5 Acres Of Open Space Land Purchased, Preserved By Bridgewater
BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater’s open space has grown by just over 5 acres as the township recently acquired a piece of land next to the 36-acre Vaucher Revolutionary Preserve at Steele’s Gap.
The Bridgewater Township Council unanimously approved an ordinance at the March 16 meeting approving the purchase of $565,000 for the property at 525 Steele Gap Road from Mary Jean Stempien and Kathryn Ann Harknett.
“This is a win-win for everybody involved,” said Council President Michael Kirsh.
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The property has historical significance as it lies directly on the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail. The trail is the route that General George Washington and French General Rouchambeau took in 1781 as they moved their troops to fight the British Army in Yorktown, Virginia.
The effort and cooperation between the two sides led to a victory at Yorktown and secured American independence.
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“This is a great acquisition. I think the value is reasonable and so I support this,” said Councilman Filipe Pedroso.
The township said the property will be preserved as a natural area, providing a habitat for wildlife.
Before the vote, Chairman of the Open Space Committee James Weideli said the land purchase was a “terrific acquisition for the town” to the township as it backs up to the Wemple property.
Stempien, one of the sellers of the property, said the sale will “take us one step closer to bringing the 5-acre parcel of land full circle and bringing it back together with the full 35 acres that you’ve already preserved from the Wemple estate because it originally was all part of the Wemple estate.”
“The 5 acres were first carved out in 1946 when they were sold to John and Fendi Stein by Dorothy Wemple,” said Stempien.
The Steins built the home that is currently on the property and the Stempien’s family bought it from the Steins in 1968.
“Both families have been very good stewards of the land,” said Stempien who added that her dad and brother worked on the preservation of the 35 acres.
“I think this will be a real win-win, said Stempien. “It is a beautiful piece of land and gives you good access to the spring… and the carriage path.”
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