SAVE HORN ANTENNA
The posts and opinions expressed by Save Horn Antenna are our views only and do not represent other grassroots groups such as CILU, FOHOS, or Preserve Holmdel that may also be interested in preserving the Horn Antenna.
The Horn Antenna is a national historic landmark used to confirm the Big Bang theory on how our universe began.
It could now be endangered because the Holmdel Township Committee authorized a study to see whether the Crawford Hill property where it is currently located should be designated for “redevelopment”, potentially for high-density housing.
Let's save the Horn Antenna at its current location and to preserve Crawford Hill as a historic public park, perhaps with a learning center or museum that will make it a destination for field trips.
Debunking the Myths - Part 1
In a mailer sent to Holmdel residents, Crawford Hill Holding LLC (CHH) purports to share the truth about their proposal for a townhouse development at Crawford Hill, home of the historic Horn Antenna. It then asks to go to their website to get the “facts”.
I. When is Preserving NOT Preserving?
CHH claims that the Horn Antenna “is not at risk and never was at risk.”
Let’s take a look at the facts. First, CCH’s own attorney filed a Planning Memo with the Holmdel Township in October 2022 that said “It is anticipated that the Horn Antenna will be relocated to the Bell Works or any other suitable site." A concept plan submitted to the Township about a month later in November showed the Horn Antenna to be missing.
A revised concept plan dated Feb. 2023 now shows the Horn Antenna but relocated to a different location, more than 800 feet away. Moving the 18-ton structure that is more than 60 years old is not only risky but could potentially jeopardize the National Historic Landmark designation.
Latest Updates
(see also News tab)
Holmdel Announced Lawsuit
At the April 11th Township Committee meeting, Mayor DJ Luccarelli announced that the Township has filed a lawsuit for the purpose of clarification on the ownership of the Horn Antenna and whether the Horn Antenna is in included in the event that eminent domain action is taken. See more in the News tab.
Township in Negotiation
At the Feb. 14th meeting, Mayor DJ Luccarelli announced that the Township is in negotiation with the owner of Crawford Hill, the site where the Horn Antenna is located. We don’t know what this means exactly but will be watching this carefully.
We support the Township’s efforts if the plan is to keep the Horn Antenna at the current site and preserve the property as a public park (open space).
Preserving the Horn Antenna and the Crawford Hill site not only honors and celebrates Holmdel’s unique legacy in astronomy and cosmology but also improves the quality of life for Holmdel residents and future generations to come – all at lower tax costs to Holmdel residents.
See also
THE HORN ANTENNA
Did you know that only about ¼ mile from Holmdel Town Hall is a National Historic Landmark?
The Horn Antenna sits on 42 beautiful acres of Holmdel Township named Crawford Hill, the highest point in Monmouth County.
“It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1988 because of its association with the research work of two radio astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. In 1965 while using this antenna, Penzias and Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) that permeates the universe.
This was one of the most important discoveries in physical cosmology since Edwin Hubble demonstrated in the 1920s that the universe was expanding. It provided the evidence that confirmed George Gamow's and Georges Lemaître's "Big Bang" theory of the creation of the universe. This helped change the science of cosmology, the study of the history of the universe, from a field for unlimited theoretical speculation into a discipline of direct observation.” [1]
Bell Labs scientists Robert Wilson (a Holmdel resident) and Arno Penzias received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978 for their role and work with this antenna.
For more history, click on the button.
