Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-08-30
TUESDAY, AUGUST 80, 1910.
WESTMINSTER FOR A SCHOOL.

WESTMINSTER FOR A SCHOOL.
A short time ago it was brought
to our attention that a movement
had been started to have the city buy
the old Westminster property for a
school. At least such an agitation
was started, originating, we believe,
from the fact that the present
schools are insufficient to accommo-
date the children who will apply for
admission this fall, and 1t was
thought that the Westminster could
easily be converted into a school so
as to comply with the law, thus re-
lieving the congestion quickly and
at much less expense than erecting
a new building.
j. p. Holm, the present owner of
the Westminster, told the EVENING
NEWS that he had discussed the
matter with several of the city
officials, including members of the
Board of Education and Board of
Aldermen, and that they all express
ed themselves to him as being agree
able to the proposed plan. Mr.. Holm
said the price would be made right
and there would be no occasion to
burden the city with a great finan-
ciaI outlay.
The EVENING NEWS has always
held that the Westminster should
befong to the public, whether it be a
school house, a museum or merely
preserved as an interesting historical
relic. Perth Amboy has an import
ant place In the colonial history of
our country and this old building Is
practically the only thing left to
remind us of those former days. 1t
&a"J Soubd amy, Uut IL 10 pIODd-
bly, a fact that the building is better
known by people who are not resi-
dents of Perth Amboy than by those
who reside here all the time. Mr..
Holm has many visitors from the
South and West who are on a trip
-
to New York and who come to Perth
Amboy to see what some of them
call the Bruen House, and others the
Brighton House. These people have
heard the history of the old struc-
ture from others who have spent
summers at the place when it was
n of the leading resorts in the
north, before the war"
1t seems a pity that this building
cannot come into public possession
some how. Mr.. Holm deserves credit
for the patriotic spirit displayed In
holding the building as he does In
the hope hat some day 1t will be-
come the property of the people.
That he Is not doing this for specu-
lation is evident by the price he is
willing to take and the size of the
plot Of land he has set apart to go
with it.
There are many arguments in
favor of making a school building
out of the place. 1t might be used
to relieve the congestion in the
grammar school which, in turn,
could relieve the schools of lower
grades. A few rooms might be set
apart as a museum where relics of
former days of Perth Amboy, and
the colony of East Jersey might be
exhibited. We know. of several
places In the city where there are
collections of great interest whose
owners, we believe, would be glad to
donate them to such a place, to be
preserved for all time. To buy the
Westminster and turn 1t over to the
Board of Education would be giving
the taxpayers some use of the build
ing and at the same time it would
preserving the historic structure
for future generations to inspire the
boys and girls with patriotism.
We know not what action may be
Ataken along these lines, but the mat
Yer is at least worthy of %considera-
zion. The building should belong to
fheI public n the suggestion that
IT be made into a school is perhaps
the best yet.