My Favorite Places – Mechanic Street

July 1, 2015

A new series has started – My Favorite Places

This will be an ongoing series of articles, written by architects about some of there favorite or most memorable spaces.  It could be a building, a park, a town.  Whatever is special to that person.  The first article was penned by AIA West Jersey member Mark Barone, AIA, and was featured in the Courier Post newspaper.   Mark talks about a favorite place in his new hometown of Haddonfield, NJ., here is an excerpt of the printed article:

A few years ago, my family relocated from Brooklyn to Haddonfield. As a family with young children, we found the town appealing because of its schools, vibrant main street and easy access to transportation into Philadelphia.

But for me, the town had another draw; as an architect, I enjoy wandering around town, observing the details of historic buildings and homes, and Haddonfield has no shortage of these unique structures.

However, the place I appreciate the most is not a building, but a space between buildings: Mechanic Street, a short one-block long alley connecting the two main streets that run through the center of town. Mechanic Street’s early history is one of transportation, in particular horse-drawn transportation.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this street housed several horse stables that provided horses for sale or for hire by travelers and residents. A blacksmith shop, wheelwright and manufacturing building that produced carriages, buggies and wagons anchored the street end…

See full article here:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/opinion/2015/06/24/commentary-mechanic-street-deserves-appreciation/29254881/

If you are interested in writing a short article about your favorite place, please contact the AIANJ Public Awareness Chair, Bruce Turner, AIA.  Our committee can help you and can assist in getting it not only on our AIA-NJ website but also a local NJ paper.

By admin | Posted in AIA-NJ News, Architecture in NJ, Members & the Community, NJ Architect Newsletter | Tagged: AIANJ My Favorite Places, Haddonfield NJ, Mark Barone AIA, Mechanic Street | Comments (0)