Historic Revolutionary War Home In New Jersey Unexpectedly Demolished
BELLMAWR, N.J. (CBS) -- A Revolutionary War home, which played an important role in New Jersey and national history, was torn down at dawn on Friday. The demolition comes less than 24 hours after the Camden County Historic Society had filed a court order to save it.
Standing watch on a hill above the Little Timber Creek in Bellmawr, the historic Hugg Harrision Glover house found itself in the way of the massive I-295 interchange realignment project.
"I've seen that home for the last 10 years and I've seen them doing that highway project... I can't believe it," said Mike Reider.
One day after the New Jersey Department of Transportation applied for a permit to demolish a garage on the property, Bellmawr Mayor Frank Filipek says the home--not the garage--was crushed
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"By 8 a.m. it was gone a pile of rubble and to add insult to injury they plan to just pack it up in a dumpster and take it to the nearest landfill," said Chris Perks, president of the Camden County Historical Society.
The Society has worked tirelessly to preserve the home once owned by Militia Captain William Harrison Jr. and during the American Revolution played a significant role.
Congressman Donald Norcorss , who was hopeful about a plan to relocate the 18th century structure said in a statement, "I'm deeply disappointed the New Jersey Department of Transportation destroyed the home without warning, despite our ongoing work to save the home."
This demolition also came a day after the historical society filed a motion to obtain an injunction that would halt any destruction to the property.
Mayor Filipek told Eyewitness News that when questioned, officials with the D.O.T told him they were given permission by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office to level the structure.
A spokesperson with the attorney general's office told CBS 3 they have no such authority.
Local historians say the home—which was builty in 1764-- survived two victorious battles with the British fought on its property, only to fall 240 years later to a sound barrier.
NJ DOT did not return calls for comment.
