(above, l-r) John Marsiglia, Maureen Strazdon, and Rich Marsiglia.
Marsiglia Family Presented with Cranford Historic Preservation Award
The 2019 Cranford Historic Preservation Award has been presented to the Marsiglia family for their work in restoring the Cranford Trust Building. The Masiglias, owners of one of the sections of the Cranford Trust Building, replaced the dentil cornice that had fallen off an area of one of Cranford’s most historic downtown buildings, making it look like it once did.
At a ceremony held in March, 2019, Richard, John, and Bill Marsiglia and their sister Paula Manto, were recognized for doing what they stated was “the right thing to do for Cranford and for the building”.
At the presentation, Maureen Strazdon, Chair of the Cranford Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB), gave a short history of the site and the buildings that have stood there. The first major building to sit on the corner of North and North Union Avenues was the Opera House Block, designed by Frank Lent, the architect of several for Cranford’s public buildings and finest mansions. The Opera House Block was built in 1892 by J. Walter Thompson, and was owned by William Sperry, founder of Sperry & Hutchinson (S&H) Green Stamps. The block housed the post office, the library, and a 500-seat auditorium that was used for musical programs and public meetings and many businesses. On February 3, 1912, a fire leveled the entire Block, resulting in losses of over $125,000 (over $3 million in today’s dollars).
In April 1912, William Sperry announced that a new building would replace the Opera House Block at a cost of about $100,000. It would be a 3-story building of brick and artificial stone with 10 stores and several apartments and offices. There were partition walls from cellar to roof, so it was to be nine distinct buildings. The post office announced that they would relocate back to the building in December when it was scheduled to be finished. That building still stands as a cornerstone of Cranford’s downtown.
Meanwhile, the Cranford National Bank had opened in 1904 in the Masonic Building at the corner of North Union Avenue and Alden Street, and in January 1912 the Cranford National Bank became the Cranford Trust. The bank’s president was Thomas Sperry, brother of the owner of the new building on North Avenue, William Sperry. In December the Cranford Trust moved into the new building and the entire building was named for the bank. Today, the Cranford Trust Building is home to the barber shop in the Marsiglia’s building, an ice cream shop, a bread store, a jewelry store, the bank and other businesses.
Each year the Cranford Historical Society and the Cranford Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) jointly present an award to a residence or business that has expressed an interest in preservation and has taken efforts to preserve the character of Cranford.
Founded in 1927, the Cranford Historical Society is a private organization whose mission is to preserve and perpetuate the history of Cranford. For more information, visit cranfordhistoricalsociety.com.
The Cranford Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB) is a Township committee established in 1993. HPAB’s mission is to aid in the preservation of Cranford’s architectural heritage through documentation of significant structures, education of the public as to the value of preservation, and advice to the Township on laws and activities impacting preservation. You can find more information on HPAB at preservecranford.com.
Submitted by Maureen Strazdon
