Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-08-12
ANOTHER TOWN
HALL WRANGLE
Fight of Seven Years Ago on
Site Revived at Meeting
in Woodbridge.
NO CHANGE IN MATTER
Park-Civic Center Urged BY
Some-Main Street Site
By Other Speakers.

bridges heralded town meeting"
held in an effort to reach some
agreement on the town hall project,
took place last night according to
schedule but resulted in the same
old deadlock that has kept the
township without an adequate mu-
nicipal building for seven years.
About 100 persons turned out for
the meeting and considerable argu-
ment ensued but as far as progress
is concerned there was none visible
to the naked eye.
The wrangle threatens to develop
renewed momentum as the result of
last nights meeting and from pres
ent indications the situation of sew
en- years ago will again break forth.
All that could be discerned at the
close of the hearing was the state
ment by Committeeman William
Hoy that failure to reach a settle
ment by popular agreement threw
the question back into the hands Of
the township committee.
Seated on the stage of the high
school auditorium were members OF
the township committee, Albert Lar
son, William Hoy. Leon M,B,roy. r.
S. Versteeg. George Luffbury and
DR.. Salter. Members of the memo-
rial committee present were G. IL.
Boynton and A. r. A. Overgaard.
In opening the discussion DR.. Sal
ter, who presided said the question
lay between the Temperance Society
lots at the foot of Main street and
the School street site selecte1 years
ago and later thrown out OF con-
sideration as the result of litigation.
Before the floor was handed over
to the township at large. Commit
teeman Hoy spoke. He noted that
the question had been tagging for
seven years, while Woodbridge has
no town hall, and also mentioned
the idea of some residents of the
township, that the city hall and park
in the center of the township should
be combined to make icvic center.
The first speaker to gain the floor
was James Gerity who related the
details in connection with the agita-
ton for the park. Bought long ago
for S10,500, Mr.. Gerity said the
property was now worth double
thai amount and he urged that the
town hall project be combined with
the park proposition.
John C. Williams wanted to know
how the matter stands at present
and what the township already mas.
<ACCOlulA6 " Oil CAPldlidlAOD NY AT
torney Martin and others, it seems
that Woodbridge township possesses
plans drawn by Jens X. Jensen, the
architect. the School street lot, and
a foundation built on the old School
street site, which is worth. 50. 200.
The property is worth $4,000.
Mr.. Boynton remarked that the
opinion of the memorial committee
reached after a conference with the
township committee, was that the
Temperance Society lot was the
more desirable location.
j. H Thayer Martin explained the
litigation that has tied up the Tenn
perance Society tract and detailed
the plans of the township which
called for an expenditure of $4,000
for a town hall and the condemna-
ton Of the property. This action
was ratified by the township COM
mittee. Tax arrears on the lot are
heavy and this should materially
lower the purchase price to the
township if back taxes be deducted.
William B. Turner, of Port Read
ing was opposed to the idea of re-
viving the School street agitation
and pointed out that he represented
the sentiment of Port Reading. He
said he was the prosecutor in case
seven years ago when the matter
was in the courts. There was no
politics in the affair. he continued,
but ne wanted tie town ship to
know that Port Reading favored
the Temperance Society location. :.
Mr.. Turner explained the cost OF
developing the School street lot ana
building the necessary retaining
wall, and while he didI.'t actually
threaten legal action, he intimated
that another legal tangle would re-
suit from the choice of the old loca-
ticu. -..s.. .t+....
Asher Fitz Randolph said as far
as he could see the choice had been
made and it was useless to go on.
Characterizing the property in the
center of the town as public NUS
ance John Ryan saw in it an excel
lent location for the proposed town
hall If improved. He suggested CO.
operation by the railroad company
il it were approached properly.
DR.. Salter asked for a rising vote
on the question and while no effort
was made to record the number of
hands shown it was clear that as
Tar as the representation at the
meeting was concerned the old site
was what was wanted. The advo-
Gates of the Temperance Society To-
cation maintain that the meeting
was padded and attach no import
ance to the fact that they were out
voted.