J. Owen Grundy ( March 8, 1911 - January, 1985) was a native of Jersey City, New Jersey[1] and was until his death, its official historian and chairman of the city's Municipal Historic Districts Commission.[2] A Hudson River waterfront park at Exchange Place is named in his honor.[3]

Marker at park named in Grundy's honor
Pier in the park

Grundy wrote The History of Jersey City,[4] published in honor of the 1976 American Bicentennial and about 50 monographs on historic subjects related to Hudson County, New Jersey. He was among the founders of the Brownstone Revival Committee in Jersey City and the Preservation and Restoration Association of Jersey City and had served five terms as president of the Jersey City Museum Association.

From 1946 to 1959, Grundy was a reporter and associate editor of The Villager in Greenwich Village, where he was a leader in the preservation movement. Along with Audrey Zapp, Theodore Conrad, and Morris Pesin,[5] Grundy was influential in the environmental and preservation movement that led to the creation of Liberty State Park.[6]

The J. Owen Grundy Award is given annually for preservation projects in the city.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jersey City Reporter". Archived from the original on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  2. ^ "J. Owen Grundy Dead at 73; Official Jersey City Historian", New York Times, January 30, 1985
  3. ^ Mayor Healy & Nanette Grundy to Cut Ribbon for the Grand Re-Opening & Re-Dedication of the J. Owen Grundy Park JC press release: park rededication 2008
  4. ^ Grundy, J. Owen (1975). "A Dutch Legacy". The History of Jersey City (1609 - 1976). Jersey City: Walter E. Knight. p. 5.
  5. ^ Morris Pesin Marker in LSP
  6. ^ Grundy, J. Owen (June 22, 1982), "Visiting Editorial–Keep our park", The Jersey Journal, archived from the original on July 20, 2011
  7. ^ "2008 Preservation Awards". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-04-11.