Field Trip

I had a half day on Thursday so I decided to get to the Irvington Library. Initial research online is not to promising, however overview histories of Irvington and search of demographics over time has lead me to significant changes in the late 70's and early 80's; prior to that Irvington was a blue collar mecca. The changes did not occur over night and not an acute outcome of the Newark riots.

At the Library, the local history room left much to be desired. It took them 20 minutes to find the key and the last time it was signed out was in 2001. In the room itself records were in no particular order and shoved into filing cabinets in hanging folders - but there was something to work with. I started with the cabinet labled Community Development (which is in the same drawer as crime - and it is not alphabetic!) and to be honest I have not looked back. When I began pouring through the many articles, town meetings and plans, I began to see a series of failed community development goals that looked good on paper when money was requested, however when the result was reviewed years later - many would be disappointed. In particular, a HUD grant that was awarded over an 8 year period from 1976 to 1983 was of particular interest to me as it has a yearly application (some 300 pages) and a yearly accomplishment ledger - this is the prime years where opportunity existed but the Newark push down Springfield Avenue began. There is also a discourse in clippings about community concerns for the grant not being given forum. This looks promising - it may be narrow but I think it might work. I will be cross referencing with the crime folders as well to see what can be linked.