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 # # # ========================================================Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).