W2VJZ Homestead to be Preserved

[WB2YGF]

Nice to see Irb's old farm will be there for future generations to enjoy.

http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-4/122802333768140.xml&coll=1

Edit:
Original Article/Pics:
http://www.johncase3.com/images/Irb/W2VJZ_01.jpg
http://www.johncase3.com/images/Irb/W2VJZ_02.jpg
http://www.johncase3.com/images/Irb/W2VJZ_03.jpg

[Tom WA3KLR]

Hi John,

Thanks for the update.

The last I was at Irb's QTH, the immediate property to the east was a nudist colony, green buffer or pink buffer for them. 

  _._

[k4kyv]

The article mentions nothing about his amateur radio activities.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

The article mentions nothing about his amateur radio activities.

Has nothing to do with the farm preservation.

[kc2ifr]

Great story.......Im sure the folks that inherited the farm are VERY happy......

BTW....I have a bunch of pics of Irbs place in New Russia if anyone would like to see them.
Bill

[WB2YGF]

BTW....I have a bunch of pics of Irbs place in New Russia if anyone would like to see them.
Bill

I would like to see the New Russia pics.  I stayed there one night around 1977, but I don't remember much about it except being worried about the ceiling plaster that was separating from the lath over my head.

[W1EUJ]

The dilapidation will be preserved, I see.

[WB2YGF]

The dilapidation will be preserved, I see.

LOL, they have yet to decide on preserving "the dilapidation", just the property on which it sits.

[Tom WA3KLR]

Happy Homecoming Weekend everyone _._

[Ed/KB1HYS]

Lets hope they save the wind chimes at least 

[Ed-VA3ES]

Lets hope they save the wind chimes at least 

And the "outside speaker"!  Heck, preserve everything including the DX-100's!

[WB2YGF]

Bernards finalizes Sons of Liberty farm purchase
By LINDA SADLOUSKOS • Staff Writer • December 10, 2008

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812100378

BERNARDS—The township now officially owns the Sons of Liberty farm nestled at the bottom of The Hills development at Somerville Road, where it will provide a haven of green space into the future.

Township officials announced that a closing on the 23-acre property had taken place on Tuesday, Dec. 9, wrapping up a $3.1 million purchase to be funded by municipal open-space tax money.

"I think it's going to be a great asset to Bernards Township," Mayor John Carpenter said at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting.

Carpenter said he looks forward to continuing to see the hand-painted sign of the Pledge of Allegiance erected by farmer Irwin Richardt at the intersection of Somerville and Allen roads. Richardt, known for his libertarian political views, operated a maple-syrup farm and lived without modern amenities on the property until his death in 2006.

The municipality bought the farm from Richardt's friend and heir, Andrew Dietsch.

Township Committee members had previously stated their intention to keep the property as open space rather than developing it with recreational facilities. "We have no intention to develop it into a park other than to put in some trails for people," Carpenter said when the Township Committee approved the purchase this fall.

Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said the property will remain closed to the public for now, since the previous owner has 90 days to remove any belongings from the farm.

The property, which still contains remnants of Richardt's maple-syruping operation, includes a pond on its many wooded acres, McArthur said yesterday.

Remaining old buildings on the property will be secured in the near future, he said. McArthur said the Historical Society of the Somerset Hills had requested permission to survey Richardt's home and other old outbuildings on his farm.

McArthur said the township had applied for state farmland-preservation funds to help underwrite the purchase of the Sons of Liberty farm, but the state ruled that a maple-syrup operation did not meet its definition of a farm.

[KB2WIG]

  "  but the state ruled that a maple-syrup operation did not meet its definition of a farm. "

That statement would of got the dishes washed quickly if Irb was still around....

klc

[Tom WA3KLR]

"I won  _._  "