I was at Fairmount Cemetery this morning
and watched as the most important Historic monument in Newark was
unloaded from the trucks after being restored by the Polich Art
Works Company in Rock Tavern, New York. They did a magnificent job
in it's restoration.
Under this Historic Monument are the remains of the first 65 families
and their descendants who first settled in Newark in 1666. Their
remains, which were originally in the Old Burying Ground, which
is now the area surrounding Branford Place, were removed to Fairmount
Cemetery in the late 1800's and placed in the crypt under this monument,
which has the names of the original sixty five families, and the
names and "marks" of the settler's and the Indians who
negotiated the land deal.
I began writing letters to the Star Ledger, the Mayor, and the
Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee, back in 1998 urging
them to restore this badly deterioration historic monument. Funds
were raised several years ago and the monument was removed to the
Polich Art Works where it was finished over a year ago. After a
long delay by the City of Newark in laying the foundations for the
monument I again sent letters to the Mayor and the Engineering Dept.
several months ago asking them to have this work done as soon as
possible. I received a call from Mr. Alvin Zach of the Engineering
Dept. several weeks ago informing me that the foundation would be
shortly put in place, which was done about three weeks ago. And
today I was there to watch the return of this historic monument.
I urge everyone to take a ride up to Fairmount Cemetery and take
a look at this most important piece of Old Newark's History.
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