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November 5,2009CoreyBearalg residentQ.ueensivicCongressP.O. ox 38Flushing, ewYork11363Re:NewtownHistorical ocievspositionn the millstonestQueenslazaTheNewtownHistorical ociety, dvocatesor theprotectionndpreservationfall historic esourceswithin he areaofQueensormerlyknownasNewtown,ncludingDutchKills, oesnot support hecityof NewYorKsplanwithregardso the PayntarmillstonestQueenslaza.Themillstones repricelessistoricalrtifacts hat need o becarefully xaminedo fully understandandappreciateheir history.Archaeologistsannotroperlyassessheir historical ignificancer thedamagehey havesufferedwhile hey
areembeddedn aconcrete idewalk r cratedbehindaconstructionence.Judging trictlyby hepartsof the stones hat arepubliclyiewable,hey havesustainedxtensivedamagewhileunder he careof the CityandState
of NewYorkand heir variousontractorshroughouttheyears.Thecenterof one hasbeen
worn awayand houghtlesslyrepaired"with asphalt ndhasavisible rack n its ace.When hisprojectwasannouncedherewasno money ncludedn the budget orproperhandlingfthe stones nd noplanor theirpreservation,nd t certainly hows.Heavy onstruction quipmentasbeenstoredon top ofthe embedded racked toneand he stone hat hasbeenexhumeds n dangerof beingdamaged, tolenor lost."Don'tworry they'rensured y he contractor,"we-veheard. Howcan he citypossiblypplymonetaryalue o its historical rtifacts?Themillstones avesignificancethat cannotbeudgedn termsof dollars ndpersonsxpressinghis sentiment learly onotunderstandhepurposefpreservationndshouldnot be entrustedwith their care.TheQueenslazamillstones rebelievedo be he oldestmanmade bjectsn the borough reatedbyEuropean ettlers.Theydeserveo be
reatedwith respect ndesearched,xamined nd estored y ateamof historicalxperts.Thecitizens f Long slandCitydeservehe opportunityo observe nd earnabout hem n heirowncommuniW.
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