Two New Jersey efforts win Awards for Advocacy 2014

The  winners of  2014 Awards for Advocacy are the Bayshore Center at Bivalve for an organization for restoring the A. J. Meerwald and subsequent eco-historical preservation efforts; and Patricia Anne (Annie) and Joseph E. Salvatore for individuals for preserving and interpreting New Jersey’s architectural and cultural heritage at Historic Cold Spring Village. 

In 1988, Meghan Wren began organizing group meetings to establish a non-profit preservation initiative to restore the 1928 Delaware Bay Oyster Schooner A.J. Meerwald.  The group’s intent was not just to rehabilitate a historic artifact, but to use its restoration and preservation as a vehicle to examine the most pressing environmental, historical, and cultural issues confronting Delaware Bay communities, the Delaware Estuary, and the State of New Jersey.  Upon its restoration and re-launching in 1994/1995, Meerwald immediately established itself as one of the region’s most compelling outlets for advancing environmentalism, cultural conservation, and historic preservation for the many people—young and old—who came in contact with it, as well as the many communities it visited.  The ensuing momentum allowed the Bayshore Center to acquire and restore a section of the 1904 Oyster Shipping Sheds at Bivalve, providing an unparalleled interpretive center for understanding the Delaware Bay oyster industry and its wider ecological and historic context.  For these reasons that VAF proudly confers a 2014 Award for Advocacy to the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, located in Port Norris, New Jersey.

Tuckahoe Shop, Historic Cold Spring Village

Anne and Joseph Salvatore’s commitment to vernacular architecture dates back to 1973 when they founded Historic Cold Spring Village in Cape May, New Jersey.  Since then, the couple has collected 18^th- and 19^th-century buildings from across the county, moved them to their 30-acre living history museum, and arranged, restored, and interpreted them.  Maintaining a large number of aging wooden buildings has been a challenge.  That the Salvatores have accomplished this while devising interesting and insightful programs that attract a wide array of visitors is a testament to their dedication, fundraising abilities, and creativity.  Nor have they limited the scope of their efforts to traditional buildings.  After Dr. Joseph Salvatore retired from medical practice in the mid-1990s, he decided to take on the restoration of the dilapidated, 92,000 sq. ft. Hangar No. 1 (another all-wood structure) at the former WWII Naval Air Station, Wildwood.  Through several important grants, he has managed to open a successful aviation museum there.  VAF is delighted to recognize the tireless preservation efforts of this couple with a 2014 Award for Advocacy.

Award For Advocacy Committee
Aaron Wunsch, chair
Michael Chiarappa
Jeroen van den Hurk