Preservation Potentials: Green Castle Hotel

Very excited to present the latest Preservation Potential! A once lovely 1880 building chock full of history and potential is up for sale. The building has been under threat of demolition and this could be a chance in a lifetime to save it whilst investing in this historically scenic gateway into Woodbury. Situated on the corner of Cooper and Railroad, the former Victorian-era hotel built by a 5-term mayor, Lewis M. Green is located across from a successful cafe-style restaurant and a few steps from the active Priya art gallery! It will also be nearby the planned light rail stop which is in development now. The building needs some restorative work but the bones are good! The potential is enormous! This spot would be an amazing coffee shop, arts center, museum, storefront, bed and breakfast... you name it! Original exterior window shutters as shown on the photo below are currently stored in the basement. Available grants for restoration funding are available to non-profits. Also because the property is a contributing building in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places' Green Era District potential grant aid is available. More information HERE.

From the listing: The subject property is a combination two and three story building with a partial basement. The Owner has authorized the sale of the building, subject to the City of Woodbury approving a formal minor subdivision plan creating a lot with the building on it of approximately 45' x 90'; this will result in a non-conforming lot requiring a variance(s). The Owner will consider a license for the land retained by the Owner for a buyer's adjacent on site ingress and egress as well as parking use under terms and conditions to be determined by the Owner. The building contains approximately 24 rooms with various bathrooms and kitchen areas. The total estimated gross building area is 5,348 SF. The building is in need of complete restoration and remodeling both inside and out. It is the intent of the Owner to have the building restored by and investor or user. The proposed sale is part of Block 118 Lot 27. Real Estate taxes would be determined after an approved subdivision. Located in the Historic District.

Offered at $250,000! 

Full listing HERE.

For the back story visit HERE and HERE.

Rare Photo: Cooper Street West from Railroad

Thanks to an anonymous tip, I recently came into possession of an extremely rare personal photo of Woodbury. On the back of the photo written in pencil is: "West from Rail Road Woodberry New Jersey." The photo clearly shows the 1881 Green Castle Hotel and across from that, an empty lot which would later in 1909 become the site of the Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church. The photo is estimated to be circa 1900.

Also notice the Vanneman residence (Cooper Street Greenhouse) across from the empty lot on the opposite (NW) corner of Cooper and Euclid before the construction of the Daniel Steelman residence replaced it circa 1907. In 1964, 94-year-old I. Hampton Williams recalled the Vanneman Greenhouses had an actual banana tree growing inside (Hoelle, 1964). The Steelman residence, which still stands today became the rectory of St. Patrick's Church in 1957.

I will be donating the image to the Gloucester County Historical Society shortly so that they may properly preserve the photograph and so that members may enjoy the original.


Circa 1900 Cooper Street West from Railroad. Click for larger.

 

1880 ad for Cooper Street Greenhouse
 



October 14th, 1903 WDT article announcing the sale of the  long empty lot which would later become the site for St. Patrick's Church across from the Green Hotel

 

____________________

 

Hoelle, E. (Ed.). (2005). Vignettes of "historic Woodbury". Woodbury, NJ: Gloucester County Historical Society.

Green Hotel Selected for Preservation NJ's 2013 10 Most Endangered List

image: Denise
Henhoeffer/Courier-Post

Very excited to announce that the Green Hotel located at the corner of Cooper and Railroad Avenue has been selected for this years 10 Most Endangered List from Preservation NJ. For the back story which began way back in February, 2012 see my earlier post. We hope the listing brings the current owners extra resources and help to work with saving this important historic structure in our downtown!

Whereas, historic preservation has been proven an effective tool for revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability, we believe a restored Green Hotel will help fortify a strong gateway into the City of Woodbury and help spearhead further preservation efforts. Saving the Green Hotel is quite literally the environmentally green choice. Rehabilitating old buildings keeps existing materials out of landfills and eliminates the energy consumption that the process of demolition, landfilling, the production of new materials, and new construction necessitates. Demolishing the hotel for the creation of a parking lot was the original desire of the Holy Angels Parish, the buildings current stewards. It has been repeatedly shown that eliminating traditional downtown density damages the aesthetic quality, walkability, and vibrancy of urban areas; such as when buildings are replaced by parking lots. In addition we believe saving a locally important historic building is completely aligned with Main Street Woodbury's latest branding: Arts. History. Home.

 

Local Press Coverage:

Philadelphia Inquirer: Trying to rejuvenate Woodbury a building at a time

South Jersey Times: Nonprofit lists Woodbury, Camden sites as 'most endangered' in state

Courier Post: Preservation group aims to save structures

Times of Trenton: N.J.'s Top 10 Most Endangered Historic Places 2013 list includes Sandy damaged communities, sites in 8 counties

From Preservation NJ's press release:  

PRESERVATION NEW JERSEY'S 2013 10 MOST ENDANGERED

  

TRENTON, NJ - In recognition of National Preservation Month, Preservation New Jersey, Inc. (PNJ) announced its 19th annual list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey.

The 10 Most Endangered Historic Places program spotlights irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural and archeological resources in New Jersey that are in imminent danger of being lost. Unique this year, the list includes 11 entries: 10 places, and one issue that endangers historic resources statewide. The act of listing these resources acknowledges their importance to the heritage of New Jersey and draws attention to the predicaments that endanger their survival and the survival of historic resources statewide. The list, generated from nominations by the public, aims to attract new perspectives and ideas to sites in desperate need of creative solutions.

  

10 Most Endangered Historic Places list are based on the likelihood that historic buildings and places can be brought back to useful and productive life. PNJ proudly points to many properties previously listed among the 10 Most Endangered that have now been saved and preserved or rehabilitated, and have once again become character-defining assets to New Jersey’s communities.

  

As always, selections to the 2013 10 Most Endangered list are based on three criteria:

• historic significance and architectural integrity,
• the critical nature of the threat identified, and
• the likelihood that inclusion on the list will have a positive impact on efforts to protect the resource

Founded in 1978, Preservation New Jersey is a nonprofit organization that helps homeowners, organizations, public officials and citizen advocates working to preserve the historic neighborhoods and sites that are important to our communities. Preservation New Jersey produces this annual list of New Jersey's 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in addition to other advocacy programs; provides educational workshops; publishes a monthly online newsletter, interactive website, and blog; serves as a resource for technical assistance and general advice for the public; and addresses legislation and public policies that impact New Jersey's historic places and communities.

  

Visit Preservation New Jersey’s websites at www.preservationnj.org and www.pnj10most.org for more information regarding the organization and the 10 Most Endangered program.

Save the Green Hotel!

10/23/12 UPDATE: THANK YOU!! THE CITY COUNCIL DENIED THE APPEAL FOR THE HOLY ANGELS PARISH/DIOCESE OF CAMDEN TO RAZE THE BUILDING!! 

On October 22nd the Holy Angels Parish will appear in front of Woodbury City Council to once again attempt to obtain permission to demolish the Second Empire style brick Victorian hotel built in 1881 by Lewis M. Green, long-term mayor and father to Woodbury's first multi-millionaire, G.G. Green. The Greens can be viewed as being historic local philanthropists, contributing largely to the economic, commercial, residential, and entertainment outlets of the Woodbury area. The Holy Angels Parish and their controlling Diocese of Camden want to raze this structure to create a parking lot. Both Woodbury's Historic Preservation Commission and Planning/Zoning board have both denied their application for demolition previously, but they are not taking no for an answer.

What you can do to help is quite easy. A quick, kind, thoughtful email to any one or all of the following City Council members, stating your interest in saving the historic structure would be greatly appreciated. This will show the council how many of us are out there that see the value in preserving these structures. If you need help in writing your email, the following 5 reasons from the NJ Historic Trust are always helpful to point out:

Historic Preservation:
1. Creates Jobs
Because historic preservation is more labor intensive than new construction, it is proven to create more and better-paying jobs.
2. Is Good for Communities
Americans want to live, work, and visit authentic communities that reflect the area’s unique history and character. 
3. Is Good for the Local Economy
More than 75 percent of the economic benefits of historic rehabilitation remain in the local economies. This is because developers of historic buildings buy local and hire local.
4. Is Good for the Environment
Historic rehabilitation, by definition, focuses on existing buildings in existing communities, meaning that green space and farmland are unharmed. These places tend to be dense, walk-able communities that are close to public transit, schools and jobs.
5. Is a Smart Investment
Over the past 32 years, the federal historic tax credit has cost the US $17.5 billion in lost tax revenue. This figure is more than offset by the $22.3 billion in federal taxes these projects have generated.

________________________

City Council Members emails:

Francis I. Connor

FConnor@woodbury.nj.us

Lester Lockman

LLockman@woodbury.nj.us

Danielle Carter

DCarter@woodbury.nj.us

C. Barry Sloane

BSloane@woodbury.nj.us

Gwendolyn Joyce Brown

GBrown@woodbury.nj.us

William H. Fleming

BFleming@woodbury.nj.us

Heather S. Tierney

HTierney@woodbury.nj.us

Harry E. Trout

HTrout@woodbury.nj.us

Thomas B. Louis

TLouis@woodbury.nj.us

THANK YOU!

Gray Towers: Part One

Once upon a time, there sat a most exquisite estate in Woodbury, New Jersey. Behind an ornate wrought iron fence, surrounded by weeping willows with picturesque wooden bridges criss-crossing Hester's Branch creek, upon a gentle sloping hill stood a world class Victorian era mansion constructed in the Second Empire style, honorably named Gray Towers. Here is its story and of the family that had it built.

Lewis M. Green, former clock salesman and eventual mayor of Woodbury had in 1866 attained the rights to a medicinal formula that he was successful with treating his dyspepsia. He began marketing this formula, which he called Green's August Flower and also purchased the rights to the already successful Boschee's German Syrup. (Later in 1880, son G. G. Green would introduce Green's Ague Conqueror to their line.) These formulas, like many medicines of the day, were essentially laudanum, containing healing herbs, alcohol, and opium. Around 1872, Lewis' son George Gil Green (G. G.), after becoming disenchanted with the medical industry and having spent some time with the One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, returned to Woodbury, his birthplace, to help his father manage the growing business. G. G. was, for the times, a modern day business man and quickly invested in the printing of personalized almanacs which were distributed worldwide. Green even held a patent on these almanacs (see image below). So many were mailed from Woodbury that the Woodbury post office became the 7th highest ranking in the nation for revenue!

All of this slick marketing along with the manufacturing of some pretty potent elixirs paid off and G. G. and family became Woodbury's first multi-millionaires. As the almanacs announced, his success was the "result of true merit." The Green's owned multiple steamboats, a boathouse and wharf on the Woodbury Creek near Wood St, a factory in Toronto, a state-of-the-art laboratory on Green Street with printing press,  a summer "cottage" on Lake Hopatcong, and a deluxe railroad passenger car that they traveled in every year to their hotel, the Castle Green in Pasadena, CA (not to be confused with the Green Castle Hotel built by Lewis Green on Cooper and Railroad, which is currently threatened to be razed by the Catholic parish). Obviously, the Greens were not afraid to spend money on themselves. However they were also extremely civic-minded and funded out of their own pockets the construction of beautiful buildings around Woodbury. The use of these buildings ranged from retail use such as "drugstore corner" on Broad and Cooper, factory spaces such as the one used by Blasius Piano manufacturers, a Stock Farm featuring popular horse and bicycle races, and an Opera House for the public's entertainment; all built with the beautification and growth of Woodbury in mind. They also constructed numerous beautiful residential houses in the area, some of which are fortunately still standing. Out of everything they had built, the most impressive must surely be G. G. and family's personal residence, Gray Towers.

Gray Towers circa 1877
note: 2nd back tower was not
yet added.

Gray Towers was built circa 1876. Sands (2006) in his Woodbury: Images of America book gives the date as 1889, but this is surely incorrect. According to the History of Woodbury, New Jersey: from 1681 to 1936: The first Green's laboratory stood on West German (now Barber) just West of Lewis M. Green's mansion. In June 1873 the lab was moved to the corner of Cooper and Green (site of Green's carriage house) and in October 1879 to the large brick laboratory further down on Green Street. "Dr. [George] Green's first residence in Woodbury was the cottage on the Reeves lot, site of the present Court apartments on South Broad Street; the second on Euclid street; and in 1876 he moved to the stone mansion [Gray Towers] on Cooper Street." The first issue of the widely popular Green's August Flower Almanacs (the first issue being called Green's Pictorial Almanac 1878/79) was printed in 1877. In this issue are depicted images of their original factory on the corner of Green Ave and Cooper St, near where the Coachman's Residence for the Gray Towers estate was eventually built and currently sits. The factory shows a building date of 1877 on the roof line, a common practice of the time. The same images also show the unmistakable visage of Gray Towers (see above image). Some form of Green's laboratory existed in this location prior to this date. An August Flower check dated 1876 shows the old factory and what appears to be an early form of Gray Towers. See below. This image differs from the eventual look of the mansion and could possibly be a prototype of the building which appeared on paper only.

1876 Green check showing early model Gray Towers

Above image also shown on early promo material for Green

Be sure to check out Part Two! The Woodbury architect and the Gray Towers Floor Plans.

An Extremely Rare Photo of a Young G.G.Green
and Family On the Steps of Their Woodbury
Mansion, Gray Towers

READ Part TWO: HERE

READ Part THREE: HERE

Sands, R. W. (2006). Woodbury: Images of America. (p. 128). Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing.

HELP! Green Castle Hotel threatened.

 UPDATE 10/23/2012: Great News! City Council has denied the appeal made by the Holy Angels Parish/Diocese of Camden to raze the Green Hotel!!

 

 UPDATE 8/14/2012: Please note that Woodbury's City Council has scheduled the application for Holy Angels Parish – Appeal of Planning/Zoning Board Denial of Certificate of Appropriateness– to be fought on October 22, 2012.

UPDATE 6/8/2012: The church and their legal representatives are seeking to appeal the city's decision preventing them from tearing down this contributing historical building within the officially recognized Green Era Historic District  #88000992 on the State Register of Historic Places! Apparently they just don't get it. I urge you to contact them to express your interest in preserving this unique Second Empire Victorian Era Hotel! See below for their contact info.

Your help is required! Woodbury, NJ stands to lose yet another Green landmark. This time it's the Green Castle Hotel, a lovely Second Empire Victorian building with beautiful keystone lintels built by Lewis Green (former mayor of Woodbury and father to G.G. Green, Woodbury's first millionaire). This hotel is located at the corner of Cooper St. & Railroad Ave in the Green Historic District and was built in 1881 to accommodate the many trains arriving across the street at the now preserved Eastern Stick style train station, home of the successful Woodbury Station Cafe. It does not go unnoticed that many in this town would like to raze structures such as this one that stood as welcoming symbols to visitors and tourists arriving everyday from far and wide to visit this once, and still proud city.

The Details:

An application has just been submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission by the Holy Angels Catholic Parish and their governing Diocese of Camden requesting permission to raze the building for yet another parking lot! This is an absolutely absurd request as there is ample free parking all around the area including the church's own large parking lot, free street parking at the side of the church on Euclid Street, a free city parking garage a half a block away on Cooper Street and plentiful free city off street parking across the street on Railroad Avenue.

They are stating that as a religious / charitable organization they do not have the money to maintain the structure, which is apparent given the current visible condition of the building, but they certainly were able to come up with the $271,000 to purchase it in 2005 knowing they would need to maintain the structure. They are also stating there is no historical value in the building and its architectural style and that it could serve no other purpose. One could easily see this as an Internet cafe, coffee shop, art gallery, or better yet, a fully preserved Victorian hotel bed and breakfast to attract some historic-minded tourism to the town. How about a Green-themed historic center showcasing the many innovations and attractions the Green family brought to the area in the 1800s?  If the diocese does not want to donate or sell the building to more interested parties, Paul Willham, owner of the Indianapolis based Victorian Antiquities & Design Historic Restoration company suggests they think of potential adaptive reuse of the building, maybe as classrooms, a meeting space or future community center space.


PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...

call, write, email or Facebook the parish and diocese KINDLY stating that you are not happy with their plan to demolish the building. It is apparent from past efforts in obtaining architectural restoration quotes and applying for preservation grants that the parish would like to see the building saved.

Can you offer them any suggestions?

The Diocese of Camden, Holy Angels Parish and their legal representative contacts are as follows:

Diocese of Camden 

631 Market Street

Camden, NJ 

08102 

Phone: 856-756-7900 

Fax: 856-963-2655

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diocese-of-Camden/271539036173

***************

Holy Angels Parish

64 Cooper Street

Woodbury, NJ

08096

Phone: 856-845-0123 

Fax: 856-845-7409

Web: www.holyangelsnj.org

Email: mail@holyangelsnj.org 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/holyangelsparish

Rev. Msgr. Joseph V. Di Mauro, Pastor

***************

Holy Angels Parish's legal representative: 

Francis J. Monari, Esquire, McKernan, McKernan and Godino

113 North Sixth St.

Camden, NJ

08102

Email:

mckernangodino@juno.com

monarifj.esq@juno.com

Sands, R. W. (2006). Woodbury: Images of America. (p. 128). Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing.