Guest Column

Hervé Barrier
Don’t waste money to destroy buildings

Middlesex County shouldn’t waste taxpayer money to destroy a picturesque historical site in Milltown. Desirable preservation options are available.

As a member of the East Brunswick Historical Society, and with the support of the Milltown Historical Society, I have conducted preliminary research about the threatened site, the former Kuhlthau Feed and Fuel Company on Washington Avenue. I recently addressed the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and urged them not to proceed with the demolition of the buildings on the site. The Freeholders are still determined to destroy the site.

Brief history of the endangered site: In prehistoric times, a Unami Lenni Lenape encampment occupied this location, according to The Story of Milltown by H. R. Luery. In 1678, Thomas Lawrence purchased 3,000 acres of land around the Lawrence Brook from the Indians; the original Indian bill of sale is preserved in the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton.

In 1848, Philipp Kuhlthau comes from Oberzell, Germany, at a time of potato famine. He returns to his village and sponsors the immigration of 30 friends and relatives. 50 people came in the 1880s; possibly 100 came from this 1,000-people village during the 19th century. Groups from Oberzell come regularly to visit Milltown (nicknamed "New Oberzell"). One group has planned to visit in July.

In 1888, the Raritan River Railroad reaches Milltown and brings a new energy source, coal, to local factories, previously relying on their mills along the Lawrence Brook. The railroad near the farm offers an opportunity for the Kuhlthaus to create the Feed and Coal Company, and later, the Food and Fuel Company.

In the last 31 years, the buildings have been used by small businesses (including The Book Swap, which has been forced to move, and The Ice Cream Depot, which was allowed to stay in the old weighing station).

Today, the county wants to spend an estimated $80,000 of taxpayer money to demolish almost all the buildings. This is costly and unnecessary. The site can be turned into a historical district (as suggested by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission). The buildings can be used and maintained by associations at no cost to taxpayers.

The possibilities are endless for such a picturesque site. The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership (a nonprofit organization) has proposed to restore at least the two large buildings at no cost to taxpayers, and to convert them into a nature center, a free multi-million-dollar asset for county residents (with grants based on the environmental, historical, cultural and educational nature of the project). The organization is being given only one small portion of one building. Raising funds based on historical preservation will be impossible once most of the site has gone. The complete nature center is a unique opportunity that both county and municipality should seize.

Another large building could be used as an art exhibit area for local artists. Another building, near the railroad, could be turned into a railroad museum. Other parts would be perfect for the Lenni Lenape museum, which surprisingly does not exist in Middlesex County. Sadly, Milltown is losing today its very last farmstand, on Ryders Lane. Why not convert one of the old buildings into a farmstand, where residents could purchase fresh vegetables in an authentic, revived, rural setting. Such an historical district would boost Milltown’s image as "Historic Milltown." People interested in restoring ancient houses would move to Milltown and embellish the place. New construction projects would then try to imitate the style of old ones.

The historical society could start recognizing the oldest properties as local historical landmarks with bronze plaques proudly displayed on the fronts of houses.

Don’t let Middlesex County make all decisions about historical places. The county did not even allow the local societies to inspect all the buildings.

Buildings should be examined as assets by historical and building experts for historical value, structural value, stabilization cost, cost of upgrade to New Jersey Rehabilitation code (which the county does not seem to be aware of), not modern construction code, and total restoration cost. After two months of painful insistence, the county allowed brief inspection of one building and parts of another (there are seven buildings on the site). Our civil engineer report indicates that there are no visible signs of structural problems or termite damage and that further inspection should take place. The Freeholder Director (David B. Crabiel, of Milltown) argued that you can see the sky through the roof of the 1850 barn. Yes, but less than one tenth of the demolition cost would be needed to replace the roof. Why can’t we access the other buildings? Is there something valuable we are not supposed to see? The residents and taxpayers have the right to be treated fairly. These are their assets, their cultural heritage.

In 1970, Milltown lost a Victorian house of great beauty, the Evans Mansion on Main Street (the mayor at this time was today’s Freeholder director). One can argue that the house was privately owned, therefore difficult to save; but today’s buildings on public land are not safe either.

Milltown’s mayor and council should strongly state that the site is an important local historical landmark. Is Milltown afraid of losing future favors when its most valuable assets, its ancient buildings, its rural character, are being destroyed today. If this demolition takes place, there will be another. Nothing stopped when the beautiful Evans Mansion was razed.

When a building is gone, it is forever. Let’s say "No" and let’s keep "Historic Milltown."

Hervé Barrier is a resident of East Brunswick