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>Subject: Archaeological Alert!
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>From:  William Honachefsky Jr
>Date: Nov 28, 2010
>
>Below is an article from New Jersey Newsroom
>
>= = =
>
>
>Lt. Gov. Guadagno wants archeological dig on Statehouse lawn buried
>
>BY TOM HESTER SR.
>NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
>
>Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno wants the Petty's Run archaeological site on the
>Statehouse grounds in Trenton that features the ruins of sections of
>Colonial and Industrial era mills dating back to the 1730s buried, her
>spokesman confirmed Friday evening.
>
>Asked about the plan, which has angered historic preservationists and
>archeology community activists, Shawn Crisafulli told
>NewJerseyNewsroom.com, "Yes, the lieutenant governor is working
>proactively with all parties involved to refill the area next to the
>Statehouse as soon as possible to improve the grounds.''
>
>A string of reliable sources, who asked not to be identified, said
>they have not learned of the plan from Guadagno nor anyone else in the
>Christie administration. Guadagno, who can see the dig from her office
>window on the southside of the first floor of the Statehouse.
>Crisafulli did not respond to other specific questions.
>
>The dig, which sources say Guadagno considers an eyesore, does have
>the appearance of a construction site and has been surrounded by piles
>of weed-covered excavated dirt and a cyclone fence since the ruins
>were uncovered in 2008. The site is over 30 feet in depth.
>
>Spokespersons for Gov. Chris Christie, or the Departments of
>Environmental Protection or Treasury could not immediately comment or
>be reached to provide comment on the idea amid the Thanksgiving
>holiday weekend.
>
>It has been learned that Richard Hunter, the archeologist who directed
>the dig in 2008 has been asked to discuss the potential burial of the
>site before the Statehouse Joint Management Commission on Tuesday. The
>panel is chaired by Richard Bagger, Christie's chief of staff and
>determines moves affecting the Statehouse property.
>
>Hunter declined to comment on the issue.
>
>Archeological work began on the Petty's Run site to prepare it for its
>role as a focal point of what was planned by the Corzine
>administration as Capital State Park. The $87 million four-phase park
>was designed to include the Statehouse grounds and provide open space
>as far as the banks of the nearby Delaware River. Presently, access to
>the river is blocked by the four-lanes of heavily-traveled Route 29.
>
>But although Wallace Roberts & Todd, a well-known nationwide
>architectural firm was retained to design the park, the project has
>all but been declared dead under the Christie administration. The
>state has money for the project that under law cannot be used
>elsewhere.
>
>Historic preservationist are enraged at the idea of burying the site,
>arguing it could be turned into an historic heritage site for tourists
>and a learning resource for visiting students as part of an effort to
>redevelop Trenton. The site sits between the Statehouse and the Old
>Barracks Museum, New Jersey's most popular heritage tourism site.
>
>Hunter‘s archeologists uncovered the remains of the 1730s Isaac Harrow
>iron and steel plating mill, which was powered by Petty's Run, a key
>water source in Colonial Trenton, that still runs west and down hill
>across the Statehouse grounds through a 130-year-old brick tunnel and
>empties into the Delaware River. Remains of the mill's furnace and the
>water wheel that powered the plant and the 1820 cotton and 1876 paper
>mills that followed it, also has been uncovered as well as the remains
>of a 19th century Trenton rowhouses.
>
>The steel mill was still in operation in 1776 when Gen. George
>Washington and his troops crossed the ice-peppered Delaware on
>Christmas Day night and won a surprise victory at Trenton, which saved
>the Revolution. Hessian soldiers were housed in the adjacent Old
>Barracks at the time.
>
>Hunter's archeologists would have to pause in their work to explain
>what they were uncovering and the historic meaning to state officials
>and workers and passer-bys.
>
>The park plan called for the Petty's Run site to be enclosed in glass
>and feature a waterwheel that would be powered by the waterway, which,
>in turn, would provide enough electricity to power the lighting of the
>site and possibly the entire park.
>
>Critics of the idea to bury the site, including legislators, argue
>that, like Gov. Chris Christie's decision to halt the Hudson commuter
>rail tunnel project, it would cost the state a great amount of money
>to first protect the ruins before burial and than cover them up.
>
>"It would cost money now and add much more money later to take it out
>(uncover)," Richard Patterson, director of the Old Barracks Museum,
>said Friday. "To me, this is a wonderful thing to have next door to
>the New Jersey Statehouse. You can look over from the Statehouse and
>see the Barracks, the New Jersey's Revolutionary War heritage, and
>there is New Jersey industrial beginning right there.
>
>"It is a very compelling location and fascinates the hell out of the
>public," Patterson said. "There are very few places where people can
>see an excavation and see a story through time. To cover it seems to
>me something that doesn't need to be done right now. I look at that
>and say that's our future. That‘s a very compelling aspect. If they
>cleaned it up, removed the spoils piles and sod the lawn up to the
>ledge (of the dig), it would not look like an eyesore, it would be a
>tremendous attraction. Put a fence around it and let it be. What‘s the
>point? I don‘t understand it."
>
>In May, the Petty's Run archaeological dig was cited by the state DEP
>as one of nine efforts that best represent historic preservation in
>New Jersey. Now, sources say, the DEP, Hunter Research of Trenton and
>Wallace Roberts & Todd have been directed to determine the best method
>to rebury the site. WR&T management was not available to comment on
>Friday.
>
>One method could be to cover the site with sand, sources say.
>
>Patterson pointed out that the site has been popular with
>Revolutionary War re-enactors and visitors who come to Trenton during
>the annual Patriots' Week, the last week of December.
>
>Patterson said he has held archeology conference at the Old Barracks
>that included discussions of Petty's Run.
>
>"The talk right now of covering it over makes no sense to me,"
>Patterson said. "It pains to me to think of that. It is a wonderful
>resource that can be capitalized on so easily."