newjerseynewsroom.com

Instead Mini Fair set for Saturday in So. Bound Brook

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair, an event that has drawn about 20,000 people annually to Washington Crossing State Park on the first Saturday in May for the past six years, has become a victim of Christie administration spending cutbacks.

Instead, the Friends of Abraham Staats House in South Bound Brook will hold a Mini State History Fair Saturday on the grounds of the national historic Revolutionary War site.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, which operates Washington Crossing in Hopewell, Mercer County, offers two explanation for the cancellation of the fair.

A notice posted on the state Division of Parks and Forestry web site states: "Unfortunately, due to limited resources, we have decided to cancel the fair for 2010. We are very grateful to the many exhibitors, partners and supporters who have made this event possible, and we hope to enlist your enthusiasm when we begin planning the fair for 2011.''

Larry Ragonese, a DEP spokesman, said cost was not so much the issue as planning time and staff.

"We had a recent retirement of a park superintendent at Cheesquake State Park (in Middlesex County),'' he said. "That is a very busy park from an operational standpoint with camping and swimming so it was felt that the post needed to be filled. Dave Donnelly, the superintendent at Washington Crossing, was temporarily assigned to Cheesequake for operational support.

"It would have been difficult to proceed with the annual fair without an on-site superintendent at Washington Crossing this year,'' Ragonese said. "Regarding the future, DEP will meet early next year with interested parties to review options for the event in 2011, including seeking partnerships.''

In an email posted on the New Jersey History Network, Tom Harabin, president of the Friends of Abraham Staats House, stated, "When the Spirit of the Jerseys State History Fair at Washington Crossing slated for May 1 was cancelled this year due to limited resources, many people across the state were disappointed. The annual event had provided a showcase for New Jersey's many rich historical resources for the public.''

The proposed DEP 2010-11 budget totals $972,731 million in state and federal funds, down $375,402 million from 2009-10. Gov. Chris Christie and DEP Commissioner Bob Martin have promised to attempt to maintain the state parks and state-run historic sites and keep them open to the public.

Harabin said visitors to the Mini Fair "will experience New Jersey history up close and personal from the Colonial era through modern times as historic organizations and reenactors bring four centuries of New Jersey history to life.''

The fair will include, among other things, music by the Long Hill String Band, Revolutionary War reenactors, vintage fire trucks and booths offering exhibits about New Jersey history.

The grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. Tickets for tours of the 1740 Staats House are $7 for adults and $3 for children under 12.

The Staats House is located at 17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook. From Route 287 north or south, take Exit 10/South Bound Brook. Von Steuben Lane is located off Route 527/Main Street.