Dear Editor:
The site of the late Roosevelt Stadium is now a fenced-in block of rock strewn rubble and we lament the passing of this grand landmark. The fate of the time worn Simon Silk Mill veers towards obliteration if halted school construction plans resume in future. It’s a little known fact that the Mill was not in the original plans for new schools in Union City. Perhaps the Mill can yet be saved while there’s time.
I am partly to blame for not lending my voice in opposing the demolishing of the Stadium. I mostly preferred to let others in our community do the hard work of organizing, advocating, writing letters and taking the risks. Behold what my safety, comfort and barnacle inertia have exacted on the Stadium. Because I, and others like me, chose not to get involved the Stadium turned into a lot without weeds.
There’s good and bad news. On August 18th, the Union City Redevelopment Agency met to discuss ways to ensure the historic legacy of the Grand Stadium did not vanish. During the meeting, all agreed to ask the public through the local press to contribute their “artifacts” for exhibit in the new building. The bad news is that so far no public action has been taken. I would refer you to Tom Leane who heads the Agency for a definite answer. The vivid memories shared recently by Mr. Bottari in another newspaper are the kind of oral history which could be included in any historic exhibit. I felt Mr. Bottari’s outrage at the loss of the Stadium. Hopefully a compulsion will seize us to join hands with all who want Mayor Stack and the City Planner to incorporate historic preservation and a historic district in Union City’s Master Plan. I will not exonerate myself for my complicity in the Stadium’s destruction for, in my case, silence was not golden.
Tony Squire