Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-04-12
WHAT OF THE WESTMINSTER,


changed hands and the new owners
cannot be expected to hold It indef-
nitely, like a great white elephant
eating up tax money. Is there not
enough pride in Perth Amboy to
take some definite action toward pre-
serving this building for all time?
New Jersey is one OF the thirteen
original states. Within her borders
were fought many important battles
of the revolutionary war. Today the
union Is increased to forty-six
states. Many Of them would be only
too glad to possess some of the
historical features hat make the
original thirteen famous.
Perth Amboy is particularly fortu-
nate in having been the capital Of
the province of East Jersey, and, as
such, was one of the most important
cities of the country in those early
times. Today practically the only
reminder left of that historic period
is the old Westminster property.
One by one the relics and landmarks
have disappeared. All the cities in
the original thirteen states that have
any excuse whatever for preserving
anything that dates back to the days
of the revolution have done so. The
states, too, have We'd with each other
In their historical associations,
In the city of Trenton the old rev.
dictionary barracks are pointed to
with pride. An association was
formed to take over the barracks
and plans are now under way
to have them restored to their orig
inal form. If Trenton had such &
magnificent structure as the West
minister 1t is not hard to guess what
would be done with it. If the West
! minister were in Boston, Springfield,
Philadelphia or any other Of these
cities It would have been restored
and fitted out as a public museum
for the people long ago.
Perth Amboy had her barracks,
which were the headquarters for the
colonial troops and were later occu-
pied by the British, but they have
disappeared along with the rest.
Can It be that the last of our val
ued possessions of this kind Will go
too?
We know that the Woman's Club
has taken an interest in the matter
and has called the attention of Gov
n Wilson to the Westminster.
also know that a delegation
waTted upon MN u snoru uIme ago M
behalf of the preservation Of the
structure. He is deeply interested
in such matters but a give
little encouragement. While every
one III the state should have a pride
in the preservation of this building, |
4. is hardly to be expected that those
not living in Perth Amboy will
show any amount OF interest as long
as the people here make no definite
stand toward getting control of the
building,
It is understood that the new
owners Of the Westminster will al
low the old part of the structure to
stand for some time until more def
mite plans are made. The more
modern part Of the building, how
ever Is u De IOiH uOMHJ we are lOlu,
and more of the ground will doubt
less be sold off into building lots.
If anything IS to be done to pre-
serve the Westminster It should be
done quickly. It would seem as If
there were enough patriotic citi-
gems in the city to either form some
sort of organization or take definite
action toward securing control. This
building becomes more valuable
every year and should we permit its
destruction the time Will come when
the future residents of Perth Amboy
will condemn short-sIghtedness
and marvel at our lack of local
pride,
FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY.
Fifty NraarE AGO today WAS fred