Among all of the historic properties throughout the Borough of Madison, many are concentrated in the Historic Downtown District. This project explores the historic properties in Downtown Madison along Main Street. To take care of these properties and districts is to preserve generations of history and culture. For the sake of making knowledge more accessible, we must be mindful of the historic properties and districts around us.
Data collection on historic properties and districts is essential to not only preserving the physical buildings themselves but also preserving the history and culture that come with them. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Bureau of GIS maintains data on the spread of historic properties and districts. For more information on historic properties in New Jersey, visit the New Jersey Geographic Information Network.
The Historic Downtown District of Madison is represented by the area on the map outlined in red. The red outline means the area is designated as a “listed” historic district. The district is labeled as “Madison Civic Commercial Historic District” and its status was most recently updated in 1991.
There are 54 highlighted properties in the designated Downtown District. Those highlighted in light red are “listed HD” while those highlighted in dark red are “listed INDV”. There are only 2 “listed INDV” properties, and they are also larger in size and more for public use. There is a high concentration of small properties along Central Avenue and Main Street and they are mostly small businesses. Some notable properties include Madison Station, Hartley Dodge Memorial Building (Town Hall), and the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts.
It is essential for anyone who inhabits or visits the town of Madison to be aware of the deep history that surrounds them. Just walking down Main Street, one will come across dozens of historic buildings that they may not even know of. The more people are aware of the rich history around them, the higher chance it is preserved for future generations. The NJDEP’s Historic Preservation Office works with the public to preserve, promote, and also nominate new historic properties throughout the state.
Along with preserving the history, the town’s effort to disseminate this information contributes to an ongoing global effort to make access to education, information, and technology more equitable. The harsh reality is that people may have more or less access to information depending on which zip code they happen to be born into or what school they attend. Along with that, we must make sure that the information that is being presented to the public is an equitable representation of the population and its history.
Madison works diligently to make sure this information is accessible to the public. For example, the Historic Preservation Commission of Madison consists of resident volunteers who are dedicated to preserving the rich history of Madison. Also, Sustainable Madison highlights walking tours that showcase the town’s diverse history, including the Hidden Figures tour and the Good Walk, Good Talk tour. To make any and all information about the Borough of Madison available is to continue to set an example to make information more accessible, regardless of their background.
About the data:
The Historic Properties of New Jersey dataset was created by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of GIS, published in 2018. The Historic Districts of New Jersey dataset was also created and published by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of GIS in 2018. All datasets are open source and can be accessed on ArcGIS.com. A one-page poster with all of this information can be accessed here.
