F=HOW TO GET THE LEADER =^| Just Fill in the Form On Page 16 And Return It to Us! — Serving Ihe Town Since 1890- OUR 105th YEAR SraixJClan talafr Paid >l Wsdirid. NJ. Thursday, January 19,1995 Crery 232-4407 FORTY CENTS FAMILY DONATING THE HOME HAS LIVED THERE SINCE 1906 Historical Society Explains Plans to Make The Reeve House Its Permanent Headquarters The Italianate Structure, Erected Around 1872, Is Adjacent to Mindowaskin Park; Town Archives, Now in United Fund Office on North Avenue, Set to Be Moved There By PAUL J. PEYTON "The house is an example of one of ures of Mayors Charles P. Bailey and real fund-raising campaign," Mr. Spt<ta!h VmifKfnr Thr Wntfirl.l l*,ulrr the belter Italiunalc style homes. H, Bmerson Thomas, Doth were Jones said. Representatives of Ihc Westfield There are few like it in Westfieid," friends of the senior Mr. Reeve and Robert Uckman, a Trustee of Ihe Historical Society presented theirplan said Mr. Jones. Ralph Reeve. historical society and an architect, to the Town Counc il on Tuesday night William Edgar Reeve, Mr. Jones They had worked on a deal to turn said ihe Reeve's house is in good for establishing the Reeve home at explained, helped in the founding of the ownership of the home over lo the condition. He said some electrical 314 Mountain Avenue us the first the Westfield "'V and helped with town with Edgar Reeve given the work will have to be done as well as town museum and as the new home the plan for the Mindowaskin Park right to live in the home lor the rest of adding some beams and a handicap for the society to keep its archives, back in 1906. He had two sons, the his life. Underthat proposal, Mr. Jones ramp. currently housed in the basement of late Ralph and Edgar, and n daughter. said, the town would lake tare of the When questioned by Mayor Gar- the United Fund building located at Hdgar and his sisler were twins. The exterior with Mr. Reeve responsible land C. "Bud * Boothe, Jr., he said the 301 North Avenue, West, Wcslfield. daughter died at a young age. lor the interior. home would, in all I ikelihood,qualify Town Historian and Curator lor the The senior Mr. Reevediedin 1963, That deal was finally agreed to by as an historical landmark. Claenc studio lor rue Wtstttoia tads society, Ralph H. Jones, explained to and Edgar Reeve has lived in the the family and the town in December Mrs. Maggio told The Leader that WAXING I.ACONIC..-S»muelD. Freeman, pictured Inccnier «1 right, was one the council tlte home was built in house since he was two. Ralph died in uf 19K5. the project was a "tremendous under- of (he Tew residents which spoke in favur of the proposed ShupKile on North about 1872. The Reeve faini ly moved 1988. Ralph Reeve and his attorney, Wil- taking" for the society because they Avenue. As evidenced by this picture, Saturday'!! public hearing attracted a full into tlie Uiwn from Newark in 1898 Mr. Jones explained that the con- liam W l.unigan, said in their pro- would have to pay the annual cost to house at Town Hall. Over ISO residents attended the hearing. The Community am! lived on Park Street ami then cept of turning the home over to the posal that the home would make "an maintain the interiorof the house and Koom, the former Children's Library, was set up with a closed circuit television movedtothe Mountain Avenue house town dates back to the peruxJ be- ideal" museum for ihe town. They pay for the utilities. for the overflow crowd. Fteiue see two mure pictures on Page 28. in 1906. tween 1946 to I960 during the ten- also requested the historical society. Mayor Boothe said he could not manage the museum. see another use for Ihe property for Ihc lown other than a museum which MOST SPEAKERS EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL OF PROPOSED STORE There was a dispute raging be- is labeled as "very appropriate." tween the brothers and the town over the approved plan. Mr. Jones said an "We have not heard any dissent article appeared in The Westfield from council members past, present Leader in 1988 which quoted the or future." said Mayor Boothe, in Spirited Debate Arises at ShopRite Hearing regard to ihe use of proceeds from Ihe attorney as stating ihe brothers were very unhappy wilh the upkeep of the bicentennial events to pay for Ihe house by the town, and they wished project. they had never entered into the deal. The Mayor assigned the proposal Saturday Before a Full House at Town Hall lo ihc Town Properties Committee A,t fhat point, the society had its which is chaired by new First Ward lawyer work wilh the Reeves legal Cuuncilwoman, Mrs Gail Vcrnick. counsel lo iron out the complaints. Board Attorney Reminded Those in Audience the Property Is Zoned for Retail During a house lour in 1984, the Town Administrator Edward A. society was able lo raise over $4,0(Xl Gollko said he would sit down and And Statements About Not Needing Another Food Store Are Not Relevant for the project. work out a written agreement be- Mrs. Linda B. Maggio, wlio served tween the town and the historical By SUZETTE STACKER tion, which he maintained was neces- the public "had certainly done their children and those wilh respiratory society which would be reviewed by JjWNNr Wnimifn Ihr WtilfitlilLrmkt as Chairwoman of the Weslficld Bi- sary and predicted would enhance homework." :ii liiients, would be threatened by die- centennial Committee last year, noted Mrs. Vertiick'scommittce before go- A standing-room-only crowd of Westfield's business reputation as did Dr. David E. Nowicki of 602 sel fumes, nitrogen oxides and the that, based on proceeds from last ing (o the full council for a vote. The more than 150 residents packed Ihc Hahnes, nowLord&Tayloron North Trcmont Avenue,Ihc firstspeakcrfor projected doubling of carbon mon- year's events, the committee will building would maintain its tax-free Weslfieid Council Chambers Satur- Avenue. the opposition, cited provisions es- oxide levels whichare associated with donate $40,000 to Ihe society for the status. day to air their views concerning the 'Things have to go and be devel- tablished under the municipal Land the operation of tractor trailers, the purpose of renovating and preserv- In other business. Town Attorney proposed ShopRite superstore ear- Use Ordinance, which call for the kind of which would be used to trans- ing the home as a museum. She said Charles H. Brandt explained the town marked for North Avenue during a oped properly, logically and with rea- son. I believe that the ShopRile will community to be developed "in a port goods lo the store. the committee had hoped to raise at is ready to meet with residents of full-day special public tneetingoi the manner that will promote public He noted the heavy diesel trucks least $25,000 nt Ihe start of las! year, Dunham Avenue to create a subdivi- Westfield Planning Board. be a good addition lo Westfield and will have a beneficial effect on other hcallh, safety and general welfare," would also create "operational, in- but was able to raise significantly sion of town-owned (and. Mr. Brandt areasof'Wesifield,"the former Mayor arguing the proposed supermarket dustrial noise"prohibiledunder local more money. said, after an agreement is reached See Another Story said, noting the proposed superstore would compromise quality of life in ordinance, if they were kept idling to While no figure was discussed as with the neighbors, the town would would provide necessary competi- ail of those areas. maintain refrigeration or while prod- to the total amount for the project, have to do two street vacations to On Page 2 tion for Foodtown. lie stitled that residents' health, ucts were being unloaded. Mr. Jones admitted it would be co.slly. create a larger lot which would then particularly that of the elderly, young CONflHUEOONPAOC It "We realize we have to organize a The meeting was held to give Following former Mayor Thomas people ample opportunity to offer were several members of the opposi- testimony in the controversial case, tion, each of whom in turn also gave which has been before the board: for articulate and detailed presentations, (wo years. Although Thursday night at one point garnering a commenda- Long Range Planning Committee Votes to Study Planning Board meetings have regu- tion from Mayor Garland C. "Bud" larly lasted three hours, these ses- Boothe, Jr., who, though not indicat- sions mostly comprised testimony and ing how the board may ultimately Many Enrollment Options Yet Some More cross-examination by expert wit- vote on the applicati on remarked that nesses and attorneys for both sides, Panel to Make Its Report by May IS After School Board Election; Four Seats to Be at Stake Then leaving limited time for public com- ment. Dog Licenses Due By ELLEN RABIN recommendation to Ihe board by School as a pre-kindergartcn and - Most of those present Saturday At End of Month Wmtrnlttt 7hr Wrtt/irl,! Umitt Finally, the Long Range Plan- the end of the calendar year. kindergarten center oras an addi- turned out to protest Village Super- All dogs from six months old The Westfiefd Board of Educa- ning Committee recommended markets site plan application, argu- must have licenses before January The Long Range PlanningCom- lional elementary school. tion voted on January 17 to accept that it review the Middle Atlantic ing that construction of the approxi- 31.