posted 11-23-2010 05:08 PM               

As it turns out, Aldrin grew up only about ten minutes from my own boyhood home.

In September 1969, the local Rotary installed a bronze plaque in front of the house, which was restored in 2002.

Aldrin's 2005 children's book, "Reaching for the Moon" includes an illustration by artist Wendell Minor of the same house.

posted 11-23-2010 10:13 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Fezman92:
How were you able to find the exact house?

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quote:

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Originally posted by JohnPaul56:
I think he still has an affection for his boyhood home...

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Aldrin lived in the stucco house with green shutters, adjacent to Anderson Park, from the time he was brought home from Mountainside Hospital as a newborn in 1930 until he left to become a West Point cadet in 1947.

In true Montclair fashion, he could identify all of the modifications his family had made to the home.

"We actually put the sun porch on there," Aldrin said, walking around the front of his home. "We planted this dogwood tree here...and in the back there's a breakfast nook - or there was."

posted 11-26-2010 10:25 AM               

I used to run in the park next to his house all the time, and the last time I was up there, I also stopped by his house and took pictures. I was thinking of starting this topic myself, with the photos I have of the house, also inspired by the John Young thread, but you guys beat me to it!

posted 01-21-2011 03:48 PM            

Jim Vertrees tells me that the marker is now in front of the town's post office at W. Broadway and 5th, should anyone ever be visiting. Here is a photo he shared with me.

posted 10-20-2015 10:10 PM               

A campaign to rename Mt. Hebron Middle School, years in the making, finally was placed before the Montclair Board of Education to be voted on during Monday night's regular Board of Education Meeting.

A vote of 6 to 0, with 1 abstention, passed this historic vote.

The auditorium will be renamed after the former school, while the building will be named after former student and Mt. Hebron alum, Aldrin.

posted 09-16-2016 08:22 AM               

In my home town of Montclair, NJ for a special dinner tonight before the ceremony for Buzz Aldrin Middle School tomorrow.

posted 09-16-2016 01:15 PM               

From Montclair to the Moon: New Jersey School Renamed for Buzz Aldrin

Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin returned to the middle school that he attended in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, on Friday (Sept. 16) for a renaming ceremony in his honor.

"I am just so honored to have this school, the Buzz Aldrin Middle School, named after me," said Aldrin, addressing the hundreds of students, teachers and members of the Montclair community who turned out for the outdoor dedication ceremony. "It is one of the more unique honors I have received and it is particularly warming because it is here in my hometown."

posted 12-23-2020 07:57 PM               

So far, Vanderer said, the response he has heard from prospective partners, as well as from people in the community, has been overwhelmingly positive. Aldrin's representatives are also in favor of the idea, he said.

Vanderer has a 25-year career working in museums, including the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York and Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. He expects to collaborate with Kathleen Bennett, chair of the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission.

Vanderer's concept is for a house museum with consideration for local zoning and historic preservation guidelines and for the neighbors.

His proposal suggests the museum would need the aid of public and private funding sources. Additionally, the proposal notes that while museums receive some funding through state and local government grants for arts and culture, the largest donation sources are private sources, such as individual donors, philanthropists and endowment funds for the arts...

Ideas for exhibits include moon landing artifacts obtained from private collectors or loaned from other institutions, as well as biographical exhibits on Aldrin's life, interactive exhibits like a NASA flight director simulator or models of the Apollo module. Lecture series, held at venues like Montclair State University or Liberty Science Center, could also be held.