By Muriel J. Smith
It was March 1919 and everyone was not in favor of separating the middle of Freehold Township and creating a separate and individual Freehold Borough.
William F. Barkalow, who lived on the Adelphia road and was a member of the Township Committee, brought the question to the Freehold Transcript, asking the editor to “advise us on the benefits … immediate and near future … that inhabitants of the proposed new zone will derive after they have become a part of Freehold?”
He added, tongue in cheek, that he “anticipates the joy and exhilaration increased taxes will bring, but after that, wonder if the order, as you were, will not still hold.”
The editor explained in detail that “the principal argument we have heard advanced for annexation is that by it the portions lying nearest to the present boundaries of Freehold will get the benefit of water, sewers, lights and other improvements … things which these closely built up portions are sadly in need of.
“The reason for taking farm lands into the proposed boro are not so clearly indicated, except that the proposed boundaries form a rectangle … which does not seem essential to our well-being … and would add considerably to the accessible (sic) value of the property of the proposed boro.
“We do not believe that owners of the lands proposed to be annexed will be hurt in taxes as badly as owners in portions of the town already in the corporation. Instead of an asset, the new territory will in all probability be a liability to Freehold for many years to come.”
The editor continued, “another benefit which would accrue to the residents of the proposed annexation district would be that they would be included in the school district of the town of Freehold, which has better schools than Freehold Township.
“But, as the enlargement would mean a loss of some $4,000 in tuition moneys to Freehold, the school taxes have to be considerably increased and the new citizens would then be obliged to help pay the bill.”
The editor concluded happily: “However, all good things come high and we can assure Mr. Barkalow that while the ‘joy and exhilaration’ which he anticipates as he pays his tax bill is likely to be fully realized, he will in all likelihood get the worth of his money.”
This article was prepared by Muriel J. Smith for the Freehold Borough Centennial Committee. Freehold Borough is celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2019.