Save the Victory Trail & Jacobs Creek Bridge

Department of Environmental Protection

Historic Preservation Office

501 E. State Street

Trenton, NJ 08625

Att: Mr. Dan Saunders

Re: 52 Maddock Road

*sent via email & U.S. Mail

Dear Mr. Saunders,

On October 6, 2009, I emailed your office requesting information on the status of my preliminary application for Historic Designation of my property at 52 Maddock Road in Titusville, and asked if there was any additional information your office needed to make a determination. My application was received by your office on September 21, 2009. I have not heard back from you to date.

As you must be aware, the designation of my property (and that of the Victory Trail, specifically the site at Bear Tavern Road and Jacob's Creek) is of importance in the fight to save this historic site and the Jacob's Creek Bridge.

Since my original request to you, I have been made aware of the DEP Green Acres' Crossroads of the American Revolution land preservation initiative, which recently preserved a 213 acre parcel which includes "Washington's Rock", deemed historically important due to local legend.

The Victory Trail, however, has been identified as such by Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian, David Hackett Fischer, the Daughters of the American Revolution (who placed a commemorative plaque at the site, on the side of my property, in 1929), and Mercer County itself , who has signage at the site indicating that the crossroads at Bear Tavern Road and Jacob's Creek is on the historic Victory Trail.

It has also come to my attention that Mayor Sandom of Hopewell Township has now decided that this well known Revolutionary War site cannot be deemed historic without an archeological survey to confirm it (see attached letter), simply because the preservation of this site will interfere with plans she supports (in opposition to township residents) for the County Executive's proposed removal of the bridge at the site , and the roadway span he intends to replace it with. How ironic that she and County Executive Hughes are suddenly willing to question, dismiss and forfeit this important and integral piece of New Jersey's history (not to mention the nation's history!) to achieve their own goals.

Although I requested information regarding any additional data you would need to make a determination on my application, I have not heard from you that an "archeological survey" would be necessary. As such, I am assuming that this is not standard procedure, especially at a location which has been identified since the "turning point" of the American Revolution as the path travelled by General Washington and his army on the way to their victorious Battle of Trenton. Additionally, my property line does not extend to Jacob's Creek, therefore, no Stream Encroachment permit would be necessary for an evaluation of the historical nature of the property.

I respectfully request information on any and all designated sites in New Jersey which have required an "archeological survey" to determine their historical significance and under what circumstances they were considered necessary.

I have attached excerpts from "Washington's Crossing" by David Hackett Fischer for your perusal, as well as a photograph of the DAR plaque from 1929 (which is now missing along with all but one of the historic markers at the site). I believe you already have a copy of the map of Washington's Victory Trail which I supplied with my application.

Looking forward to your prompt response, as obviously, time is of the essence to save this sacred historic site.

Sincerely,

Roni Browne Katz

52 Maddock Road

 Titusville, NJ 08560

Cc:

Governor Jon Corzine ,DEP Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello ,A.L. Holloway Studholme, LLC, David Hackett Fischer, Ron Emrich, Executive Director, Preservation NJ ,Cate Litvak, Crossroads of the American Revolution ,Melva Murray, Daughters of the American Revolution, President William Jefferson Clinton, Hopewell Valley News, Trenton Times, Trentonian