Dear Friends of the Water Works, Historic Preservationists, and Citizens All,
Forgive the Cross Posting. Some of you are on several lists. However, The
Water Works Conservancy (WWC) is appealing to all who care about preserving
an "American Treasure," (an Historic site that "Defines America") the
Historic Hackensack Water Co. site in Oradell, NJ. Bergen County Executive
Pat Schuber has suddenly announced he plans to bulldoze it. WWC stands
ready, willing and able to save it. This is for all citizens, NJ, tri-state
area, and the nation. This is a potential NATIONAL LANDMARK and an already
voted state and historic site and a designated "American Treasure," by Save
America's Treasures (a group consisting of the National Historic Trust, the
National Parks Service and the White House Millennium Council) Robert Vogel,
Curator Emeritus of technology and Engineering of the Smithsonian Institution
has called the site "The history of the industrial revolution from steam to
electricity," because of intact rare and important steam equipment in the
building including "Old # 7" an Allis Chalmers Triple Expansion Steam Engine
that was the backbone of the Industrial Revolution. It is an intact state-of
the art water pumping and filtration plant with red Romanesque brick
buildings dating from 1882 to 1914 on the Hackensack River, Bergen County, NJ.
WWC Plans to create a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, Education Center,
Hackensack River Research Center, and a Cultural Wing in the site. Please
help us save it! Only the power of PUBLIC OPINION can save it now.
Time is short. The deadline for the already granted NJ Historic Trust Fund
$575,000 grant is June 6. The Buildings are suffering increased damage due
to the intentional neglect of the County - doors are open to wildlife, holes
have been opened in the roof tiles that allow water and wind damage.
WWC plans to place an Open Letter to Bergen County Executive Pat Schuber in
all of the New Jersey area newspapers. We need your signatures on this
letter to show the depth of support both locally and nationwide.
Please:
1) read the letter,
2) e-mail WWC your approval to use your name on the letter, type out how
you want your name to appear, and give your city and state of residence.
3) Pass it on to All Your friends and have them sign up as well!
Now is the time friends to stand up for this "American Treasure." Prevent
this historic Vandalism! Please reply ASAP - hopefully, by Tuesday, May 29.
All the best,
Maggie Harrer
President
WWC, Inc.
Box 714
Oradell, NJ 07649
Phone: 201-967-0133
Fax: 201-967-751
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Website: (Currently Under Construction) http://HWWC.ORG/default.htm
HERE IS THE LETTER. It will appear as you see it, with the coupon on the
bottom to invite citizens to join in the fight to save this American Treasure:
AN OPEN LETTER TO BERGEN COUNTY EXECUTIVE WILLIAM SCHUBER
May 25, 2001
Dear County Executive William Schuber,
You say that you support preserving Bergen County's historic sites.
Yet, NOW you have unilaterally decided to bull doze the historic Hackensack
Water Company site in Oradell:
voted a state and national historic site,
a national landmark eligible site And
a designated "American Treasure" - an historic site that “Defines America.”
We don't understand!
You ORIGINALLY proposed a WIN/WIN solution:
creating a 10-acre environmentally restored County Park within the 65-acres
AND
allowing the Water Works Conservancy (WWC) to preserve the historic site;
creating a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, Education Center, Hackensack River
Research Center and Cultural Wing.
Yet, NOW you state that you are going bulldoze this “American Treasure” which
will create a 3-acre landfill in the middle of the park. We don't understand!
You state that you care about the environment.
Yet, NOW you plan to bulldoze this 19th Century historic industrial site to
dust, which will release unknown contaminants on the island and into the
river and threaten major water and sewer pipes nearby. We don’t understand.
You state that you do not want to spend a penny of taxpayer money to preserve
the historic Hackensack Water Co. site,.
Yet, NOW you will spend $3 -$6 million or more in taxpayer money to bulldoze
an “American Treasure.” We don't understand!
You state that you want grants and private funds to pay for preservation.
Yet, NOW you plan to ignore the June 6th deadline for the $575,000 NJ
Historic Trust Fund Grant to stabilize the site. We don’t understand!
Please stand by your original win/win proposal and allow the WWC to save this
"American Treasure" for future generations, for Bergen County and the nation!
Sincerely,
The Board Of Directors of The Water Works Conservancy, Inc.
We need your support to save this important historical site!
Join WWC and help save "AN AMERICAN TREASURE!"
YES! I want to help save the Historic Hackensack Water Co. Site!
YES! I wish to contribute: Member ($25)____ Supporting Member($60)____
Contributing Member ($100)___Sustaining Member ($250)____Sponsoring Member
($500)___Charter Member ($1000) ____
Name__________________________________Phone____________
Address______________________________________________
City____________State_____________Zip Code______
Fax________________________E-Mail______________________ Please make Checks
payable to: WWC, Inc.
Mail to: WWC, Inc., Box 714, Oradell, NJ 07649 Phone:
201-967-0133
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