Hudson County View: Museum of Jersey City History opens new exhibit for HCCC’s 50th Anniversary

https://hudsoncountyview.com/museum-of-jersey-city-history-opens-new-exhibit-for-hcccs-50th-anniversary/

November 7, 2025

by John Heinis

The Museum of Jersey City History (MJCH) has opened a new exhibit for Hudson County Community College’s (HCCC) 50th Anniversary, which is on display until 7:30 p.m. this evening.

Instagram photo.

The exhibition celebrates this anniversary by offering a historical look back, with many ”then and now” moments, the museum said in a statement.

Over the years, HCCC’s mission and reputation strengthened as an affordable public institution providing quality educational services to community members.

Once nicknamed the “College Without Walls” by Joseph Varacalli in the December 1980 issue of the Hudson Forum, HCCC helped transform Journal Square into a viable learning neighborhood with the support of local officials and residents alike.

This success enabled the expansion of the College’s county-wide presence with the opening of additional locations in Secaucus and Union City. Today, the Colleges motto, “Hudson is Home,” echoes loudly throughout the county.

Special highlights of the exhibit include student honors, faculty achievements, and award-winning programs.

For those who attended Hudson for a semester or an associate’s degree, one can rekindle fond memories through student newsletters, yearbooks, and HCCC ephemera.

For those interested in local history, the exhibit showcases the city’s intricate past through media features, architectural plans, and timeless photographs of Journal Square.

The artifacts on display serve as a heartfelt thank you to all who believed in, supported, and attended HCCC in an area of constant change over the past five decades.

Highlights of the evening will include remarks by HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber and a talk on the history of the HCCC by Vice President of External Affairs Dr. Nicholas Chiaravalloti.

Regular openings of the exhibit begin at 1 pm on Saturday November 8th and the MJCH web site includes a list of opening hours. The exhibit will be at the museum until Mid-March.

The HCCC exhibit is the third major presentation by the Museum, preceded by Hague’s Jersey City, the story of Mayor Frank Hague, and Legendary Arenas and the Legends that Performed There, the story of sports in Jersey City, which recently concluded a well-attended run at the Museum.

The exhibit panels from the latter exhibits are on permanent view on the MJCH web site (see “Explore”). Discussions are now underway for additional showings of Legendary Arenas in various Jersey City public schools.

Finally, all visitors to the Museum always enjoy the “permanent” exhibit on view, the Apple Tree House, Jersey City’s second oldest house.