Formed in 1978 to promote the interests of the citizens of Morristown’s Second Ward (political district), the Concerned Citizens of the Second Ward (CCSW) has focused primarily on cleaning up and redeveloping the Goldere Junkyard site, which had earlier been the site of the Morristown Gas Works. The CCSW also has promoted diversity and other social equality issues, such as affordable housing and home ownership. With the formation of the CCSW and the initial push to tear down and clean up the Junkyard, a plan for a Greenbelt park was initiated (1979). The effort to eliminate the Junkyard took a decade, with its foreclosure coming in late 1989.
On October 21, 1989, the CCSW was involved in a community-wide Unity Day, which included a parade and programming activities.
In 1990, the CCSW formed the Morristown Community Development Corporation, Inc. (MCDC) “to broaden community involvement and support.” The MCDC was appointed by the Town of Morristown as an official advisory committee on the Center and Coal Redevelopment project. During the 1990s, the MCDC worked with the Town Council of Morristown to shape the redevelopment project, but progress seems to have only picked up toward the end of the 1990s. By that time, the goals of the redevelopment project centered on affordable housing, a multicultural community center, and the creation of a Greenbelt/Patriot’s Path park through the neighborhood.
This increase in MCDC and CCSW activity seems to have been encouraged by the 1998 Second Ward Vision Plan. The toxicity of the soil at the former Junkyard was a problem, and there was a major meeting of the CCSW and the Morristown Mayor on June 29, 1999 on the topic of soil remediation. In 2001, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a hazard mitigation study of the site, and in 2001/2002 the engineering firm of French and Parrello was commissioned to provide a report on necessary environmental cleanup measures. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE and G) agreed to conduct soil remediation on the land in 2002.
In 2004, CCSW and MCDC lobbied the Morristown council to commission a redevelopment study from the zoning and development firm, Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, Inc. A redevelopment plan was first drafted in 2005. Another plan was solicited from A. Nelessen Associates, Inc. in 2004. Neither plan was fulfilled. In 2007, a new Spring Street Redevelopment Plan came about, but it also failed to be executed.
In addition to the work of the CCSW and the MCDC, this collection includes a series on the Morris County Black Coordinating Committee (MCBCC), which was created around 1983. This group focused on issues facing minority businesses and public housing. The MCBCC also issued “The Black Community Calendar” from 1994-2007, collated neighborhood events relevant to the Black community in Morristown.
Finding Aid to the Morris Area Environmental Action Reports, 1995-2003.
Finding Aid to the Jersey Jetport Site Association, 1959-1976 [bulk 1959-1965].
The Concerned Citizens of the Second Ward Records (CCSW) are comprised primarily of textual materials, including notes, correspondence, agendas, minutes, newsletters, newspaper clippings, publicity and reports. Material in other formats includes one MSS box of photographs and negatives, including Polaroid, black and white, and color photographs. The records contain one floppy disk and one microcassette.
The collection consists of eleven manuscript boxes of documents and photographs relating to the CCSW and its affiliated organizations and projects. While the material in the collection spans the years, 1959-2008, the bulk of the collection covers the years 1995-2006. The collection, donated by MCDC President, Dorothy E. Broome, is comprised of primarily Broome’s records and notes from the creation of these organizations until primarily 2006. The documentation of the events and progress of initiatives in this collection is not comprehensive.
The material is arranged into seven series. The first and third series are arranged by organization, while the second and fourth series are arranged by project. The fifth through seventh series are arranged by document type. Within each series, files are arranged chronologically.
This material is open for research without restriction under the conditions of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center archives access policy. Records may be copied for use in individual scholarly or personal research, however, as with all materials in the History Center, researchers are responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material from the collection. Most of the materials in the Concerned Citizens of the Second Ward, 1959-2008 [bulk 1995-2006] may be reproduced, but because this material is a permanent part of the History Center's collections, researchers are advised to photocopy with care, using only the edge copier/scanner available in our reading room. Digital cameras may be used to capture images of materials however, the use of a flash is prohibited.
Materials are largely in good condition. Where noted in the Container List, there are instances of copy paper that is severely faded. The paper should be handled minimally, at best, to protect it from further fading. Photographs are in good condition and should not be removed from protective sleeves.
The Concerned Citizens of the Second Ward Records were donated by Dorothy E. Broome on September 9, 2011, and an additional donation was made on November 22, 2011.
Concerned Citizens of the Second Ward Records, 1959-2008 [bulk 1995-2006]. North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, Morristown and Morris Township Library.
Finding Aid arranged and described by Kristen Mapes, North Jersey Histoy and Genealogy Center Intern, Spring 2013; encoded, Summer 2013.