I am saddened to hear the town council announce that West Milford is no longer interested in acquiring the school board’s half of the Wallisch farmstead.
The Tischner-Gregory-Goodell-Wallisch Farmstead can be traced back before 1820, which predates Passaic County (1837) and West Milford (1834). It is a scenic pastoral setting between Greenwood Lake and the town of West Milford, with a historic farmhouse, barn and creamery building, an environmental walking trail, and a meandering creek. It is one of the last remaining farmsteads that accurately reflects Northern New Jersey's agricultural heritage.
West Milford's township and board of education have shared in both the property's ownership and in its decaying state, refusing to maintain the buildings or come to an agreement on their use. To now say that the township doesn't want the property because of the disrepair is simply disingenuous.
The decision is also dismaying since two council members are on the West Milford Heritage Committee, charged with preserving local history, and another council member “pledged to shield (the Wallisch property) from the dismal fate of the famed Tichenor House” last year, when the property was listed as one of New Jersey’s 10 most endangered historic places.
Concerning the environmental issue, the council’s attorney recently reported to the council that an agreement with the DEP was reached, cleanup would be minimal, and the work was already under way.
The Wallisch Farmstead offers open space, recreational uses, and historic buildings surrounded by a mountain vista right near the town center. Considering that tourism in general, and Heritage Tourism in particular, could be an economic driver for the township and local businesses, it seems very short sighted to allow this cultural gem to continue being neglected.
Kerry O'Brien
Hewitt