Council Moves on McGinnis

The Township Council agreed Monday to declare the at the intersection of Hardenburg Lane and Dunhams Corner Road “surplus,” allowing the township to seek alternative uses for the property.

“If there’s one thing we can agree on it’s that something needs to be done,” said Councilman Michael Hughes. "It’s an eyesore and dangerous.”

The building, located near the Warnsdorfer School, has been unused by the municipality for years. Township Officials have said it would be a major expense to bring the building up to code.

Councilman James Wendell said he would like to see the building leased out, but would accept selling the building if proceeds from the sale went to a good use.

“I’m more in favor of leasing it rather than selling it for a one time gain. If we sell it I’d like to use it for something like paying down the debt,” he said.

In March, township attorney Catherine Tamasik said the property is deed restricted for educational purposes and that she is looking into options regarding overcoming those restrictions should the township have no further use for the property. Mayor David Stahl said several charitable groups have inquired about the building, most of which would meet the education requirement.

Councilwoman Nancy Pinkin suggested reaching out to the East Brunswick School District before moving ahead with a decision.

“I’d like to have a conversation with the schools just to check the impact the project would have,” she said.

According to Mark Nonestied, host of EBTV's "On the History Trail," the McGinnis school represents the second generation of schools that were built in the township. The first being wood framed one room school houses.

By the early 1900s many of those buildings were inadequate for education purposes and the improvement came in the form of buildings like Mcginnis school. They were usually masonry construction (Mcginnis is brick with terra cotta trim) and they had multiple classrooms, central heat systems and large windows for lots of natural light and fresh air. 

For farming families living in rural East Brunswick in the 1920s Mcginnis school, and its nearby neighbor Weber school, were the pinnacle of the educational system in the township, according to Nonestied.