Due to the current budget crisis, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has proposed to eliminate all funding for the Trenton Barracks. If Christie's proposal is enforced, it will most likely result in closing of the Barracks. By closing the Trenton Barracks, the community loses hundreds of years of valuable American history, not just New Jerseyan history. The Old Barracks was used during times of war to house British, Irish, American and Hessian soldiers, hold prisoners of war, used as an army hospital, apartments and a school. As of 1970, the Trenton Barracks became a State Registered Landmark. In 1971, it became a National Register Landmark. This begs me to question
who closes a state and national landmark? Is the Trenton Barrack's history suddenly not good enough for Governor Christie? If the Old Barracks was important enough to become a state
and national landmark, most likely its history is significant as well and should not be left to fend for itself when it has served the people for hundreds of years. The Trenton Barracks is history; nothing can take that away, not even a recession.
What can you do to help save the Old Barracks?
Join the fight to save history!
I am writing to submit my concerns over the proposal to cut funding for the Trenton Barracks and urge you not to follow through with this proposal. Even though we are in a recession, it is unnecessary to allow a historical landmark to suffer. The Trenton Barracks does not deserve to be allowed to crumble into ruins of a long forgotten past. Future generations should have an equal opportunity to learn about their history. History is just not another class in school; it's the past of older generations. If you allow Trenton Barracks to close, who will know the stories behind that crumbling building? If the Old Barracks was important enough to become a state
and national landmark, most likely its history is significant as well and should not be left to fend for itself when it has served the people for hundreds of years. I urge you to not cut funding for the Trenton Barracks and save its history.
