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Did you know
that 100 years ago in 1907 that Dr. Norman Forney Sr. came to Milltown with
his horse and carriage and began practicing medicine? The home where he lived and practiced was built in the 1860s by John Evans, father of Milltown’s first Mayor, John C. Evans. The house has been declared eligible for State and National Registers of Historic Places. |
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However, this landmark property on
our very own Main Street is in jeopardy of being demolished by Valley
National Bank. Our hope
is to have the current owner sell the property to someone who wants to
rehabilitate the structures and continue its use. Restoration efforts are eligible for a
generous Federal Tax Credit for fixing up an historical property. Milltown gets to retain this wonderful picturesque remembrance
of the rich history, character of our town, and the view of our |
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Current Activities • John C. Evans Project has appealed
the decision by Milltown Zoning Board to grant variances and provide site
plan approval to Valley National Bank.
We have retained Lieberman
& Blecher, P.C. to represent our concerns at • In response to our appeal, Valley National Bank has initiated a legal counteraction. Our attorney has informed us that their counteraction is a Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation, or SLAPP suit. Such an action is usually initiated to intimidate the public and make citizens’ appeals financially prohibitive. Our attorney tells us that SLAPP suits are generally looked unfavorably upon by the Courts. • John C. Evans Project is also working at the Federal level to save the Forney House & Clinic. Because Valley National Bank is a nationally chartered bank, approval is needed from a Federal Body called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in order to build a new bank branch. According to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the OCC must consider the historic significance of any property before issuing a permit. The NJ State Historic Preservation Office, in its correspondence to the OCC, has recommended “that the bank work with interested members of the public and local officials to determine a better location for [Valley National Bank’s proposed] facility.” U.S. Representative Rush Holt and U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg have both helped to ensure that upcoming discussions convened by the OCC will have adequate representation by concerned organizations in Milltown. • John C. Evans Project is also circulating a petition to be sent to local, state, and federal elected representatives. The petition asks those representatives to support the efforts to protect the Forney House & Clinic from demolition. The petition is available to be signed at several local businesses in Milltown. |
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How you can help: |
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• Email or write the Milltown Historic
Preservation Committee and tell them that you are concerned about the
potential demolition of the Forney House & Clinic and would like them to
do anything they can to save it. This committee will have
representation and voting power during the meetings with the OCC. Tell them how you would like them to vote. Email
the Borough Clerk ([email protected]), and ask that he
forward the message to the Historic Preservation Committee. Email or Write to the NJ State Historic
Preservation Office. Express your
opinion about the Forney House & Clinic, including any personal
anecdotes, and ask them to do whatever they can to preserve it. This group will also take part in the meetings
with the OCC and will have voting power. Mail: Meghan Email: [email protected] |
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• Email or Write to Ms. Krystal Maddox of
the OCC and let her know that you are familiar with the Forney House and
Clinic. You feel that it is an
important part of Milltown’s character and history, and that you oppose
its replacement with a bank branch. The OCC will be making
the final decision regarding bank branch approval. Mail: Krystal Maddox, Senior
Licensing Analyst, OCC, Administrator of National Banks, 250 E Street SW,
Mail Stop 713, Email:[email protected]. • Contact Mayor Bradford and the Borough
Council. Express your concern and ask
them to do whatever they can to save the Forney House & Clinic. Mayor Bradford’s Email address is: [email protected]. Council Members may be Emailed by asking
the Borough Clerk to forward correspondence to them. Email: [email protected]. Borough Hall Mailing Address is: •
Join the concerned residents group, John C. Evans Project, Inc., who is
working to save the house from demolition.
Email [email protected] or
call Debora at 732 253-0287 for more information. Find the membership
form here. |
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We also need your financial
support. If you would like to
make a donation toward the efforts to save the home, send your check to John
C. Evans Project, Checks may be made out
to John C. Evans Project. |
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Thank you for whatever
assistance you are able to provide! |
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the patient is alive |
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