🎉 Join us in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in Elizabeth, NJ in 2026!  #GoElizabethNJ250 🇺🇸

Guest: John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator & History Grant Coordinator, County of Union

In this episode of Our City: Stories That Shape America, Mayor J. Christian Bollwage speaks with historian and County of Union History Programs Coordinator John Prescott about the long-running heritage event Four Centuries in a Weekend. This annual celebration opens historic sites to the public, inviting residents and visitors to explore the deep roots of Union County. Prescott highlights major locations in Elizabeth, including Boxwood Hall, home to Elias Boudinot and Jonathan Dayton, and the Belcher-Ogden Mansion, tied to the founding of Princeton University.

The conversation also expands to the upcoming America 250 commemoration. Prescott notes that the anniversary is not only about the Revolutionary War but also the 250 years of growth and immigration that followed. He points to places like the Oswald Nitschke House in Kenilworth as examples of inclusive storytelling. The episode also connects to the 313 Project at the First Presbyterian Church, where the lives of enslaved and free Black residents are honored. Through these stories, viewers see how Elizabeth’s Revolutionary-era heritage blends with its modern identity.

Episode Highlights

• The origins and purpose of “Four Centuries in a Weekend,” founded in 1994.
• History of Boxwood Hall, home to Elias Boudinot and Jonathan Dayton, with ties to George Washington.
• The Belcher-Ogden Mansion’s connection to the early College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).
• Aaron Ogden’s role in the landmark Gibbons v. Ogden Supreme Court case.
• The 313 Project honoring enslaved and free Black residents at the First Presbyterian Church.
• The expansive definition of “Elizabeth Town,” including areas like Westfield, Springfield, and Connecticut Farms.
• The Oswald Nitschke House as a cornerstone for immigrant and cultural history in Kenilworth.
• America 250 kickoff events that commemorate Revolutionary battles and the county’s role in independence.