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Wildwood, NJ Hosting 'Woodrow Wilson Weekend' To Mark Historic Visit

WILDWOOD, N.J. (CBS) - This is "Woodrow Wilson Weekend" in Wildwood. Bet you didn't know that.

A group of historic preservationists want to honor the time that America's 28th president visited the South Jersey town just days before his election. Oh, and raise a little money to boot.

He was the only US president to hail from New Jersey, being elected after serving one term as governor. He also served as president of Princeton University.

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(Woodrow Wilson.)

But for our purposes here, he was a good friend with the Baker brothers, three businessmen who were key in Wildwood's early days as a shore resort.

A historic house the Bakers once owned on Atlantic Avenue, where Wilson vacationed, will be the center of events including dinners, teas, a concert, and a dramatic performance from the day.

"A lot of people don't know a lot about Woodrow Wilson. A lot have voiced their opinion that they didn't like him," says Cathy Smith is with the Wildwood Civic Club, which now owns the house.

The group hopes to raise money to help an ongoing restoration of the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.  And organizers hope to make this an annual event.

For more information go to wildwoodsnj.com or friends-of-j-thompson-baker-national-historical-house.com, or call 609-522-0060 or 609-729-4515.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060

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