Promoting the economic vitality, sustainability, and heritage of New Jersey’s diverse communities through advocacy and education.
10 Most 25th Anniversary Gala & Documentary Premiere
This is a past event. For a recap, photos, and to watch the full documentary from the event, visit www.pnj10most.org/documentary
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
6:30PM – 8:30PM
Newark Symphony Hall
1020 Broad Street
Newark, NJ
Preservation New Jersey is celebrating 25 years of listing the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey. Since 1995, we have been spotlighting irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural, and archaeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost. By doing so, we have brought attention to the threats New Jersey’s historic resources are facing, and much needed support to specific sites in communities throughout the state.
Join us at Newark Symphony Hall for an evening of celebration and camaraderie with those dedicated to preserving New Jersey’s historic resources. During the gala, we will premiere a documentary* commemorating 25 years of grassroots preservation efforts supported by the 10 Most program.
SAVED OR LOST FOREVER:
A Short Documentary about PNJ’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places
On the 25th Anniversary of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey, SAVED OR LOST FOREVER tells the story of places that bore witness to significant events and periods in NJ history, and their importance to the communities that cherish these pieces of our collective past. Each year, we lose tangible connections to the past through the neglect and demolition of historic structures. PNJ’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in NJ list draws attention to the most threatened of these places. SAVED OR LOST FOREVER connects viewers to the story of three sites recognized on the list over the years – Camden High School, Romer Shoal Light, and the Van Wagenen/Apple Tree House.
*The 10 Most documentary was supported through a project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.
About Newark Symphony Hall:
Listed 25 years ago on PNJ’s first 10 Most Endangered Historic Places campaign in response to the announced relocation of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra to the NJPAC, many feared Newark Symphony Hall would flounder without a permanent use. Now celebrating its 95th year, Newark Symphony Hall continues to serve as a performance hall and special events venue, but requires significant capital improvements to bring it back to its former glory.
Newark Symphony Hall occupies a very special place in the cultural history of New Jersey. Built during the “Roaring Twenties,” this monument to a particularly optimistic era in American history has served as a stage to many of this century’s greatest musical artists. This multi-facility edifice was built by the Shriners, a Masonic order, in 1925 and known as the Salaam Temple. The facade is quite imposing with its massive Ionic columns and the interior is elegant with its sculpted marble designs with gold-leaf ornamentation in the Greek and Egyptian styles. Seating 3,500 people, it is on par with Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House, and Philharmonic Hall in New York City. The acoustics of the facility have been ranked with Boston’s famed Symphony Hall and other major concert halls around the country.