Scientology grand opening set for another L. Ron Hubbard historic property
Scientology’s deification of founder L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986) continues with yet another property about to have its grand opening after purchase and renovation by the church.
Two years ago, we published a report about this ongoing project by Scientology’s most secretive subsidiary, the Church of Spiritual Technology.
CST is better known for the bizarre underground vaults that it has built (three in California, one in New Mexico, and another aborted project in Wyoming) where it archives Hubbard’s writings and lectures to last thousands of years.
But CST also has been on a steady buying spree in recent years with a non-profit it manages, Heritage Properties International LLC, snatching up homes where Hubbard spent parts of his life, and particularly ones that were important to the history of Dianetics and Scientology.
Heritage Properties paid $2.72 million, for example, to purchase the house in Bay Head, New Jersey where Hubbard and his then second wife Sara Northrup were living with their newborn Alexis when Hubbard finished his manuscript for Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
As the book was nearing publication in 1950 and Astounding editor John Campbell began publishing excerpts of it in the magazine, Hubbard then dragged Sara and Alexis to nearby Elizabeth, NJ to set up shop.
They rented a house at 42 Aberdeen Road (see the photo above), which is where they were living as Ron created the first Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, and the movement that would later come to be known as Scientology began.
Having already purchased and restored the Bay Head house, Heritage Properties paid $894,000 for the modest Aberdeen Road house in Elizabeth, and now they have put out a mailer that was forwarded to us, announcing that the grand opening of this latest historic Hubbard property will take place on April 26.
This will be a private affair, of course, and you probably can’t go near it unless you’ve donated huge amounts to current leader David Miscavige. But we think it’s pretty interesting nonetheless.
For example, looking at Russell Miller’s essential biography of Hubbard, Bare-Faced Messiah, it appears that although Hubbard and Sara were living at the 12 Aberdeen Road house, the actual Dianetic Research Foundation was housed in an office somewhere nearby…
By the beginning of April, [Astounding editor John] Campbell's editorials had stimulated so much interest that it was decided to establish a Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation to disseminate knowledge of the new therapy and stimulate further research. The Foundation was incorporated in the unlovely environs of Elizabeth, New Jersey, a grimy industrial town on the shores of Newark Bay, opposite Staten Island. The board of directors was made up of Ron and Sara Hubbard, Campbell, [Dr. Joseph] Winter, Don Rogers, Art Ceppos and a lawyer by the name of Parker C. Morgan. Dr Winter, who had by then sold his practice in Michigan to devote himself full-time to Dianetics, accepted the post of medical director 'without qualms.'
The Foundation rented the top floor of an old office building on Morris Avenue and furnished it with second-hand sheet-metal desks, Navy surplus lecture-hall chairs and Army surplus cots. Ron and Sara rented a small frame house at 42 Aberdeen Road, Elizabeth, and moved in with the baby. Sara very much regretted leaving Bay Head and viewed Elizabeth with unconcealed distaste, but Ron persuaded her that it was vital for him to be on hand to direct the affairs of the Foundation.
Well, close enough we suppose.
Scientology’s lronhubbard.org website says the Aberdeen Road location is the original research foundation site, so who are we to argue.
What will become of this landmark? We assume it will become another shrine to Ron, just as the Bay Head house is, about 55 miles south from Elizabeth.
Here’s a testimonial about visiting the Bay Head “Birthplace of Dianetics” house that was just posted this week…
Hear a Christian Nigerian Medical Doctor's Life-Changing Experience at the Birthplace of Dianetics!
"He was definitely divinely created to do this work. Ron Hubbard was touched by God — I hope he realized it during his lifetime, and that others who followed him also see it. I was blown away. The tour guide was spectacular — she was knowledgeable, she knew her stuff, she was patient and receptive. Everything was well arranged, neat, and clean. What struck my interest the most was the research, the attention to detail, and the amazing work done — the study of the mind, spirit, and body. I would love to learn how to apply these studies to help humanity. I would like to invite my friends and family. I loved every part of it. Thank God for Ron Hubbard and for all those who have helped keep his legacy alive. I am a much better human being today, with better insight into my vision and life mission, thanks to Myles and Nahomy's great work."
Oh, that Ron. Still performing miracles 39 years after he moved on to another part of the galaxy.
Despite Elizabeth’s proximity to New York, we’ll be unable to go by the grand opening that weekend. If you go, please send us some photos!
Bonus items from our tipsters
The reader who forwarded us this flier says: What a farce! My stepmother was an OT 8 who said to her fellow OT pals, “If you still believe in God, you’re not OT”!
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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history
Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea
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From quack therapy to the eventual OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 soul-freeing exorcism of Xenu's body-thetans. (Bayhead to the Canary Islands)
I guess someday, CST will try to purchase the villa, or recreate it, on the island where Hubbard discovered the Xenu story, for the Section III OT (OT 3) Xenu story discovery, that lead to today's upper Scientology practices which are a massive amount of body-thetan exorcism. OT 3, 4, 5 6 and 7 being the top secret five levels of upper Scientology, whole lotta exorcism, years worth.
The innocents newbies who don't know what's coming later in Scientology, don't know of the Xenu body-thetans exorcism that will go on for years, if they get that far into the Hubbard whole ludicrous quackery practices.
I wonder who of the richest Scientologists have already traveled to other of the Hubbard earthly locations.
I'm pretty sure by the time a person who is God practicing of another religion, by the time they get up to OT 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, they aren't thanking God for Hubbard's discoveries any longer.
Hubbard's (Xenu's body-thetans) exorcism just doesn't compute with normal God religions.
But someday, I hope we get a normal religion's views of the Xenu stuff of Scientology, from some convert or co-practicing person's view of the upper Scientology practices.
Hubbard just did not predict the long range problems he was creating in the minds of people who buy into the whole Hubbard stepladder of past lives "therapy" and the Hubbard exorcism of Xenu's body-thetans implanted with the R6 implants.
It's a mouthful trying even to cover Hubbard quackery, and compare it to other religions' God beliefs.
I do hope they have photos of the non existent second wife all over this place. That’s where they lived. It’s tempting to go to the grand opening just to ask questions about Sara Northrup.