We're finally going to be able to see just how big a property we bought. Hillsborough Township is set to perform a boundary survey at the Belle Mead GSA depot - a first step in the "closing" process for this significant purchase. They better bring a lot of stakes!
If you take a close look at the aerial map in my previous blog entry, you can see the two baseball diamonds and adjoining fields that comprise the bulk of Ann Van Middlesworth Park - Hillsborough's largest park. Now take a look at the size of the Belle Mead Depot! The park is puny in comparison. In fact, the area that we are purchasing, for $17 million in a joint effort with Somerset County, is about 438 acres - what's left of the depot after other parcels were dispensed of over the years. And that's not even a tenth of the size that was once contemplated for this massive project.
On January 29, 1941, an article appeared in the Hopewell Herald detailing how farmers on the Hillsborough-Montgomery border were being approached by two real estate agents looking to purchase between 4000 and 6000 acres of land. The agents denied that they were sent by the Federal Government - but the farmers all agreed that they would not object to selling their land for the cause of "national defense". Remember, this was still 10 months before Pearl Harbor.
After the shocking events of December 7, 1941, the depot was needed not just for national defense, but for the war effort. The depot is situated in a prime location for the transport of materials, with connections to the Reading Railroad (now CSX) and by way of a short rail spur to the Lehigh Valley Line near Flagtown (now Norfolk Southern). And contrary to what was rumored during its construction, the depot was not primarily used for ammunition, but rather as a general supply depot, originally called the Belle Mead Quartermaster Depot.
The Belle Mead GSA Depot was part of Hillsborough's history for almost 50 years, finally closing in 1991. It seems now that it is also destined to be part of Hillsborough's future.
Tomorrow: Happenings from the Depot's first 50 years.
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I've written much more about the Depot. Click here.
Hi Gregg,
ReplyDeleteIt seems you're extremely familiar with the Hillsborough area. I wanted to check if you can share your insights on the proposed cleanup on the Belle Mead GSA Depot, any potential health/environmental hazards, etc. If you can email me your response at ppb07@sbcglobal.net i'll appreciate it. Thanks and more power.