Jersey City, an enormous landscape that can’t be captured in a single photograph. Built high with cascading towers and a community intertwined with neighborhoods snuggled up next to one another.

Commuters, as well as Jersey City residents alike hardly ever, take the time to think about the history of their surroundings. Often more than not, people are running to get from point A to point B – buses and cars doing drop-offs and pickups, trains screeching down the tracks, feet pitter pattering across concrete stairs, and up and down escalators.

One person who has put the speed of traveling behind her is a retired cat-mom and lifetime Jersey City resident Renee Tirella-Cassidy. Born in 1955, Cassidy was raised in the Journal Square area of Jersey City; she has truly seen Jersey City transform through its ups and downs. To boot, she still lives in the same house she grew up in as it’s interior is blended between classic and modern minimalist so you can really feel the style change through the decades. Just upon walking in for our interview, that feeling of home struck loud and clear.

“I’ve lived in Jersey City and the same house all my life. I went from downstairs to upstairs as my dad’s tenant and back down again after dad passed away,” she said.

As a teen, Cassidy spent time with friends walking around the Square. Her favorite pastimes were visiting The Canton Restaurant with her girlfriends and enjoying a few Shirley Temples, shopping in smaller boutiques, and heading to The Landmark Loew’s, The Stanley Theater, and the State Theater for movies.

“When we got to a certain age, around twelve or thirteen, we would all go to The Canton! That was the place,” she said smiling.

For those who are unfamiliar with The Canton Restaurant, it was a staple that celebrities and Jersey City denizens would visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of Journal Square. The Canton Restaurant was later replaced by 24 Hour Fitness.

Cassidy expressed both her happiness and sadness for the changes in Journal Square.

“I’m sad because the old Journal Square was part of my childhood; the restaurants and boutiques such as Danny Mack Shoes. On payday, everyone went there, we all did. We didn’t know what we had was great because it just was what it was,” she said.

“Man, we had everything we needed. We had a supermarket within Journal Square along with several bakeries and a lot of little restaurants, and these are the things that we are missing today. For entertainment we went to one of three theaters…and then people started to move away,” she paused. “By that time I was working. I went to work every day and towards the end, I was working at home. At times I would take the train, the bus, or would drive. When you’re busy, you’re kind of not aware of what’s happening around you. As many people are. Things are just happening in spite of what is going on – your world is wrapped in your world.”

Cassidy explained that her one joys of living in Journal Square was the proximity of everything, “I would make a loop in a few hours to visit the dentist, the bank, the doctor, and get ten things done in one trip.”

“I am not a suburbanite,” she continued. “All my father’s brothers and sisters lived in the suburbs, but my father wanted to stay for some reason. So we all grew up here – people from the 20s and 30s with the American Dream to have that white picket fence. People who aspired for a better life.”

She explained that no matter what, Journal Square always overcame any tribulations. As it evolved into what it is today, Cassidy said that it was never blighted and always had a lot of foot traffic as it managed not to fall into ruin.

Cassidy believes that the possibilities are endless for Journal Square. “I hope that with the new development and all the new projects on the horizon it will help benefit the people of our community. If people are working and financially sound, then that’s the beginning of a great city. However, I hope that my concern for the homeless in Journal Square will be addressed. Everybody should benefit from the success of the new Journal Square. I’m very excited for the changes, but it’s a little scary after not having anything for a long time,” she said.

Cassidy is also a part of The New Journal Square Community Association. She also explained that the association covers the neighborhood from Summit to Corbin Avenues and from Newark to Dekalb Avenues.

The New Journal Square Community Association is in the process of being developed to further help the community and the surrounding area of Journal Square.

She explained what is wonderful about Journal Square, “The farmers markets are great on Wednesdays and Fridays and then, of course, the convenience to trains and buses. I’m really glad people are finally realizing this is a viable area. Sometimes you’re so used to something that you don’t realize it. We can always improve.”

“The newer generation might not have what we had, but we can still have something great,” she said

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