HISTORIANS IN DEFENSE OF HISTORIC PRINCETON

We write as citizens as well as historians to express our deep concern about the preservation of historic Princeton.

Few if any American towns are as distinguished as Princeton, connected as it is to the breadth of our history. Its landmarks, beloved by tourists as well as townspeople, are many. Within a radius of less than a quarter mile sits a unique historic area that includes, The Barracks, dating to ca. 1684 and the temporary residence of both James Madison and Alexander Hamilton a century later when Princeton was the fledgling nation's capital. 

Other highlights include Frog Hollow, site of important combat during the battle of Princeton, a turning point in the American Revolution; Morven, the estate of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Marquand Park and Arboretum, dating to 1855; and Albert Einstein's residence during his tenure at the Institute for Advanced Study from 1935 until his death in 1955.

We are distressed to learn that this remarkable neighborhood is now threatened by the construction of a massive, privately built luxury housing project, startlingly high in density, with provision for a 200-vehicle underground garage, and with minimal allowance for affordable housing. 

For generations, Princetonians, assisted by the state and federal governments, have been wise and vigilant stewards of their town's legacy. The municipality has balanced innovation and responsible growth with preservation of the historical elements that help make Princeton the distinctive place it is, a magnet for visitors from across the globe. Abandoning that stewardship now would be an irreparable blow to the prestige not simply of Princeton but of New Jersey and, ultimately, the nation at large. 

The arrival of the 250th anniversary of the Revolution seems an auspicious moment to rededicate ourselves to the trust bestowed on us. In that spirit, we urge not simply Princetonians but all concerned citizens to oppose this destructive and ultimately self-destructive project. 

Ken Burns, Independent Filmmaker, Florentine Films Harold Holzer, Roosevelt House at Hunter College, CUNY

James M. McPherson, Princeton University

Jon Meacham, Vanderbilt University

Sean Wilentz, Princeton University

Brenda Wineapple, Columbia University

Institutional affiliations listed for identification purposes only.

Ad Hoc Committee of Historians in Defense of Historic Princeton,

7 Edgehill Street, Princeton, NJ 08540