Bronze plaque stolen from Green Brook Park monument

Plaque commemorating the Blue Hills encampment (January, 2009).

Metal thieves have apparently made off with a bronze plaque in Plainfield's Green Brook Park that commemorated the site of a Revolutionary War encampment that was key to forcing the British to evacuate New Jersey.

The text of the plaque, installed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1924, reads as follows --

Site of the BLUE HILLS FORT AND CAMP. This marker is erected in memory of the brave Revolutionary soldiers from this vicinity who garrisoned this fort harassing and repulsing the invading enemy for seven months during the darkest period of the war. From this outpost General Washington on June 26, 1777 finally turned back the whole British Army compelling them to evacuate the state.

When the British were attempting to march on Philadelphia from their garrison in New York, their route led them through the Plainfield area.

Patriots stationed at the Blue Hills Fort in the location which is now Union County's Green Brook Park continually harassed the British troops, preventing them from reaching the paths to Washington's lookout on the ridge of the Watchung hills (now the site of Washington Park in Green Brook). On June 26, 1777, Washington's army was able to decisively turn back General Howe's British army in a strategic victory that came to be known as the Battle of Short Hills (see here).

The site was noted by descendant Cornelius Vermeule in a 1923 speech (see here), is listed among New Jersey's historical site markers (see here), and is mentioned in both a children's guide to Plainfield's early history published by the Plainfield Public Library and written by (recently retired librarian and author) Alice DeNizo (see here, PDF) and lastly, Ledger columnist Mark DiIonno's guide to NJ's Revolutionary War trail (see here).

A large boulder has displayed the plaque since its installation and was probably kept safe over the years by shrub plantings that had become overgrown.

This 2002 view shows shrubbery overgrowth protecting the plaque.

The boulder, without its plaque, as seen Janury 17, 2010.

Metal theft is always a low-grade problem, but difficult economic times such as we are now experiencing seem to fuel theft of copper wiring, tubing, and other items that can be turned into quick cash by sale to metal recyclers -- including bronze plaques, such as the one from the park. Similar items are frequently targeted in older and unprotected cemeteries, and the theft of brass and bronze items has been termed 'a national problem' in a recent news story (see here).

Nancy Piwowar, Plainfield activist and Myrtle Avenue resident, discovered the theft on Sunday and reported it to authorities.

Something of a local celebrity for her role in recovering the two lamps flanking Plainfield's main Post Office -- stolen in broad daylight a number of years ago when the handicap access ramp was being installed -- Nancy remarked to me how different the Internet has made reporting and recovery efforts.

"I was able to get to the FBI's stolen art website quickly -- such a thing didn't even exist when the Post Office lamps were stolen," she said, noting that the Union County Police were already on the case. "Let's hope quick action and publicity will alert scrap dealers, most of whom are reputable, and that the plaque can be quickly recovered," she added.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the plaque or any suspicious activity noted in Green Brook Park is urged to contact the authorities --

• Union County Police - (908) 654-9800
• Plainfield Police Division - (908) 753-3131
  
  

---

• Heritage Trail: "The Revolutionary camp ground at Plainfield, NJ" -- Vermeule's speech.
  
• Plainfield Public Library: "A Kid's History of Early Plainfield"
  
• Mark DiIonno: "A Guide to New Jersey's Revolutionary War Trail"
  
• Historical Marker Database: "Site of the Blue Hills Fort and Camp"
• The Oregonian: "Metal thieves hit cemeteries"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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