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A Lawrenceville History Lesson Lawrenceville is known as "the cradle of America's Industry" because so many major companies have their roots here and some of the nation's leading industrialists had purchased homes or land here or in the adjacent Strip District, which is considered by a lot of people to be part of Lawrenceville. Our community has seen many important visitors and residents since its founding in 1814 and even before that year. One of the earliest and most important visitors is George Washington, who passed through here in 1753 where many historians believe he spent the night on what was then an island, but is now part of the Lawrenceville shoreline somewhere between 33rd and 40th Streets. Washington was not the only American President to come through Lawrenceville. This honor is shared by James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, William Howard Taft (twice) and U. S. Grant. Jackie Kennedy, one of America's most popular first ladies, is possibly the only wife of an American president to visit us. The Marquis de Lafayette came to Lawrenceville during his return trip to the young country he fought so hard to create. Carnegie, Phipps, McConway, Torley, H. K. Porter and other industrialists held business interests here. Both Fred Rogers and Dr. Benjamin Spock spent time at the Arsenal Family and Children's Center. Of those that lived in the neighborhood, its founder William Foster was a patriot whose actions helped the Americans win the Battle of New Orleans. William's son, Stephen Foster, is Lawrenceville's best-known resident. Although Stephen left Lawrenceville when he was very small, he went on to become the first American to earn a living as a composer and his music is still played around the world more than century a century after his death. Other famous Lawrenceville residents include George Croghan who was known as "the king of the traders" and is believed by many to have been the model for the character "Hawkeye" in the book Last of the Mohicans. John Shoenberger was an iron magnate. Carnegie once said, "Shoenberger was to iron what I was to steel." The artist Clarence Johns lived here as did world welterweight champion Fritzie Zivic, industrialist Andrew Kloman, conductor Billy May, actor Frank Gorshin, mystery writer Tom Lipinski and romance novelist Barbara Sheridan. Whether you live in Lawrenceville, are planning to do so or are just visiting for the day we at the Lawrenceville Historical Society and the Lawrenceville Stakeholders want you to know that we consider you to be among the important visitors or residents. Without your generous support today's event would not be the success that it is. Thank you and welcome to the LAWRENCEVILLE HOSPITALITY HOUSE TOUR FOR 2005. - Jude Wudarczyk, Lawrenceville Historical Society |
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