This Day in History: 1957-03-21
An application to remove 50,000 cubic yards from the Stephen Birch property aroused considerable opposition at the Mahwah Township Committee meeting. Reed Contracting Company petitioned the Committee said that Mr. Birch wanted to sell the soil because he wanted to remove a knoll on the area near the well field and next to the Brain property. The fill was desperately needed, the company spokesman said, for the construction of the Garden State Parkway. Opposition came from several Valley Road residents headed by D. C. Spear. He asked why Mr. Birch was not there to make the application himself and charged that the removal would going to “extend the terrible situation that exists in the so-called water area right now.” He demanded a change in the local ordinance when he was informed by Township Attorney John Warhol that its provisions permitted either the property owner or the contractor to apply for the permit. No decision was reached on the application at the meeting.
(Bristow)