The Water Works Conservancy, Inc.
An Environmental, Science, Technology and Education Center
Box 714, Oradell, NJ 07649
Telephone: (201) 967-0133 Fax: (201) 967-7517
Website: Http://www.HWWC.org
MEDIA ADVISORY CONTACT:
June 7, 2001 Maggie Harrer
President of the Board
WWC, Inc.
201-967-0133
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$575,000 GRANT SAVED FOR HISTORIC WATER COMPANY SITE
New Jersey Historic Trust Fund Board supports saving Historic Hackensack
Water Co. Site
Oradell, NJ - Yesterday, June 6, at 10 AM in the “main house” of Walnford
Park, near Allentown in Upper Freehold Township,NJ, the Board of the New
Jersey Historic Trust Fund voted to table any action on the $575,000 grant
to Bergen County, to begin stabilization of the Pump House, which was due to
expire. Adam Strobel, Chief of Staff for Bergen County Executive Schuber,
represented the County and The Water Works Conservancy, Inc. (WWC) was
represented by Brian Callahan, architect, Stephanie Landau, Board Member, and
Maggie Harrer, President. Also present was Linda Besink, Councilwoman from
the Borough of Oradell.
The NJ Historic Trust Fund Board, which was unanimous in strong support of
preserving the site, voted to "table" any action on the grant for one year.
This action makes the grant available to the County to stabilize the site and
to WWC should WWC gain possession of the site within that year. The Board
encouraged the County to stabilize the site to protect it from further damage
until the ownership is decided. Further, the Board voted a strong
resolution that: as the site was an important historical site, as the site
was an Official Project of the Save America's Treasures, and as this site was
important to the State of New Jersey as well as the nation, that the County
of Bergen consider quite seriously a full preservation effort. This
resolution will be sent to County Executive Pat Schuber and the Board of
Chosen Freeholders.
Adam Strobel stated that County Executive William Schuber has decided to
demolish the historic Hackensack Water Company site, a designated Official
Project of Save America’s Treasures. Mr. Strobel explained that the County
was considering a "new plan" which consisted of leaving up a few walls of the
pump house, although not very high, and using some of the equipment as
"sculpture pieces" in a garden like setting and creating an amphitheater
where performances might happen.
Barbara Mitnick, the Chair of the NJ Historic Trust Fund Board, asked "Are
you telling us that County Executive Schuber is planning to create a ruin?
Does the County Executive have any idea of the firestorm of criticism he will
unleash nationally if he attempts to bulldoze this "American Treasure?"
There are enough jokes about New Jersey, we don't need another. ... These
sites, designated by Save America's Treasures, are chosen very carefully and
are heavily scrutinized. They are very important sites historically. This
is not just some little local or County historical site. You don't just
knock down ‘an American Treasure,’ without making every effort to save it."
WWC presented the request that the Board would extend the grant as the site
is very endangered presently with new holes in the roof of the pump house
which is allowing a great deal of water damage. WWC is hopeful that the
current political battle over the site will be resolved quickly and that WWC
will be allowed to begin stabilization. At that point, this grant would jump
start the process.
Stephanie Landau spoke about the great amount of support for the project in
Oradell as well as Countywide, statewide and nationally. She reminded the
Board that a recent poll that 67.1% of the voters in Oradell support the WWC
proposal. Brian Callahan addressed the importance of the site
architecturally and the endangerment of the site from weather and lack of
care.
Ms. Besink responded to Adam Strobel's characterization that the town of
Oradell had withdrawn its support for the project and therefore the County
was planning to bulldoze it. Ms. Besink stated that she "respectfully
disagreed with Mr. Strobel. As someone who voted on the resolution, I
couldn’t disagree more with Mr. Strobel’s characterization of the Oradell
Resolution." She further explained, "The Borough of Oradell cannot shoulder
the financial obligation of the site, but very much supports the WWC
proposal. In fact, the final clause in the Resolution was inserted in order
to manifest the support for the WWC plan and to request that the County
negotiate with WWC and bring this debate to a happy conclusion." The Oradell
Borough Resolution passed by a 6-0 vote.
The New Jersey Historic Trust Fund Boardmade a strong and impressive
statement of support for preserving this important site, Bergen County’s
“American Treasure,” and WWC's efforts to preserve and restore it. Most
important, the grant will continue to be available when WWC gains possession
of the site.
The historic Hackensack Water Company site located on Van Buskirk Island in
Oradell, NJ, an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures, has been the
center for six years of a grass-roots historic preservation battle. Two
weeks ago, Bergen County Executive William “Pat” Schuber made a surprise
announcement that he has decided to demolish the site in order to add 2
1/2-acres to an already planned 10-acre environmental park. This
announcement reverses his previous proposal to create a 10-acre restored
environmental park and preserve the 3-acre historic site by turning it over
to the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, The Water Works Conservancy,
Inc. (WWC).
Mr. Schuber’s reversal has galvanized a major outcry of dismay from
historical preservationists, historical organizations and citizens throughout
the state and nation, including Oradell’s favorite son, USN Captain Walter M.
Schirra, Jr., one of the original seven US Astronauts. In addition to its
designation as “An American Treasure,” the site has been voted a state and
national historic site and has National Landmark potential. Supporters of
the WWC’s proposal for preserving the Hackensack Water Co. site include: the
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation New Jersey, Save
America’s Treasures, Architects League of Northern New Jersey, Bergen County
Association of
The Hackensack Water Co. site is an intact state-of-the-art 19th Century
water treatment and filtration plant with red brick, Romanesque architecture
dating from 1882, containing rare and unique steam equipment that was the
backbone of the Industrial Revolution. Robert M. Vogel, Curator Emeritus of
Engineering and Industry of the Smithsonian Institution, has described the
pump house at the historic site as “the history of the Industrial Revolution
in one building from steam to electricity.”
The WWC’s five-part proposal to restore and preserve the site includes plans
to create within the historic buildings: New Jersey’s first Smithsonian
Affiliate museum of history, science and technology; an Education Center; an
Environmental Center; a Cultural Wing; and a Hackensack River Research
Center. The site, located on the Hackensack River - one of the 12 most
endangered rivers in America - would become a major regional resource for
research and education on water use, the cutting edge issue for the 21st
Century.
For further information on this major preservation and environmental issue,
please contact the WWC, Inc, Phone: 201-967-0133; Fax: 201-967-7517;
Webmaster at: Http://www.HWWC.org
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