Roselle Park
Museum
Roselle Park Historian, Pat Pagnetti, found the letter below in the Roselle
Park archives which touches upon the beginning steps of establishing Roselle
Park as a borough unto its own by our Founding Fathers.
March 16th, 1901
Dear Sir:
We realize that the closing days of legislative session are croweded with
business and we wish to be as brief as possible in the following statement:
That portion of Union Township embraced in the inclosed description is
rapidly building up, and has long been suffering for necessary public and sanitary
improvement which it has been unable to secure as at present situated. It has a
population of approximately twelve hundred, with three schools, one having about three
hundred scholars. The proposed territory is somewhat more in area than the entire
settled portion of the locality described, and contains considerably over $500,000
taxable valuation. It is abundantly able to maintain itself financially, and the people
have every desire to avoid being a burden to the rest of the Township. We have been
struggling for years to become relieved from conditions that are growing still more
serious from a sanitary point of view, and which has created a vital public necessity
for immediate relief. It is of paramount importance that we obtain these necessary
sanitary improvements without delay, and we are more than willing and anxious to pay for
them ourselves. We do not want the Township to bear any part of the expense in any way
whatever. This measure is of the greatest moment in the interest of public health.
After thorough advertisement and full public discussions, which have been held many
times, the vote of the citizens is unanimous in favor of the proposed Borough as defined
in every particular.
We beg, therefore, even at this late hour, to ask your favorable consideration
of inclosed Bill to be presented on the 21st instant.
With much respect, we are
Very truly yours,
C.A. Potter
B.F. Carpenter
J. Wallace Higgins
Paul Hochart
John Cummins