The History of duCret
Our Story
The duCret School of the Arts is the oldest arts school in the state of New Jersey. Founded in 1926 by artist and teacher Marjorie Van Emburgh, the school was originally located in a large carriage house in a residential area of Plainfield. By 1936 it had outgrown its original quarters and obtained space in the Babcock Building, located in the center of the Plainfield business district. Over the next two decades, the school continued to build a reputation for excellence in art education.
In 1964, the Van Emburgh School of Art was acquired by Dudley V. duCret and became the Van Emburgh/duCret School of Fine and Industrial Art. It was incorporated in 1970 and moved to its current location, the George Strong house in the Van Wyck historic residential section of Plainfield.
Ms. Van Emburgh remained a faculty member until 1975.
We are part of the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District
The Van Wyck Brooks Historic District is a neighborhood group of residents and friends of the Historic District. Our common mission is to promote and preserve our architectural heritage, and to continue building a strong sense of community among our neighbors.
This historic district is the largest of nine residential Historic Districts in Plainfield, New Jersey, encompassing 152 properties dating from 1803 to the 1960’s. Locally designated as a historic district in 1982, and placed on the National Register in 1986, the District was named for one of its famous residents, Van Wyck Brooks, prolific author, literary historian, critic, and 1937 Pulitzer prize winner, whose family home still stands at 563 West Eighth Street.
Learn more about the district.
