Roni Browne Katz, applicant for Jacobs Creek Crossing Rural Historic Landscape, Titusville
Two of the state’s most powerful historic preservation groups, Crossroads of the American Revolution and Preservation NJ, sent a letter to County Executive Brian Hughes on Jan. 20, urging him to “preserve the evocative and nationally historic landscape” surrounding the Jacobs Creek Bridge area. Expressing their support for the application now being prepared for the National Register of Historic Places by area residents, David Blackwell, Elisabeth Kerr and Roni Browne Katz, they stated: “ except for the current 1880s bridge itself and Jacobs Creek Road, the site topography and features are essentially undisturbed by the passage of 233 years.”
Mr. Hughes response was: “Quite frankly, there doesn’t seem to be any new information presented in that letter that has not already been considered . . . We have not pulled back on our plan to replace the bridge and realign the road. We are moving forward.”
I visited the Mercer County Engineering Department just last week and spoke with members of the Engineering Department. The discussions made it obvious that Mercer County still does not understand, or refuses to understand, the scope of the damage they are about to inflict on this historic landscape. A comment was made to me that there was no way that George Washington crossed the Jacobs Creek Bridge! How absurd! In assuming that residents and respected historical organizations would ever suggest such a ridiculous argument, the county is doing a grave disservice to our nation.
The applicants for the Jacobs Creek Crossing Rural Historic Landscape have made numerous presentations, including narrative and slides with documentation, to the Hopewell Township Committee, the Hopewell Township Historic Preservation Commission, the Ewing Environmental Commission, and the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In addition, we were invited to present our lecture at Patriot’s Week in Trenton this past December. We have received an outpouring of support and interest by those who have seen this presentation. I, myself, personally invited County Engineer Greg Sandusky to the presentation before the Mercer County freeholders. I asked that he extend that invitation to both Aaron Watson and Mr. Hughes. He answered that the decision to view the presentation would have to come from Mr. Hughes. They did not attend. Perhaps if they had, Mr. Hughes would understand that his new realigned roadway cuts straight through the pre-colonial road on the north bank of Jacobs Creek. That ancient roadway, created by the natural topography over centuries of time, leads to the fording place between Hopewell and Ewing townships. It is the road that made it possible for Washington and his Army to win the Battle of Trenton.
The offer is still out there, Mr. Hughes. Before you “move forward,” don’t you owe this country and our history 30 minutes of your time?