Mimi Omiecinski January 1st, 2009
I get invited to celebrate the New Year with Ted & Henry, my new Borough buds. Some of their closest Philly friends (and new Princeton buds) came by to check out their new digs at the Waxwood Building.
As the party kept serving up glorious food and intriguing conversation, I couldn’t help but be grateful that Princeton protected this historic landmark……which was originally the Princeton elementary school for African American children.
Here’s some of my thoughts that ran parrallel to some of the most invigrating personalities I’ve met in a long time:
“Paul Robeson probably kissed a girl in this building …. Paul would go on to graduate top in his class in highschool, Rutgers, Columbia Law School and later become the first man to perform on Broadway. At the height of his international career he was as famous as Franklin D Roosevelt and rather than commecialize his talents, he leveraged his popularity to increase the human rights of African Americans.
Donald Lambert probably played the piano for the kids…….Donald was a famous Townie before schools were available to African American children. He is a father to various forms of jazz music.
“Sport” Moore probably walked his daughter, Christine, to the front door – Sport was very successful property owner and Christine would later become a famous hairdresser and political rights activist
Betsey Stockton, born to a slave mother and fathered by a Stockton, son of the Signer of the Declaration of Independence, she attended classes at the Seminary and became so well educated created the unique curriculum for these maverick Americans…….”
Thank you Princeton for saving this type of architectural history that inspires us to continue to do great things with our talents, intellect and positions of power.
Thank you Hillier Group for preserving while modernizing this incredible landmark for past (and present) Princeton Greats!
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it was a PACKED house …… the info was downright provocative …..
