From the suburbs to the stars? That would serve as a succinct description of Buzz Aldrin’s life, which included coming of age in Montclair, New Jersey, flying combat missions during the Korean War and becoming one of the first humans to walk on the Moon. In the years and decades since then, Aldrin has continued to be an advocate for space exploration.
Now, the house in which Aldrin grew up is on the market — and there’s an effort in the works to turn it into a museum. (There are similar efforts afoot for J.R.R. Tolkien’s old house.) An article by Julia Martin at NorthJersey.com has details about both the house and the campaign to transform it.
The idea of turning the house into a museum is the brainchild of Ilmar Vanderer, a historic preservationist who lives nearby. He began work on a proposal to convert the house last year, and recently completed it. In the ensuing time, the house’s owner died, prompting her children to put the house on the market for the price of $1,049,000.
Further complicating matters? Montclair is a highly desirable destination for many home buyers, meaning that this particular property is highly in demand, especially at a time when numerous people are leaving New York City for nearby towns.
For now, Vanderer is hoping that an angel investor finds the idea of a Buzz Aldrin museum compelling. Creating something new in a historically-relevant building can be an arduous process — but then, so is sending people into space.
More Like This
Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.
