Penn Theater

The way we watch movies has changed a lot over the years. During the first big wave in popularity live performance venues were being converted to movie houses. By the 1920s we entered the age of the "movie palace", which were ornate, purpose built movie theaters with enhanced sight lines, sound, and lighting. After the second World War a handful of factors saw a huge decline in the industry. Things wouldn't really come back around again until the 1960s when huge shopping malls began incorporating them as part of their entertainment array.

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The Penn Theater opened in February of 1966. The building was originally a single screen with space for 750 inside the auditorium. 

By the end of the 1970s the single auditorium space was split into two separate rooms, and the theater rebranded itself the Penn Twin.  

The theater underwent a massive modernization effort in the late 90's, reopening as Premier Cinemas in 1999. 

Plans called for several more auditoriums to be constructed in the following years, but the theater never saw that level of demand. By 2006 the venue was permanently closed. 

A news article from 2007 describes an arson attack that left the interior of the theater a total wreck. No attempts were ever made to reopen the building after that. 

The building continued to languished for another 19 years, but it was ultimately demolished over the summer of 2026. With that, Salem County was entirely without a movie theater for the first time in 60 years. 

Sayreville Generating Station

Back in the day, before smartphones existed, I spent many hours as a passenger in the car with my parents. We would often spend our weekends riding down the Parkway to visit the shore. Whether it was just a short trip to Island Beach State Park or the long haul to Wildwood, I was constantly looking out the window for landmarks. It was basically all I had as a bored child with ADHD. Many of these landmarks were looming industrial buildings or abandoned structures, and in many cases both at the same time. When we hit the Driscoll Bridge, my eyes would be locked on the gorgeous E. H. Werner Generating Station that used to stand in South Amboy. Even from a distance I was in awe of its Art Deco brickwork and gigantic arched windows, larger than those of a cathedral. I had no idea that there was another incredible generating station on the Sayreville side of the bridge as well. I never got to see the inside of the Werner Station for myself, and that still bothers me to this day. I wasn't going to end up missing Sayreville Generating Station too. 

Source: Historical Plant Cost and Anual Production Expenses for Selected Electric Plants 1982

The Sayreville station predated Werner by nearly a decade. It was built by the Eastern New Jersey Power Comany. The group, incorporated in 1923, had been snapping up utilities in the area. They had actually purchased the famed Sayre & Fisher Brick Company complex in 1927 due to the power station they already operated. Almost immediately Eastern NJ Power Co. began construction on a dedicated generating station just outside the brickworks. 

An Art Deco design was chosen for the new plant. The facade was made of rich red Sayreville brick with limestone accents. The materials were brought right over from the adjoining S & F company, and since the power company owned the brickworks they didn't have to worry about cost. 

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The interior was lined with the gorgeous enamel glazed brick that helped make the Sayre & Fisher Company famous. The designers used No. 101 (Cream) for the field and No. 150 (Green) for the accents.

Eastern NJ Power Co. was acquired by Jersey Central Power & Light. The footprint of the plant was expanded beginning in 1953, as demand for electricity continued to grow in the region. A 137,500kW generator was installed on the north end of the station. 

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This new unit was able to run on either coal or oil, depending on which was more available at the time.

Another new unit, including a second 137,500kW generator was added between 1957 and 1958. This was the last large expansion the plant would ever see. Over the next few decades new turbine design and changes in fuel preference changed the way we generate power. These new technologies don't require large boilers at all, instead they operate more like jet engines. Not only are they cheaper to maintain and operate, they can also be turned on and off more quickly depending on the demand from the grid. By the early 1970's four such generators were installed on the property opposite the fuel field. 

I visited the generating station for the first time in 2017. I had never seen photos from inside the building, but I knew a few others had been inside already. We were especially concerned about getting caught since trespassing on critical infrastructure is specifically criminalized in New Jersey. Fortunately we were able to slip inside the fencline where we found an open window almost immediately. One of the earlier groups took the plastic covers off the oldest units, leaving them accessible to photograph in great condition. Unfortunately I was far more interested in the explore than photography at the time, so most of my pictures are pretty bad. 

It was so amazing how little things had been disturbed inside the building. Differnt areas fell out of use at differnt times. The laboratory, for example, had hardly been rummaged through. 

The first stage of demolition in 2021 involved removing all the coal chutes at the front of the property. 

The second stage included full asbestos abatement and demolition of the turbine hall.

The boilerhouse was left standing for another year, but by the end of summer 2026 crews moved in to finish the job.

And thats it. Another incredible piece of our history reduced to rubble. 

Thanks for learning with me. 

Cathedral House

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Cathedral House was built in 1941 as a parochial school for the nearby Trinity & St Phillips Episcopal Church.

Prominamt Newark architectural firm John and Wilson Ely designed the school in the popular Collegiate Gothic style. The father & son duo were responsible for some of the most iconic buildings in the city, most notablely the Newark National Tower. 

 The new school included three levels of classroom space, a 600 seat auditorium, and a chapel with stained glass windows and 20 foot ceilings. 

After the rebellion of 1967 Cathedral House was used as a venue during the National Conference of Black Power. Delegates from more than 120 cities convened in Newark to discuss a range of issues affecting the black population of the US. The timing was more or less coincidental, as the conference had already been scheduled. The event was more important and interesting than I could ever summarize, so I recommend reading up on it at Rise Up Newark.

When the New Jersey Performing Arts Center was built, a number of significant historic buildings were demolished to make space fpr it. The organization agreed to sign a protection agreement that stated they will not demolish more historic buildings in the area, including Cathedral House.

By 2001 the building underwent significant renovations to accomidate programs being offered by NJPAC. Arist Paula Scher installed her Supergraphics piece on the facade of the building, fully transforming the 60 year old structure into a modern learning space. 

For whatever reason, they never remediated the asbestos throughout the building as they were legally required to under N.J.S.A. 34:5A-32 passed almost 20 years prior. 

Despite the renovation NJPAC announced plans to demolish the building in 2022. They acknowledged the signed protection agreement from 1993 but claimed asbestos remediation would cost too much.  After a wave of outcry from residents and preservation officials, they backed off the plan and offered a modified proposal that would have preserved a large portion of the building. The new plan was well received among city officials.

However just four years later the organization once again stated they intended to demolish most of the building they intentionally left vacant. They once again cited the asbestos they illegally left inside the building as one of the main factors. After a vote from the preservation commision, many of whom had long personal ties to the arts center, the new plan was approved 5 - 2. Commissioner Myles Zhang was removed from the board as a direct result of his steadfast refusal to waver to the demands of NJPAC and city leadership. 

Preservation New Jersey listed the building as one of their 10 most endangered histpric buildings of 2026. Unfortunately by that point the most significant architectural features of the interior of had already been irreparably damaged by demolition prep.

By the fall of 2026 the building was gone, with just one small section of the front entrance surviving. With this, NJPAC continues their legacy of being one of the most destructive forces towards the city's history. 

Thanks for learning with me. 

McCorry Brothers Funeral Home

Cliffside Park is one of a handful of small Bergen County towns that has been stuffing people into every corner for nearly a century. As the population continues to grow, longtime institutions are being pushed out in favor of more high density housing. The McCorry Brothers Funeral Home is one such example. 

Raymond and Clarence McCotry entered the funeral business in 1927. At that time they were operating out of a storefront along Anderson Avenue.

By 1942 the brothers moved their practice to 780 Anderson Ave. The new home had a dedicated prep room as well as a living space on the second floor.

They brothers expanded the building in the 1960s, adding new chapel spaces along Edgewood Lane.

The brothers announced in 2026 that they would be leaving their longtime home in Cliffside Park and consolidating services with the Hunt - Stellato funeral home in Fort Lee.

The McCory Brothers Funeral home was demolished in September of 2026, just a few short months after the move. 

Thankfully the families legacy will continue into the future at the new location.

Thanks for reading.

88 Glen Alpin Road

The lot at 88 Glen Alpin Road at one point held a lovely little residential compound with a home that dated back to 1885 as its centerpiece.

In addition to the house there was also a chicken coop and a shed building on the two and a half acre lot.

The home had sat vacant for ages before being purchased in 2021 by a new owner who intended to demolish and rebuild the main home. The historic preservation commission stepped with some concerns, even after touring the home and seeing the poor condition it was in. 

The new owner was eventually granted their permit and the main home was demolished in early 2026. The new home was rebuilt mostly on the same foundation and to a similar scale. 

While I'm always disappointed losing an old building, the home was definitely beyond any sort of reasonable salvage. Having the outbuildings saved and the proportions of the lot maintained is a very reasonable compromise. 

Thanks for reading.