- Palmer Square
Palmer Square is a collection of shops, resaurants, offices and residential spaces in
Princeton, New Jersey . Originally built in 1936-1939 byEdgar Palmer , heir to theNew Jersey Zinc fortune, the Square was created by architect Thomas Stapleton in theColonial Revival style as the town's complement toPrinceton University , which sits across Nassau Street from the Square.In order to build the original Square, Birch Street was removed in 1929 and its houses, the center of the original African-American neighborhood of Princeton, were moved to Birch Avenue. [http://phs.prs.k12.nj.us/pulse/landmarks/landmarks.html History of African Americans in Princeton, includes pictures of moved houses] Construction of the Square was delayed until 1936 by the depression, and plans to extend the Square past Hulfish Street were put on hold after the initial phase of construction was completed, and were not realized until the 1980's, along with an expansion of
Nassau Inn . [http://www.princetonhistory.org/historic_sites.cfm short pieces on historic sites by the Historical Society of Princeton]The
Nassau Inn , which was formerly located directly on Nassau Street, was the centerpiece of the development. A small park sits in front of the Inn, which includes the Borough's Christmas tree. [ [http://www.princetonol.com/holidays/psquare.html Palmer Square Shops and Restaurants - Princeton Online ] ] Between the park and Nassau Street, a smaller square holds a bronze statue of a tiger. [http://www.princetonhistory.org/historic_photos.cfm?Doc_Id=152&StartRow=1&Keyword_Desc=Palmer%20Square&Size_Code=Large Photo from Historical Society collection]One Palmer Square is a major office building, former home to Princeton Bank and Trust (now
PNC Bank ). The plaza in front of One Palmer Square is the main downtown bus stop, and includes a sculpture by Seward Johnson.References
External links
* [http://www.palmersquare.com/ Palmer Square]
* [http://www.nassauinn.com/ Nassau Inn]
* [http://www.princetonhistory.org/historic_photos.cfm?Doc_Id=153&StartRow=1&Keyword_Desc=Palmer%20Square Pictures of Palmer Square under construction] ,Princeton Historical Society
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