Winter 2004 Edition     

Naugle House   By Pat Idone     The Naugle-Vanderbeck homestead in Fair Lawn, built in the mid-eighteenth century and its adjoining acreage on Dunkerhook Road, is for sale.    This historic site was once the home of Marquis de Lafayette’s paymaster during the American Revolution. Lafayette also visited it in 1824 during his return visit to the United States. This homestead played its part in the Revolution at a time when Bergen County was a linchpin in the formation of our country’s destiny.       Places like Gettysburg, the Alamo and Independence Hall tell America’s story, and we’d never allow them to be destroyed or turned into a housing development. The Naugle-Vanderbeck homestead tells the story of Fair Lawn and Bergen County as well as that of our nation. This is what historic preservation is really all about. It’s about hanging on to what’s important.   Concerned citizens are rising up to protest any development of this site. As we speak, the petition published here has sparked considerable interest.  (See Petition to Save the Naugle House).  The petition urges the County of Bergen to purchase this property from the present owner using “Open Space” funds. We would like to see our own borough council members add their signatures to this petition in a good faith gesture to the county, showing them that Fair Lawn does value its past.       Historical sites and gardens that have been restored have are an economic boon to surrounding areas. Bergen County could be a wonderful destination for tourists, given the fact that we still have a large concentration of colonial stone houses untouched by the wrecking ball. Each time one is torn down or compromised, we have diminished our past and our future.   In addition to the historical significance, it is incumbent upon all of us as planners of our future to take into consideration the other aspects of possible development of the property.   At this time, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the union. Bergen County is even more densely populated than most counties in New Jersey and Fair Lawn has practically developed every square inch. Further development such as is possible on this acreage would overstress our already strained social services – our schools which only just accommodate current enrollments, our roads which are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate, and our health services.   In addition, we believe it to be shortsighted not to take into account the environmental issues surrounding such development. Our water resources are not infinite. Development of any proportion would result in additional run off into the Saddle River and our water table of more septic waste, waste as a result of winter salting, to say nothing of chemicals that follow professional landscaping treatments. The trees that would be removed to make way for development are the same trees that provide our area with a filter from the air pollution with which we are assaulted every day. As it is, Fair Lawn has seen a dramatic decrease in its tree population in the last 15 years. There are entire blocks with nary a tree on them.     We as voters are watching, we as citizens are taking note and our children are looking to us to provide a concrete example that what we stand for in Fair Lawn and in the County of Bergen is not a discard and build attitude, not pursuit of quantity over quality, but an attitude dedicated to the continuation of a secure quality of life, where open spaces and history are protected, respected and handed down to future generations.      For more information, contact Pat Idone at spinner105@AOL.com or 201-791-4844. Pat is the Vice President and Trustee of the Garretson Forge & Farm Restoration.