1959
The Horn Antenna is constructed at Bell Laboratories to support Project Echo, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s passive communications satellite project.
1965
Dr. Robert Wilson and Dr. Arno Penzias find evidence of microwave background radiation that confirms the Big Bang Theory of the creation of the universe
1978
Dr. Wilson and Dr. Penzias receive the Nobel Prize for their discovery.
1990
The Horn Antenna is designated a National Historic Landmark. Read the National Park Service application here.
2016
Nokia becomes the owner of Crawford Hill following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent
December 2020
Crawford Hill is acquired by the current land owner. Nokia may have retained some rights to the Horn, see lawsuit below.
September 2022
The Holmdel Environmental Commission recommends that Crawford Hill be included in the list of Preservation Recommendations and should be considered a candidate for acquisition by Holmdel Township and/or Monmouth County Parks for open space and a park.
November 2022
During the November 22 Holmdel Township Committee meeting, Mayor Greg Buontempo adds a redevelopment study request to the planning board for 791 Crawfords Corner to the consent agenda, beginning at minute 12:11.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=634761298331658
December 2022
Planning Board votes to order redevelopment study of 791 Crawfords Corner Road. Public comments begin at minute 29:45, full discussion at 38:23
https://www.facebook.com/Holmdel/videos/520565976778912
Holmdel community groups (Friends of Holmdel Open Space, Preserve Holmdel, and Citizens for Informed Land Use) unite to create a petition signed by nearly 8000 people from all over the world including 49 states and 60+ countries.
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/save-big-bang-antenna
A $15,000 escrow posted by Burke to fund the redevelopment study is confirmed via the township clerk on December 21, 2022.
March 2023
The Holmdel Township Committee modifies the redevelopment study to include condemnation purposes, comments begin at minute 7:30.
https://www.facebook.com/Holmdel/videos/521018653517915
The coalition presents the petition to the Township Committee during the public comment period of the March 14th meeting beginning at minute 39:50.
https://www.facebook.com/Holmdel/videos/521018653517915
At the March 28th Township Committee Meeting, Indian Hill School students present their student-led petition which has garnered over 200 student signatures.
April 2023
The township committee initiates a lawsuit to clarify ownership of the horn and whether or not eminent domain is applicable, see the meeting beginning at minute 27:17 and the full lawsuit document below.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=725848099353198
https://www.scribd.com/document/638118726/Horn-Antenna-complaint#
Representative Andy Kim requests $4 million dollars to preserve Crawford Hill.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/4m-federal-funds-requested-save-holmdel-horn-antenna
Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger show their support for the preservation of the horn antenna and Crawford Hill.
May 2023
Local advocacy groups express environmental concerns and highlight zoning issues.
https://tworivertimes.com/national-historic-landmark-omitted-from-holmdel-developers-plan/
Holmdel Township posts links to concept plans received from Burke Development, Ocean, NJ. Documents One and Two show the horn in its current location, Document Three does not contain the horn at all, and Document Four and Five show the horn relocated to a new place on Crawford Hill.
https://www.holmdeltownship.com/757/Crawford-Hill-Information
Crawford Hill Holdings makes a public statement via the press
Crawford Hill Holdings releases townhome rendering; residents raise concerns about zoning, environmental impacts, and appropriateness of the project.
June 2023
At the June 13th Holmdel Township Committee meeting, committee members vote unanimously in favor of beginning the acquisition process via eminent domain for Lots 6 and 6.01 (which contain the upper site and the Horn Antenna). The first step is to obtain an appraisal of the lot. Lot 7 will continue to go through the redevelopment process.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/holmdel-plans-vote-acquire-historic-horn-antenna-site
https://tworivertimes.com/holmdel-makes-first-move-to-secure-legendary-horn-antenna/
https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/holmdel-oks-first-steps-making-horn-antenna-site-its-own
October 2023
At the October 12 Township Committee meeting, Mayor Luccarelli read a proclamation saying that the township had reached an agreement with Crawford Hill Holdings regarding the disposition of lots 6, 6.01, 7, and the Horn Antenna.
NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/science/astronomy-holmdel-horn.html
Patch: https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/holmdel-developer-reach-agreement-preserve-crawford-hill
Asbury Park Press: https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2023/10/13/holmdel-purchases-site-of-horn-antenna-will-turn-it-into-a-park/71165718007/
nj.com: https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2022/12/njs-historic-horn-antenna-which-confirmed-big-bang-faces-possible-redevelopment.html
January 2024
On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, Mayor Impreveduto announced that Holmdel Township has officially acquired the upper 35 acres of Crawford Hill (lots 6 and 6.01) and officially owns the historic horn antenna. The township committee also moved to introduce an ordinance to formally establish "Dr. Robert Wilson Park". See link to Patch article here:
Patch: https://patch.com/new-jersey/redbank/holmdel-now-owns-crawford-hill-historic-horn-antenna
April 2024
On Saturday, April 20, members of the Holmdel Township Committee, Monmouth County Commissioners, and New Jersey State Assembly hosted a dedication ceremony for the Dr. Robert Wilson Park atop Crawford Hill. See the following articles:
Asbury Park Press: https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2024/04/20/park-dedicated-to-holmdel-scientist-who-helped-prove-big-bang-theory/73339196007/
Patch: https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/holmdel-event-will-name-park-horn-antenna-researcher