UCHS Annual Luncheon Welcomes Annis Boudinot Stockton

Alisa Dupuy, a noted reenactor, performed as Annis Boudinot Stockton, a poet and the first woman to be published in the thirteen colonies. The wife of Richard Stockton of Princeton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, she was the elder sister of Elias Boudinot of Elizabeth.

Her presentation kept attendees engaged as she shared stories about the circumstances of Annis and Richard Stockton’s lives before and during the Revolutionary War.

Members also enjoyed dinner and conversations with friends of the Union County Historical Society.

Save the Date: Student Awards Program

Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Hanson House

Roselle Park Celebrates 125 Years

The Borough of Roselle Park is celebrating its own anniversary in 2026 as the nation marks America’s 250th. On March 22, 2026—the anniversary of the borough’s incorporation in 1901—Roselle Park celebrated its 125th anniversary with a birthday party at the Casano Community Center.

Residents and representatives of local and county government attended. Remarks were made by Mayor Joseph Signorello Jr. and members of the Borough Council. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, representing New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, also attended and offered her congratulations. A large birthday cake marked the occasion.

Marconi Wireless and Radio Station WDY Remembered

Later that afternoon, as part of the continuing anniversary celebrations, a bronze plaque was unveiled at the front of the recently completed Mi-Place apartment complex on Westfield Avenue.

The plaque recognizes the historical importance of the location once occupied by the Marconi Wireless Company of America and Radio Station WDY. The Marconi factory was critically important to the World War I effort, producing wireless equipment for the U.S. Navy and Signal Corps. Its operation was so important that troops guarded the complex during the war, and several additions were made to increase production.

In 1919, the Marconi Wireless Company of America and General Electric joined together to form the Radio Corporation of America, or RCA.

At the same location, RCA-owned Radio Station WDY went on the air in late 1921, helping to begin a new era of mass communication. Although the station operated for only about three months before moving to New York City, its place in radio history was remembered by RCA Chairman David Sarnoff in a telegram marking the borough’s 50th anniversary in 1951. WDY received the first broadcast license issued in New Jersey in September 1921.

The anniversary program included remarks by the mayor and other borough officials recalling this history. Union County Historical Society representatives Mary Leonard and Barbara Sokol attended; both had also attended the original plaque dedication in 1976.

Ed Leonard, who presented the original plaque to the property’s then-owner, Romerovski Corporation, during the nation’s Bicentennial 50 years earlier, also spoke. The original plaque was reported missing during the demolition of the complex approximately four years ago. Working from details Mr. Leonard provided, Fernmoor Homes—the developer and owner of the new complex—had the plaque faithfully recreated.

Fernmoor Homes also preserved the site’s history through a pictorial display inside the apartment complex lobby and lower level. Large murals recount the history of the factory building, inventor Guglielmo Marconi, wireless communication, and Radio Station WDY.

The two-building complex is named Studio 1 and Studio 2 at Mi-Place at First Radio, and its apartment types carry radio and communication themes, including “The Marconi.” Mr. Leonard thanked Fernmoor Homes President Jeff Fernbach for the company’s commitment to preserving the location’s history. Mr. Fernbach then discussed the building and preservation efforts before joining Mr. Leonard for the plaque unveiling.

The plaque stands near the entrance to an area at the front of the Studio 1 building that is expected to become the permanent home of the Roselle Park Historical Society and Museum. The museum plans to move from its current location on Grant Avenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is featured in UCHS Newsletter Issue 185?

Issue 185 features a portrayal of Annis Boudinot Stockton, Roselle Park’s 125th anniversary, the Marconi Wireless site, and the history of Radio Station WDY.

Who was Annis Boudinot Stockton?

Annis Boudinot Stockton was a colonial-era poet, the wife of Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton, and the elder sister of Elias Boudinot of Elizabeth.

Why is the former Marconi site in Roselle Park historically important?

The site housed the Marconi Wireless Company of America, which produced wireless equipment during World War I, and later Radio Station WDY, an early New Jersey broadcasting station.

What was Radio Station WDY?

WDY was an RCA-owned radio station that began broadcasting from Roselle Park in late 1921 and received the first broadcast license issued in New Jersey.