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"HISTORIC WATER WORKS SITE IN NEW JERSEY ENDANGERED - May 31, 2001"

Press Release by Water Works Conservancy

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 School Administrators, Bergen County Historical Society, Society for Industrial Archaeology, Water Landmarks Committee of the American Water Works Association, AIA - New Jersey Society of Architects, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey, County of Bergen Historic Preservation Advisory Board and others. A recent poll by Neighborhood Research, Inc. of Sparta, NJ, documented that 67.1% of registered voters in Oradell support Mr. Schuber?s original proposal to
create a park and allow WWC to preserve the historic site in their town.

A New Jersey Historic Trust Fund grant of $575,000 to begin stabilization and preservation of the site will expire on Wednesday, June 6, 2001 unless County Executive Schuber agrees to honor his original preservation proposal. The $575,000 grant might be saved if Mr. Schuber agrees to preserve the site and permits WWC to assume management of the site and begin restoration work. The disposition of the $575,000 grant will be decided at a public meeting of the New Jersey Historic Trust Fund Board on Wednesday, June 6, 10:00 a.m., in the ?main house? of Walnford Park, near Allentown in Upper reehold Township, NJ.

In most cases, WWC is unable to request significant funding from major foundations until it owns or is leasing the site. Nevertheless, WWC has received a grant commitment of $60,000 from the New Jersey Historical Commission for General Operating Support, contingent on WWC gaining possession of the site. WWC is also eligible for up to $2 million in preservation funds from Save America's Treasures, again, contingent on possessing the site. "There is no downside to giving WWC the opportunity to save this important site," states WWC Board President, Maggie Harrer."This site is too important to demolish without first allowing a real effort to save it."

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