Hackensack YMHA Building Groundbreaking and Opening Ceremonies | Jewish Historical Society of Northern New Jersey

In our archives, we found a documentary film of the Hackensack YMHA building groundbreaking and opening ceremonies taken by Albert Jacobs. The groundbreaking for the building located on Essex Street in Hackensack took place in 1928 and the corner stone was laid on May 5,1929. Below are selected frames of the ceremonies.

Hackensack NJ, Essex Street, YMHA, Albert Jacobs, 1928 — Dignitaries gather for the Hackensack YMHA groundbreaking ceremony,1928.

Hackensack New Jersey YMHA groundbreaking ceremony, 1928, Miss Plager with shovel — The photo on the left shows the start of the groundbreaking for the Hackensack YMHA,1928. On the right is little Miss Plager helping to break ground.

Hackensack NJ, YMHA ceremony band, Rabbi Julius Silberfeld — Top photo shows the band getting ready for the corner stone ceremony. Bottom photo shows Rabbi Julius Silberfeld giving the invocation.

P.C. Staib speech, Hackensack New Jersey, YMHA ceremony, 1929 — Top photo shows YMHA President Clem Plager giving his speech. Bottom photo is of P. C. Staib addressing the crowd.

Hackensack New Jersey, YMHA cornerstone ceremony, Samuel Denson, 1929 — Top photo shows Reverend I. Bernard. Bottom photo is of Samuel Denson.

Hackensack New Jersey, YMHA cornerstone ceremony, 1929, Judge A. A. Lebson, President Clem Prager — Top photo is of Judge A. A. Lebson. Bottom photo shows President Clem Plager preparing to lay the building's cornerstone.1929.