What a Load of Dirt!

It's time again for a Weird, Wild, and Wicked story from Hillsborough's past. Today's story takes us back to the summer of 1965 for an incident that many residents will still remember - especially those living in the area of Brooks Boulevard.

Headline from The New York Times, 1 July 1965

Joseph Utasi of Manville owned a six-acre parcel on the border of Manville and Hillsborough. Actually, almost all of the property was located in Hillsborough - just a small 2-foot strip was in Manville.

18 November 1963 Courier News

A few years earlier, Mr. Utasi became aware of the fact that Brooks Boulevard had been extended through his property, Apparently, that right of way had been there since 1925, but had only recently been improved. That fact was of no comfort to Mr. Utasi. By 1963, he was demanding the return of his property and the removal of the road. In November 1963 he briefly put up a fence across the road in protest.

19 November 1963 Courier News

When Hillsborough and Manville declined to return the property, Mr. Utasi had another idea. He would give up his rights to the disputed land if Manville would annex ALL of his property. He believed he had a deal, but a year later nothing had been done.

19 November 1963 Home News

At this point, he decided to take another course of action. He woke up one morning at his home on Seventh Street and got some dirt. Forty-five tons of dirt to be precise - which he proceeded to dump on Brooks Boulevard in the vicinity of 20th Avenue. He erected a sign which read "Private Property - No Trespassing".

30 June 1965 Courier News

There is no report on the reaction of the residents of the new Village Green development, but they couldn't have been very pleased. Hillsborough and Manville officials were also not pleased - Brooks Boulevard was then, as it is now, a main link between the towns - and quickly got a court order for the removal of the dirt.

1 July 1965 Philadelphia Daily News

An Associated Press report that appeared in the July 2, 1965, edition of the New York Times quoted Mr. Utasi as saying, "I'm a man of action. I put it down, so I can pick it up. I was directed by the court to do it, and I did it."

Joseph Utasi was charged with obstructing a public street by depositing debris - which must certainly be the wildest case of understatement in Hillsborough judicial history!