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Pair Of Turner Measures To Help Local Tourism And Historic Preservation Pass Committee

TRENTON – Two measures sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner that would benefit historic preservation in Mercer County received approval from the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.

“Trenton and the rest of Central Jersey played a pivotal role in the military campaigns of the Revolutionary War,” said Senator Turner, D-Mercer. “Almost anyone can identify Emanuel Leutze’s ‘Washington Crossing the Delaware’ and recount the victory of George Washington in Trenton on the day after Christmas. Unfortunately, not many people realize that many of the places that played a role in our fight for independence are still around today. By creating the ‘Trenton Battlefield Historic Heritage Area’ we hope to encourage more people to come to Trenton and experience firsthand our rich history.”

Senate Joint Resolution 55 would designate a 24-block area of the City of Trenton as the “Trenton Battlefield Historic Heritage Area.” The area will celebrate the role that Trenton played during the Revolutionary War, especially during the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, when General George Washington crossed the Delaware with only 500 troops to successfully take Trenton, killing, wounding or capturing 1,100 Hessian troops while only suffering four casualties. The Heritage Area includes several historic buildings, including the Old Barracks Museum, the Trent House, the Trenton Battle Monument and the Trenton War Memorial.

“This area of Trenton holds so many unique historical treasures that people simply don’t visit often enough. Hopefully we can encourage them to take a day, come to Trenton, and imagine what it would have been like to fight in the army of George Washington,” added Senator Turner.

The committee also approved S-2217, which approves almost $6.5 million in grants for historic preservation projects in Central Jersey. Almost $3.3 million of those grants go to capital preservation and historic site management grants for eight projects in Trenton, Hopewell and Princeton, including:

Municipality Name of Organization Project Name Grant

Hopewell Twp Mercer County Hunt House 733,585

Trenton City Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of NJ Trenton Masonic Temple 750,000

Trenton City Invention Factory Science Center Invention Factory Science Center/Roebling Machine Shop 749,516

Trenton City NJ State League of Municipalities Roebling Mansion at 222 State Street 750,000

Trenton City Trenton City Cadwaladar Park, Comfort Station 205,000

Hopewell Twp Howell Living History Farm Henry Phillips House 50,000

Princeton Twp Historical Society of Princeton Updike Farm 38,804

Princeton Twp Princeton Twp Mountain Lakes Dams 50,000

Both bills passed the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee by a vote of 4-0.

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