Palace of Depression

The Palace of Depression was a building made of junk that was located in Vineland, New Jersey, built by the eccentric and mustachioed George Daynor, a former Alaska gold miner who lost his fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. This amusement was known as "The Strangest House in the World" and the "Home of Junk" and was built as a testament of willpower against the effects of The Great Depression.[1]

History

Beginnings

Postcard showing Mr. Daynor.

George Daynor claims that he was guided to New Jersey by an angel, who provided the design for the palace. Completed on Christmas Day 1932, the palace was built on 7 acres (28,000 m2) which cost him seven dollars. Daynor said that his palace was "the greatest piece of originality ever brought about in the history of Man." He would charge 25 cents for a tour.[1]

Daynor was a publicity hog and claimed to be "the most photographed man in the world." After Peter Weinberger was kidnapped on 4 July 1956,[lower-alpha 1] Daynor called the FBI and falsely reported that the kidnappers had visited the palace. The FBI followed the false claim and Daynor was imprisoned for a year.[1]

The Palace of Depression was linked with another disappearance, that of William Ebenezer Jones III, who went missing in 1962; the grounds of the Palace of Depression were dug up, but no body was ever found.[lower-alpha 2]

Decline

A picture of the ticket booth, which is the last remnant of the original structure.

Daynor died a pauper in 1964 at a reported 104 years old. After Daynor's death, a fire destroyed the Palace of Depression and Vineland razed it in 1969.

Restoration

As of 2007, a city restoration project to rebuild the Palace of Depression was in progress. Local companies and individuals were encouraged to volunteer materials and labor. Kevin Kirchner, along with artist Jeff Tirante was leading the restoration effort.[1]

As of November, 2014, the restoration team has made a great deal of progress in putting the Palace back into a living breathing edifice.

In pop culture

Notes

  1. ↑ Peter Weinberger, born 6 June 1956, son of Morris and Beatrice Ziefman Weinberger was kidnapped when 33 days old on 4 July 1956 from his home at 17 Albermarle Road, Westbury, Long Island and left to die near Northern State Parkway in Plainview, Long Island. His body was discovered in a thicket on 24 August 1956. Angelo John LaMarca confessed to the kidnapping and was executed at Sing Sing on 7 August 1958.[2][3]
  2. ↑ After three-year-old William “Billy” Jones was reported missing from his home in Vineland, New Jersey, on 17 December 1962, investigators dug up the grounds of the Palace of Depression.[4][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Palace of Depression, Vineland, New Jersey". Roadside America. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
  2. ↑ Bracker, Milton (25 August 1956). "Weinberger Baby Found Dead in L.I.". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "La Marca Executed for Kidnap-Slaying". The New York Times. 8 August 1958. p. 38. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Marko, Deborah M. (17 December 2011). "Police work on 49-year mystery of lost boy". Courier Post. Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
  5. ↑ "William Ebenezer Jones III". MissingKids.com. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Retrieved 17 December 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 39°29′03″N 75°03′41″W / 39.4843°N 75.0614°W / 39.4843; -75.0614

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