Adedication ceremony held outside the centuries-old Van Dyke farmhouse on Oct. 22 celebrated its longawaited preservation.
JEFF GRANIT staff Jean Dvorak wipes away leaves from the tombstone of John Van Dyke, who is buried on the Van Dyke Farm in South Brunswick. Middlesex County officially preserved the farm from development last week. “This farm being saved is the most wonderful thing to happen to South Brunswick in a long time,” said Bill Klimowicz, Eastern Villages Association (EVA) member.
Middlesex County officials announced two weeks ago they would purchase the 188-acre farm for open space preservation from current owner William Pulda in a $7.5 million deal, about $40,000 an acre, in an attempt to preserve South Brunswick’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
“The economy went south, and sometimes that’s a good thing because the price really dropped,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said at the ceremony.
The multimillion-dollar cost was split between the township and the county, each contributing $2.5 million of their open space funds, and the county is also expected to use another $2.5 million of its state Green Acres funding toward the purchase.
PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: Karen Van Dyke, daughter of John Van Dyke, thanks the South Brunswick administration for preserving her father’s farm during a dedication ceremony Oct. 22 on the property. Middlesex County officially preserved the farm from development last week. Below: Jean Dvorak points out some of the remains of a barn on the farm. State, county and township officials, as well as local activists and residents, gathered on the 350-year-old homestead to cut the ribbon in recognition of the new purchase.
The preservation was made possible due to the combined effort of many local officials and activists. Members of the EVA as well as other activists and officials strongly pushed the farm’s preservation until a purchase price was reached and cooperation ensued.
“All the levels of government had to be a part of this to make it work, but I believe it’s all the citizens [too], because they kept it going,” Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein said at the ceremony.
A flag post marks the graveside of the late John Van Dyke, who is buried on the Van Dyke Farm in South Brunswick. The land became a priority among many area officials and activists due to its rich historical heritage and environmental importance. The farm is located next to the Pigeon Swamp State Park, which has the only water supply in the county with the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection’s most protected status, according to officials.
“We like to say the farm is filling out the northeast corner of the Pigeon Swamp State Park,” said EVA member Jean Dvorak.
There is also soil on the farm that is of the best quality in the country, according to Klimowicz.
The land is a historical icon, according to Freeholder and former South Brunswick Councilwoman Carol Barrett.
“It’s always been a priority for us to purchase and save this wonderful historic land,” she said.
The ceremony began and ended with a spiritual hymn sung by Dvorak that often echoes the tragedy of slavery, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
A rare insight into New Jersey slavery has been recognized on the newly preserved land with old slave quarters still intact and a small parcel of land thought to have been a gravesite for slaves. There has also been documentation found for the sale of a young black child named Amy.
Also found on the land off Davidson Mill Road are the original and still-intact 18th-century farmhouse and carriage house. There is a tombstone engraved with the name of a Revolutionary War colonel as well.K
limowicz, who grew up on Davidson Mill Road, said an elderly lady who lived nearby told him and his friends of the soldier’s tombstone when they were children.
“We would ride our bikes and look at the tombs and be in awe, ‘Wow, a Revolutionary War soldier,’ ” he said. “Just growing up here has been amazing, and to see this saved is a thrill.”
The land, sold to the Pulda family from the Van Dykes in 1954, escaped a construction attempt by developer Joseph Morris nearly five years ago. At first, Morris was looking to build a warehouse complex, but after an unsuccessful zoning change, he proposed the construction of 52 residential lots. His proposal for development caused an outcry among township and county officials as well as historical societies and local residents.
“This road was all farms and it hasn’t changed that much,” Klimowicz said. “When I found out they wanted to build a warehouse here, I thought, no way.”
Despite Morris’ unsuccessful attempts to develop the land, full ownership remained in the hands of William Pulda, with whom the county initiated negotiations nearly 18 months ago. The farm is the only Van Dyke homestead remaining in the Davidson Mill Road area, according to officials.
“This is a really great success story. We need to preserve more open space around the township,” said Councilman Mahesh Shah. “This is a great moment for South Brunswick. This is a gift to our children and grandchildren.”
Also present at the ceremony and instrumental in the farm’s preservation was Deputy Mayor Chris Kilmurray.
“Klimowicz was my conscience on this,” he said. “When I started, he said, ‘Give me one word, that you’re going to try your best.”
Kilmurray then thanked current tenants Roland and Susan Fritz, who will continue living in the house, for doing a great job as caretakers.
“It’s such a happy day for me that they can remain as caretakers of this property,” he said.
Also in attendance was Piscataway residentKarenVanDyke, daughter of Arthur Van Dyke, the final Van Dyke family member to own the farm.
“I grew up always hearing about the farm, but it was sold when I was 1 year old,” she said. “I’m just so delighted that the farm I grew up hearing about is being preserved.”
She said her father, who was involved with the farm’s preservation from the very beginning is glad to see the land of his parents and great-grandparents preserved.
“I’m so glad my father was able to live long enough to see this happen,” she said. “He’s so thrilled.”
Also in attendance was a representative from the NY/NJ Baykeeper, a nonprofit organization that gave EVA an award for their adamant pursuit in preserving the land.
“The rationale for the award was it was an ongoing project and we wanted to give them some exposure,” said Greg Remaud, deputy director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper.
The organization usually works in towns close to the Raritan River and Raritan Bay, therefore visiting South Brunswick was slightly out of their normal parameters.
“We supported the local residents,” he said. “You try extra hard when you see the community saying this place is special.”
The county and township do not have immediate plans to change the farm’s use, according to officials, but they are planning to work in cooperation with local governments and historical organizations to learn more about the farm’s historical heritage.
“I don’t know what kind of treasure we are going to find,” said Dvorak. “It’s exciting.”
Klimowicz said there a lot of ideas being thrown around right now about what can be done with the land. One of the ideas is to make a slavery museum.
“We would dedicate the museum to the tragedy of slavery in New Jersey,” he said.
There are also plans to restore one of the old barns, but that has been finalized yet.
“This is just one story of a family that lived here for over 200 years,” said township historian Ceil Leedom. “This is the opportunity they now have by saving the house: they can tell a story.”