For Immediate Release: Contact:

17 September 2011 Maureen O’Connor-Leach

(609) 396-4478

society@trentonhistory.org

Trenton Historical Society Praises Citizens, Leaders for Saving Petty’s Run

Preserving Archaeological Site Wise Decision for Trenton

TRENTON — The Trenton Historical Society credited citizen action and resourceful leadership Saturday for the forward-thinking plan to preserve the Petty’s Run archaeological site next to the Statehouse grounds. It was announced Friday that $800,000 in funding from Mercer County would be matched by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to design and construct a historical interpretive center at the site. The Society, its members, and supporters thank Gov. Chris Christie and Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes for reaching a joint decision that preserves an early site of New Jersey industry.

“Petty’s Run is a site of national significance and Mercer County is a place where history is not only respected but celebrated,” said Helen Shannon, President of the Trenton Historical Society. “This potent collaboration will bring more heritage tourism to Trenton, benefitting our local businesses, our governments, and the capital-area community.”

Petty’s Run was rediscovered during archaeological digs conducted in advance of an expansion planned for Thomas Edison State College. Further excavation and interpretation were put on hold when funding for the New Jersey Capital Park Master Plan were frozen in November 2010. Plans to re-bury the site met with public outcry; Trenton Historical Society members and community volunteers have spent the last nine months staging demonstrations, signing petitions, and generating news coverage to rally support.

“Our voices have been heard,” said Shannon. “Everyone should be proud of the role they played. This city is a better place because we’ve preserved Petty’s Run.”

The Trenton Historical Society would like to acknowledge several groups for their efforts. Preservation New Jersey was at the forefront, bringing this issue to statewide attention. The Advocates for New Jersey History and several local historical societies took the message to communities around the area. Special thanks go to Assemblywomen Bonnie Watson Coleman and Cleopatra Tucker and Assemblymen Reed Gusciora, Patrick Diegnan, and Thomas Giblin as well as Senators Shirley Turner, Linda Greenstein, and Loretta Weinberg for sponsoring legislation in the Statehouse to save Petty’s Run.

Petty’s Run refers to a creek that travels through downtown Trenton to the Delaware River. Next to the Statehouse are the archaeological remains of one of the first steel furnaces in colonial America (c. 1730), which used the Run’s current for power. Later a cotton mill, a paper mill, and likely a pottery were situated there. The Run was covered up in the late 1800s when it became polluted. Today Petty’s Run is part of the city’s storm water drainage system. For more information on the archaeological dig, visit www.pettysrun.org.

Founded in 1919, the Trenton Historical Society advocates for the study and interpretation of Trenton’s history, preservation of its historic buildings and artifacts, and dissemination of information about the capital city and its illustrious past. We are a non-profit corporation and a 501(c)3 tax-exempt New Jersey registered charity.

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