Crossroads: Lifetimes Around Journal Square

Michael Ehrmann Interview (April 2, 2025)

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:00:01 -0000

Prianka Mistry Interview (April 25, 2025)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:13:50 -0000

he following is an oral history interview with Prianka Mistry, a graduate and employee at Hudson County Community College who has lived in the Little India neighborhood near Journal Square for many years.

The interview was conducted at HCCC on April 25, 2025 by Tony Acevedo as part of the project, Crossroads: Lifetimes Around Journal Square.

Mistry talks about growing up in India and the experience of immigrating to the U.S. as a child. She discusses her early education and learning English and especially the role of her local library in helping her with her education.

Mistry and her family moved to the Little India neighborhood around Newark Ave soon after they came to the United States, and she discusses what that neighborhood means to her and how it has changed over the years.

Through her long term connection with the Journal Square area as a resident and later as a student and employee at HCCC, Mistry has had firsthand experience of the dramatic changes here and talks about the positives and negative she’s seen.

Tim Peacock Interview (Nov. 11, 2025)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:33:06 -0000

The following is an oral history interview with Tim Peacock, a retired Hudson County Community College faculty member and long-time resident of the Journal Square neighborhood.

The interview was conducted at HCCC on Nov. 11 2025 by Sean Egan as part of the project Crossroads: Lifetimes Around Journal Square.

Peacock discusses growing up in Newark, attending Catholic school and experiencing the impact of the 1967 riots. His connections to Jersey City started with his time as a student at Jersey City State College (today’s NJCU) where he was drawn to diversity and range of new experiences available there.

He discusses his experiences as a gay man in the early post-Stonewall era and later in the AIDS crisis in the 1980s.

Peacock’s career takes several interesting turns through the Newark and New York City public schools, library school and briefly the Social Security Administration, but there is a general through line of teaching and public service.

He also reflects on his long time in Journal Square, how the neighborhood has changed and how his connection to it also has. and what he foresees for its future.

Harvey Zucker Interview (March 5, 2025)

Fri, 02 May 2025 14:24:56 -0000

Michael Ricciordone Interview (Feb. 26, 2024)

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:01:50 -0000

Richard Boggiano Interview (April 30, 2024)

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 21:27:23 -0000

Bob Richard Interview (Feb. 25, 2025)

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 21:32:52 -0000

Harvey Rubinstein Interview (Jan. 31, 2024)

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:48:53 -0000

Recording of an interview with Harvey Rubinstein, an emeritus professor of English at Hudson County Community College. The interview was conducted by Sean Egan on Jan. 31, 2024 as part of the project, Crossroads: Lifetimes around Journal Square.

Bill Sweeting Interview (Oct. 24, 2024)

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:00:34 -0000

Joe Colicchio Interview (Jan. 10, 2024)

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 21:32:23 -0000

Interview with Joe Colicchio, Hudson County Community College Professor Emeritus of English. Conducted January 10, 2024 by Sean Egan. The interview is part of the project Connections: Lifetimes Around Journal Square.

Kenneth Wessler Interview (Feb. 20, 2024)

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:03:45 -0000

Recording of an interview with Kenneth Wessler, a long time resident of Jersey City and the Journal Square neighborhood. Wessler discusses growing up in the area, noted buildings around the neighborhood, his career in print publishing, and the many changes to Journal Square over the years. The interview was conducted by Tony Acevedo on Feb. 20, 2024.

Renee Tirella Cassidy Interview (May 9, 2024)

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 15:53:53 -0000

Eric Friedman Interview (Feb 21, 2024)

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 22:51:58 -0000

The following is an oral history interview with Eric Friedman, the president of Bergen Community College and a former administrator at Hudson County Community College. It was conducted by Sean Egan on Feb 21, 2024 as part of a project called "Crossroads: Lifetimes Around Journal Square." Friedman discusses growing up in Long Island, studying at the University of Colorado Denver, and working the restaurant industry. He also describes his graduate work in sociology—which included a study of Journal Square—and his transition to a career in higher education.

Gilda Reyes Interview (Dec. 18, 2023)

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 19:32:28 -0000

Recording of an interview with Gilda Reyes, a faculty member at Hudson County Community College, about growing up in the Journal Square neighborhood. The interview was conducted by Sean Egan on Dec. 18, 2023.