1913 View of Cranford
STATEMENT OF INTENT
I
enjoy telling a good story. My goal when designing artwork (especially for a
waiting area) is to spin a visual narrative for the viewer to get lost in. One
that is at once beautiful, entertaining and educational. For my subject matter,
I take the time to investigate local history and search for community themes. The
artwork which I am proposing for Cranford Station will celebrate the town’s unique
narrative. It is my hope that the viewer will be gain fresh perspective and a
sense of civic pride
HISTORIC REFERENCES
When thou haply seest some
rare, noteworthy object in thy travels, make me partaker of thy happiness. –
Shakespeare
In
preparing this proposal I performed research at Hanson House, home of the
Cranford Historical Society where I viewed many rare items donated to the
society’s collection. I also consulted a train historian and viewed works from
his private collection of NJ Railroading memorabilia. Looking at old maps and
photographs gave me insight to the local history. Cranford’s location on the Rahway
has always shaped the towns development and made the land desirable for
settlement dating from pre-colonial times. As I looked at the faces in the
historic photos I began to wonder what dreams and aspirations today’s residents
share with their forebears. These historic references have been woven into my
proposal. During my presentation to the committee I share some of the
highlights which include:
·
Canoe Clubs along the Rahway
River
·
A 1894 description of the River
Carnival
·
The history of the Raritan
Railroad
·
“Old Peppy”
·
A quaint poem
ARTWORK LOCATIONS
 |
| Exterior rendering from North Avenue |
 |
| Side rendering viewed from platform |
The
glass treatment in this proposal references outbound shelter structure facing North
Avenue. This structure features 26 windows. There are 8 windows on the front
façade facing the tracks, 4 windows each on the east and west walls, and 10
windows which look onto the downtown (shown above). The image above shows a
simulated view. A large design element will draw the viewer’s eye to the
artwork. Variations in the opacity of the pigments used in the artwork will
encourage the transformation of the panels in different lighting situations.
The lanterns featured in the design will be prominent both day and night.
The station artwork
will be visible from the main Downtown District along North Ave.
THEMES
The River Carnival
The Rahway River which meanders through the town of Cranford has been the
source of endless hours of recreational activities for the town’s residents
throughout history. As many as seven canoe clubs were active in the town. This
description from a journal published in 1894 caught my imagination:
“The Boating Association
has had charge of the regattas on the river, and these, in years past, have
been very successful entertainments, especially some of the canoe races. There
is about a mile of good boating on the river. But the greatest work done by the
association has been the organizing and carrying out of the Venetian carnivals,
which occur usually on a midsummer’s night, and are without question very
beautiful. On these occasions the depths of the foliage and the trees along the
winding river banks are decorated with myriads of lanterns of all shapes and
colors, and the banks are ablaze with chemical fire and fireworks.
The crowd throngs the
banks and the bridges; the bands play their sweetest strains: and the
procession of beautifully and fantastically decorated boats, peopled by Cranford's
prettiest girls and their swains, glide in mysterious array along the entire
navigable length of the stream and back. As many as ten thousand visitors have
been present at a carnival, and it is impossible to be too enthusiastic over the
beauty of this water pageant.”
“2 miles of cables were strung with 3000 Japanese lanterns along
the riverbanks and another 2000 adorned the bridges”
Cranford, NJ
Just to see if Cranford’s residents still enjoyed the river as they did 100
years ago I took my own canoe out on the river to see for myself. Every house
seems to have a small dock or staircase leading to river access. Although it
was late October, many houses had multiple canoes or kayaks in the backyard
testifying to the ongoing use of the river for recreation. The image above
appeared and the following text in a periodical from 1916:
“The town is built upon
both banks of the beautiful Rahway River; or rather, the river winds its way in
and out through the very center of the town, and so picturesquely serpentine is
its course, that it crosses most of the principal streets at least once, and several
of them are compelled to bridge its crystal waters twice within a few hundred yards.
Other streets follow the course of the river at a distance of a few hundred
feet, thus giving the town as a whole a park-like appearance. Indeed, the river
is Cranford's chief claim to superiority over hundreds of other towns in the
suburbs of New York”
“Indeed, the river is Cranford's chief claim to
superiority over hundreds of other towns in the suburbs of New York”
History of the Railroad
This panel will
feature images from the history of the Central Railroad of NJ – the precursor
to the current railroad. Historic photos of the original Cranford Station and
Switching Tower will be included along with principle engines from the line.
These images will be identified by small captions.
At one time Cranford was
serviced by 160 trains per day!
“Old Peppy”
Cranford claims the largest Sour Gum tree in America. Also known as the
Pepperidge Tree “Old Peppy” is the Town Tree. Cranford Canoe Club logo also
appears in this panel.
A Quaint Poem from 1913
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| Interior back wall showing day & night views |
 |
| Exterior front facade showing day & night views |
 |
| Side walls showing day & night views |
The printing process allows control over the opacity of the image. More opaque areas reflect more frontal light and are therefore become prominent at night with surface illumination. The visualizations above give a sense as to how the glass will "transform" with changing light.
