Hinds gates form welcome visitors to the Hinds Plaza next to Princeton public library. (Click to expand)

Hinds Plaza, next to Princeton Public Library, is one of Princeton’s most successful public spaces: an area that brings people together to live, work, study and have fun. Who was Albert Hinds, who gave his name to this square? A mainstay of the local community, who was active in municipal bodies, with his church, and who lived long enough to tell younger Princeton residents of the old days around town, before Palmer Square and even before Nassau Street was fully paved.

Ornamental gates were added to the plaza earlier this year, and now a new plaque has been installed memorializing Mr Hinds. This is in preparation for a formal dedication of the Hinds gates, which will take place later this year and culminate a process begun several years ago and implemented by local volunteers:

The new memorial to Albert E. Hinds at Hinds Plaza. The text reads: ‘”It’s Always The Right Time To Do the Right Thing” / Albert E. Hinds Community Plaza. / Born in Princeton in 1902, Albert E. Hinds was a living monument of the town’s African-American heritage. Throughout his 104 years, he was a tireless advocate for social justice and civil rights. These open gates symbolize the spirit of a beloved man whose judgement, dedication and caring brought together and enriched the lives of his neighbors and fellow citizens. / Tom Nussbaum 2013. / This public art project was made possible by the generous contribution of the citizens of Princeton.’ (Click to expand.)

The memorial to Albert Hinds is a fantastic addition to the public plaza, not just for the very appropriate recognition of Albert Hinds life and service, but because it serves as a link to Princeton’s past, and provides a link to the local community and history. The Hinds Plaza is more than just a public square, but a unique place that could not exist anywhere else. It is a credit to all those who have worked to make it happen.

Letting the cement dry around the new Hinds memorial plaque in Princeton’s Hinds Plaza, Saturday, Sep 7, 2013. (Click to expand.)