BY DICK METZGAR
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — In two months or less, a new building could be gracing the northwest corner of West Main and Throckmorton streets, according to Lorenzo Morgera, of Middletown, the owner of the now vacant lot on the corner.
However, a new building will not necessarily mean a new look for the corner, according to Morgera, who owns and operates Lorenzo’s restaurant two buildings away on West Main Street.
“We’re going to put up a two-story frame building just like the one that was on the site,” said Morgera, who was born in Naples, Italy.
The razing of the building that previously stood on the corner began more than two weeks ago after it had been determined by borough officials to be structurally unsound, Morgera said, and it was necessary to tear it down.
The building was severely damaged several years ago when a car crashed into the front of the structure. The vehicle had been struck by a freight train which was crossing the intersection at West Main and Throckmorton streets. At that time the building was occupied by the Busy BBB’s florist.
Following repairs to the building, the florist business, which had been located at that site for a number of years, reopened. Earlier this year, however, the Busy BBB’s was forced to relocate because the building was deemed unsafe.
“Until then I hadn’t realized just how unsound the building was,” said Morgera, who bought the property in June 2004. “It was apparently structurally damaged when the car crashed into the building. I couldn’t believe it was as bad as it was. It probably should have been torn down several years ago.”
The building on the corner of West Main and Throckmorton streets was one of the oldest in that area, and had housed a number of businesses over the years, according to Carl N. Steinberg, a Realtor with offices on Throckmorton Street, and local historian.
During the 20th century, and before, businesses at the intersection created a beehive of commercial activity, being so close to a railroad station and bus depot near the southwest corner of the intersection.
“They used to refer to that old
building as realty corner when Ben Alpern had his real estate business in it,” Steinberg said.
Alpern, a well-known local businessman, is believed to have operated his real estate business in the building from the 1950s until his death in late 1984. It would continue to serve as a real estate office for several more years.
“A number of other businesses were located in the building over the years,” Steinberg said. “I believe there may have been grocery stores in the building many years ago.”
Steinberg produced a newspaper advertisement. which appeared to be from the late 1930s, indicated by the model of an automobile displayed as part of the ad, for Jerri’s Kitchen, Proprietor, Lee Becker. According to the ad, Jerri’s offered 24-hour service, but the ad did not indicate whether it was a restaurant or a business that offered ready-cooked takeout meals.
Morgera said he does not yet have a business lined up to occupy the corner building after it is completed.
“We hope to have the building completed within the next two months,” he said. “As yet, we don’t know what business will go into it. It could be another florist business, a coffee shop, or something else. We don’t know yet.”
Morgera said there are 32 parking spaces available for his property, which include his restaurant, on the corner.
He said the biggest problem facing businesses at the intersection is that there is no traffic light in place, which he said makes it dangerous for vehicle and pedestrian traffic that attempts to negotiate its way across the intersection.
Municipal and county officials for years have attempted to secure permission to install a traffic light at the intersection, but have been continually thwarted by federal authorities and ConRail, which sends several fright trains a week through the intersection.
“There is no doubt that intersection should have traffic lights,” Morgera said. “A light there would solve the traffic problems at that corner. As it is, the intersection is unsafe for motorists and pedestrians. This is our town; why shouldn’t we have a light there? If they ever have a petition for a light at that intersection, I will be the first to sign it.”