TRENTON – March 28^th marked the 15^th anniversary of the annual New Jersey History Issues Convention, held at the Trenton War Memorial. The convention is the creation of Dr. Joseph Salvatore from when he served as Chairman of the Board for the NJ Historical Commission, 1993-97. Dr. Salvatore envisioned a forum where history organizations, small and large, from throughout the state could come together and address current issues facing the history community.

Fifteen years later, Dr. Salvatore and his wife Anne were presented the prestigious Maureen Ogden Award for lifetime achievement in New Jersey History. Ogden served as a New Jersey Assemblywoman from 1981-95 and was a firm supporter of NJ history. Her efforts resulted in achievements such as forming the first NJ History Task Force. The award was presented by Dr. Michael Zuckerman, Executive Director of Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC). Zuckerman recognized the Salvatores with great pleasure, stating that “it has been my honor to rank Joe and Annie among my closest colleagues, collaborators  and friends.”

Dr. Salvatore and his wife have made significant contributions in historic preservation both in Cape May County and throughout the state. Together, they founded Historic Cold Spring Village in Cape May when they began collecting and restoring antique buildings on their property. The living history museum is currently celebrating its 27^th year, providing the public with 26 historic buildings where the trades, crafts and lifestyles of early America are demonstrated and preserved. The couple also saved abandoned Hangar No. 1 in Rio Grande, which now serves as the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, boasting a collection of WWII aircraft and displays. Anne remains the unsalaried Executive Director of Historic Cold Spring Village, and Dr. Salvatore for the Aviation Museum. Both sit on several boards throughout the state and Southern Shore region, including the NJ Historical Commission and the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission; they continue their active work in promoting and preserving arts, history and culture within New Jersey.

The Salvatores accepted the award with great pride and to a standing ovation, as Anne credited her love of history to her travels as a child. An uncle, Fred Rath, served as the first director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Anne and her family visited historic sites and living history museums all over the country, inspiring a lifelong passion for preservation. The Salvatores’ invited their grandchildren to join in the award ceremony in the hopes that they will also experience a love for history and become stewards of the past.

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit Early American museum preserving Cape May County’s past located on Route 9, three miles north of Cape May City.  For more information about the Village’s events and summer activities, please call (609) 898-2300, ext. 10, or visit www.hcsv.org. For more information on visiting NASW Aviation Museum, please call (609) 886-8787 or visit www.usnasw.org.