washington in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. She met Jones during this time, and was a fan of his work. In the last four years, Naddeo has compiled a grand collection of Jones’s work, which she proudly displays throughout her Bloomfield Street home.
“I used to walk around Hoboken looking for [old time] stores but they’re mostly gone now,” Jones said.
His favorite location in Hoboken to paint was a barber shop located on 14th Street.
Jones’ method is to take many photographs of a location, return to his studio, then paint or draw.
“I can’t paint outside,” Jones said. “It bothers me, especially with the wind.”
Problems of old, problems of new
After 15 years in Hoboken, Jones packed up and moved to Jersey City. The problems of Hoboken 18 years ago still resemble the problems of today.
“I did finally leave because I couldn’t park anywhere,” Jones said. “I got so sick of it, and that was years ago. I couldn’t go to a movie because there was no place to park when I got back.”
Now, as Jones gets older, he travels less for his work.
“I don’t do it anymore, but I used to go to Vermont all the time and paint the same sort of thing,” Jones said, speaking of old time storefronts. “I wouldn’t paint the whole storefront, just close-up views. I like to paint a window or a door.”
Jones has found some old time stores to paint near his new home in Jersey City.
“I moved to Jersey City and continued doing the same thing,” Jones said. “A lot of Jersey City has the old places, but they’re disappearing now too.”
He doesn’t like painting modern buildings, but does plan on working on a Hoboken painting in the future.
“I just started to do work on some photographs I took in Hoboken in an alley around Fifth Street,” Jones said. “I don’t know if it’s still there, though.”
The alley Jones will be painting is based on photographs he snapped the 1970s.
Jones has previously been commissioned by Henry Kissinger, Al Pacino, and the late Malcolm Forbes.
Though he does not paint the picturesque Manhattan skyline views that Hoboken offers, he does enjoy spending time along the Hudson River.
“Late at night, I would walk up to Stevens Tech and sit in the quiet and look at New York,” Jones said. “I like to look at New York, but I don’t really want to paint it. If I had the money and if I had a parking space, I would move back to Hoboken.”
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com