Presidential Comments

There is little that is more important for an American citizen to know than the history and traditions of his country. Without such knowledge, he stands uncertain and defenseless before the world, knowing neither where he has come from nor where he is going. With such knowledge, he is no longer alone but draws a strength far greater than his own from the cumulative experience of the past and accumulative vision of the future. Excerpt from John Kennedy's (1962) essay "On History"



I cannot but remember the place that New Jersey holds in our early history. In the early Revolutionary struggle, few of the States among the old Thirteen had more of the battlefields of the country within their limits than old New Jersey.… Away back in my childhood, the earliest days of my being able to read, I got hold of a small book…Weem’s "Life of Washington". I remember all the accounts there given on the battle fields and struggles for the liberties of the country, and none fixed themselves upon my imagination so deeply as the struggle here at Trenton, New Jersey. The crossing of the river, the contest with the Hessians, the great hardhips endured at that time, all fixed themselves on my memory more than any single revolutionary event; and you all know, for you all have been boys, how these early impressions last longer than any others. I recollect thinking then, boy even though I was, that there must have been something more than common that those men struggled for; that something even more than National Independence; that something that held out a great promise to all people of the world to all time to come.... Excerpt from Abraham Lincoln's speech to the NJ State Senate, February 21, 1861

Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage Association Membership Information

Please visit our new website, www.wallacehouseassociation.com to learn more about our organization. Events and news about the sites will be posted there as well as on the blog. Thank you to all our local friends and supporters for your contributions and loyal support over the years!






Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Corzine Eases Plan to Cut Agriculture and Parks

The New York Times, April 17, 2008

Selected portions of the article are below. To read the entire article click on the link above.

Faced with irate municipal officials, besieged state legislators and tractors ringing the State House, Gov. Jon S. Corzine says he is willing to relent on his budget proposals.

As a result, state parks and the Agriculture Department would stay open.


While nothing is official until a budget is completed by July 1, the Assembly’s speaker, Joseph J. Roberts Jr., said on Wednesday that legislative leaders and Mr. Corzine had reached a general consensus to ease some proposed cuts in the $33 billion budget.

Mr. Roberts said the state parks would probably stay open, though it was uncertain where Mr. Corzine would save the $4.5 million he said would be saved by closing some of them.

Corporate sponsorship or private management have been mentioned as possible sources of funds. The State Senate president, Richard J. Codey, has suggested increasing park fees.

Mr. Roberts said the goal was to adopt a budget by June 15 — two weeks short of the state-mandated deadline — to avoid a repeat of the budget dispute in 2006 that closed the government for a week.
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Friday, April 18, 2008

Assemblyman Biondi Pledges His Support

In a letter to the Board of the Friends of the Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage on April 14, 2008, New Jersey Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi (16th District) stated the following:

I agree that it would not be in the best interest to close the state parks and historic sites as proposed by the Governor and doing so is not the answer to the State's budget crisis. I am adamantly opposed to closing these parks and historic sites, particularly the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage located in Somerville. I will not support this proposal and will encourage my colleagues not to support this as well.

The Friends of the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage thank Assemblyman Biondi for his support!
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