Historic Battlefield to Close

[CJDaley]

Just got this e-mail and thought you'd all like to know about this:

Hi Folks

I just came home to a message from Dr. Garry Wheeler Stone, our friend from
Monmouth Battlefield. He informed me, which I confirmed by an AP news
report, that Monmouth Battlefield is at the top of a list of 9 NJ State Parks to be
closed by the state to close a budget gap. You can read the brief article
here:

_State budget ax would fell 9 state parks, 80 workers -- Regional Authority,
Delaware -- Newsday.com_
(http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...,7651886.story)

The state is likewise considering canceling the battle this June, as a cost
saving measure. According to Garry, these decisions will be made quickly by
Lisa Jackson, the NJ Commissioner for the Department of Environmental
Protection. This is her webpage:

_http://www.nj.gov/dep/commissioner/_ (http://www.nj.gov/dep/commissioner/)

Given the rapid pace these events are happening, there may not be time to
organize effective lobbying efforts via the BAR, BB and CL, although I am sure
the leadership of all of them will lend their efforts to this. Garry has
asked that members of the Rev War community, particularly those who have
attended or will attend the event and/or the park, to politely make their feelings
known to Miss Jackson.

I have dealt with the state DEP previously as relates to Historic New Bridge
Landing and the Steuben House. From experience, I know they are very bottom
line oriented, meaning they look at sites that attract the most visitors.
Sadly, but not surprisingly, recreation parks in NJ draw far more visitors
each year than historic sites. And they all fall under the domain of the DEP.
Things to consider in your messages would be the tourist $$$ you, your family
and your group would spend by attending the event, and how much $$$ park
visitors would spend in all respects with the local economy. We have talked befo
re on this list and others about heritage tourism, and this is truly where
it can be of importance. I would like to think references to the historic
importance of the site and event would play a part in this decision, but I don't
think it will really be a primary consideration. Here's is the
battlefield's webpage:

_http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/monbat.html_
(http://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/monbat.html)

Keep the messages to the state civil & sincere; rants and nasty grams only
reflect poorly on the site and do nothing to advance the cause.

Please pass this along to your members and lets get those letters going.

YMH&OS,

Todd W. Braisted
4th Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers
_IVBNNJV@aol.com_ (mailto:IVBNNJV@aol.com)
_www.royalprovincial.com_ (http://www.royalprovincial.com)

[boozie]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

That's just not right! Sounds like they should start the RWPT if this kind of stuff is going to happen.

[Micah Trent]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

I rememebr hearing last year from a Park Ranger at Mammoth Cave N.P. that the NPS was going to start closing some of its smaller parks throughout the US due to financial issues. I guess we are seeing a taste of things to come. I wander what other small battlefields could be effected in the future?

[BishopLynch]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

I've lived in South Jersey most of my life and I can tell you that the politicians there dont give a hoot about anything but lining their own pockets. The present governor is acting like a spoiled child now because his plan of raising tolls to create money was rejected. The state government borrows money to pay their debts and then Jersey taxpayers are forced to foot the bill. In fact, I was visiting family there for Easter and petitions are going around the state to have Corzine removed from office.

It is a shame that we will possibly see the close of the Monmouth Battlefied, but I highly doubt that we can count on the State to be of too much help. I doubt even if the citizens will consider it a top priority with all thats going on down there now...illegal immigrants galore, very high taxes which are rising, high insurance, farms closing all over or being sold for development, tons of people hit by mortgage foreclosures, the NJ turnpike up for sale....it's insane. All I here is "Get out of Jersey while you can."

However as a Jerseyite by birth, I beg you to please voice your concern to the state and help save one of the few New Jersey battlefields that exist.

[Dignann]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

It is too bad about Monmouth. I do hope that NJ finds the funding and a way to keep it open. Just for the record, Monmouth Battlefield is a NJ state park, not part of the NPS.

There is no current threat of NPS sites closing, even small ones. Reduced hours we may see, as that has always been a way for parks to deal with tight budgets. Believe me when I say, however, that no Congressman is going to allow a NPS site in his state to be closed because of funding.

Eric

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Part of my heart sunk when I read this.

If there is a way for the NPS to take control of this park, that would be a good thing.

-Johnny

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Mr. Wickersty can chime in here with more, but as a born-and-bred Brooklyn boy, I always grew up with an inherent dislike of all things Jersey.

However, my "it's not all bad" thought comes the moment I think of Monmouth battlefield. This place rivals Antietam for relative unspoiled battlefield ground. There are but two essentially unobstrusive roads that pass the site, and a seldom used rail line. It's possible to experience total isolation and silence there; substantial lines of trees block out noise from Route 9.

The fact that visitation is sparse is perhaps both a blessing and a curse for the site. You can truly get a feel of what happened there by simply reading an account and looking around -- no monuments, cannons, gawky tourists...just a plain, unsullied parcel of ground.

And it has a Civil War connection, too, beyond the infamous reenactment injury of several years ago -- the site was "Camp Vredenburg," where the 14th, 28th, and 29th NJ Regiments were raised.

This is tragic.

[bholt61stny]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Being from Jersey and living about 30 minutes from the battlefield all I can say is that it is a damn shame that the state is going to close this site. It is a beautiful park as was mentioned in previous posts and very is important to our Revolutionary War history and Civil War History.

Unfortunately the park is in the worst state in the nation where all the politicians care about is themselves and how much double-dipping they can get out of their state jobs. But one thing is for sure that my representatives and congressmen will be getting letters from me.

[toccoa42]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Being from Jersey and living about 30 minutes from the battlefield all I can say is that it is a damn shame that the state is going to close this site. It is a beautiful park as was mentioned in previous posts and very is important to our Revolutionary War history and Civil War History.

Unfortunately the park is in the worst state in the nation where all the politicians care about is themselves and how much double-dipping they can get out of their state jobs. But one thing is for sure that my representatives and congressmen will be getting letters from me.

Every time I visit NJ, or talk to someone about it, I have a new reason to hate the place.

[BishopLynch]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Every time I visit NJ, or talk to someone about it, I have a new reason to hate the place.

I love the state. Its the government that I hate. It's too bad such wicked people run it or I'd move back in a heartbeat.

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Here is your reason for the closure of Federal Parks and who knows what is next.

http://zfacts.com/p/461.html

[fire_zouave]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

I hope this is a scare tactic. If not, this has got to be one of the worst insults to Dr. Stone and the rest of the people that have spent years attempting to properly interpret and landscape the park. Over the past several years the park has probably become one of the best interpreted and well-preserved battlefields in the country. I'm still in shock.

[Army30th]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

I moved to NJ seven years ago, for all things, a woman. Don't laugh, it was a good move for that reason. AND that there are many, many comic book stores around to fuel one of my many "other" hobbies.

Camp Vrendenburg is the only intact Civil War Camp of Instruction/Recruitment left in the state of New Jersey out of the approximately 8 or 9 that were here. I do not count Camp Olden in that number, because of the LARGE scale development of the land on three sides.
Vrendenburg is intact only because it is in the Monmouth Battlefield.

The politicos here will tell you that there is no other way to save money, cut the budget or solve the impending bankruptcy of the state except to close historical parks, release prisoners from jail, give illegals drivers licenses, yadda yadda and so on.

If it wasn't for the fact that I can no longer afford to leave, I would have vacated this place long ago. But I don't know how much longer I can stay.

[BarryDusel]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

This really does have all the looks of being a disaster. It's just one more reason why I despise politicians, etc. But a rant on them is a waste of energy. So...
Really, Monmouth should be within the NPS system. It is as important as any other AWI site. We saved Lexington/Concord because it is where the first recognized shots of rebellion were fired. We saved Valley Forge because it is where the Continental Army was "reborn" . We saved Yorktown because we've come to say that for all intents and purposes thats were the rebellion ended and it became clear that we (uAs) would become a nation. Yet, The signifigance of any of those sites can be argued as to the validity of their claim to fame. So we then look at Monmouth and that Campaign. If we accept that Valley Forge was a low point and a high point then should we not look at Monmouth as the test that proved our Rag tag rebel army had learned it's trade? That is exactly why the NPS should absorb Monmouth.
If that doesn't happen I have a fear, well founded I believe, that the politicos in Trenton will look at the value of the site from a strictly monetary standpoint. A way to raise funds and generate more taxes to line their pockets . That would be the ultimate disgrace . Write those letters guys and gals . Even if one has never been a RW reenactor, even if one only has a passing interest in that era , it's still all of our heritage. Every bit as important as our era 1861/1865.
Thanks for listening.

[revwartailor]

Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

Hello

This year will mark the 230th Anniversary of the actaul battle and of course a rather large event for that. There is some talk about using that to draw attention. Ill keep everyone updated if interested.

Cheers!
N.T.Hurst

https://www.thecorpsofsappersandminers.org