About Us

Board of Directors 2011:
Chairman: Breckenridge Ingles
Vice Chairman: Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph
Treasurer: Aubrey Layne
Secretary: Robert Hatten
Other Board Members: Theresa Stavens, Jeffrey Smith, Louise Theberge, William Walker, Ralph Jackson
Counsel to the Board: Alan Diamonstein (non-voting)
Executive Director: Jennifer E. Crittenden (non-voting)

History of the MSPT

The Main Street Preservation Trust’s inception is dated February, 2005, but many wonder how it all began. It all started with the incredible vision and generosity of the late Edwin Joseph and his wife, Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph. The Joseph’s, when looking at the old Gloucester Exchange Shopping Center where the vacated property of the Ames store was located, saw an opportunity for Gloucester while others most likely saw a vacated run-down shopping center. Mr. Joseph’s plan was to purchase the shopping center, rehabilitate the property, providing suitable space for a new public library for Gloucester and creating a vehicle that would produce income to be used to enhance and improve Gloucester Main Street. He and his wife purchased the center in January 2003 and proceeded with the initial renovation and thus, Main Street Center was born.

Currently, Main Street Center is a thriving center of business housing the Gloucester County Public Library, United States Post Office, Gloucester County Health department, restaurants, offices, physicians and retail businesses. The Main Street Preservation Trust office and event center is also located on the property.

As you can see, the Joseph’s provided two gifts to Gloucester – the first being the vision and funding to bring Main Street Center to life and the second, the gift of placing Main Street Center in a Trust that specifically states the profits from Main Street Center are to only benefit Gloucester Main Street through attracting new and additional business to Main Street, enhancing the economic and business environment, preserving historical landmarks in the Court House area, and promoting civic and cultural activities. Their un-paralleled gifts rate as the greatest acts of philanthropy ever bestowed upon Gloucester County.

Goal of the MSPT

To enhance the economic activity in the Gloucester Courthouse Village .

2011 Initiatives

Manage the asset known as Main Street Center
Support the Gloucester Main Street Association by providing office space,funding the Director's office along with marketing, advertising and website initiatives.
Manage the façade improvement grant program
Work with consultants to strengthen the already existing businesses on Main Street
Work with consultants to devise business recruitment strategies for Main Street
Develop a database of available spaces for lease and sale along Main Street
Become a business resource for new business looking to locate on Main Street by providing support and information to navigate the process
Continue to be a resource for those property owners seeking historic tax credits through rehabilitation of their buildings
Assist is establishing a fund for long term capital investment (revolving loan program)
Introduce the MSPT to the community and its organizations. Share our projects and initiatives
Actively market the new event space at Main Street Center to the community as a venue for meetings and events both publicly and privately