Welcome to Nat's Sidewalk Stories, a podcast exploring the hidden histories and vibrant communities beneath our feet. In this introductory episode, I share how my journey as an artist documenting Jersey City's architecture evolved into a deeper exploration of place-based storytelling.

I'll take you through my discovery of Dr. Edwina Drake Frech, who once lived in my house and established Jersey City's first pure milk dispensary in the early 1900s, saving countless infant lives. This connection to the past inspired my current book project, "If These Walls Could Talk," where my house narrates generations of Jersey City history.

In upcoming episodes, you'll meet remarkable people like Charlene Burke, who taught me that speaking up at public meetings can make a real difference; Jin Jung, whose ceramic plaques throughout Jersey City honor forgotten histories; and Kelly Carroll, whose perspective on community-based preservation inspired me to document the storefronts that have served our neighborhoods for generations.

Join me on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month as we explore the stories that make our neighborhoods unique, with a focus on Jersey City but also featuring perspectives from other cities that help us see our own community with fresh eyes.

For Full show notes, transcript, and visual documentation of places mentioned in this episode visit here

Connect with me:

Website: natkalbach.com

Instagram: @natkalbach

Email: [email protected]

Our theme music is "How You Amaze Me," composed by Jim Kalbach and performed by Jim Kalbach, Bryan Beninghove, Charlie Siegler, and Pat Van Dyke.