By Anne Levin

Princeton’s Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood is due to be spruced up and celebrated at a two-day festival planned for the weekend of May 18 and 19. Starting with a neighborhood-wide clean-up on Saturday, the town’s 20th historic district will hold a day of special events, and everyone is invited.

“We want to share the history and culture of our neighborhood,” said longtime resident Leighton Newlin, who chairs the Princeton Housing Authority. “But the most important thing is to generate enthusiasm throughout the neighborhood, so people can get to know each other. We’ll celebrate our history by taking the time to clean it up, making it look good, and taking pride in it.”

The Witherspoon-Jackson Welcome Weekend is co-sponsored by the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural
Society, the Witherspoon-Jackson Development Corporation, and the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association. “Our initial planning meeting was attended by a cross-section of individuals from various backgrounds and cultures,” said Newlin.

Neighbors will be urged to get out early on Saturday raking leaves, cutting grass, sweeping sidewalks, planting flowers, and more. “We’re hoping the city will help us with taking large items people don’t want anymore, and can put at the curb,” said Newlin. “We’ll also have young people and neighbors going into homes where elderly or disabled people need assistance with things.”

Sunday’s activities start with the unveiling of the 20th Historic District Heritage Tour and plaques, at Studio Hillier on Witherspoon Street, followed by a guided tour of 26 sites led by historian and neighborhood resident Shirley Satterfield. Yard sales, music, and displays by various ethnic groups are planned. Businesses in the neighborhood will be encouraged to participate and offer incentives for shoppers. Hot dogs and ice cream will be served at the Mary Moss Playground, where free plants will be available for residents to install in front of their homes.

Churches will be open, and Newlin is hopeful that some homes will be, too. “We hope to get some of the older homes as well as some of the new ones that have been recently built,” he said. “There is a real variety.”

Home to minority families for over a century, the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood was named a historic district in April 2016 after nearly a year of debate within the town. Newlin grew up on Birch Avenue, next door to the house he lives in today. The house previously belonged to his grandparents.

“When I was a child, the people who lived here were African American and Italian American, pretty exclusively,” he said. “That’s changed drastically. Now, we’re the most diverse, eclectic neighborhood in town. We’ve experienced growing pains, and the high cost of living in Princeton has been devastating to many families.”

In addition to Birch Avenue and parts of Witherspoon Street, the district includes Green, Quarry, Maclean, Lytle, and Clay streets; and Leigh Avenue. Newlin stressed that Clay Street will be well represented at the welcoming weekend.

“The important thing is that we’re not just targeting homeowners, because a lot of people rent,” he said. “We want maximum participation. Everyone can help.”