DAYTON VILLAGE CITIZENS’ COALITION, INC.

This Corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Who we are-
We are concerned neighbors building a community coalition educating and informing our community so that we can improve the quality of life, and preserve our history.

Our purposes are to inform and educate so that we-

• Improve the Village of Dayton and South Brunswick.
• Become informed and learn how to preserve open space, beautify the environment, and create heritage gardens.
• Preserve our heritage and historical buildings and sites through our museum, exhibits, and newsletters.
• Learn how to create safe paths and pedestrian walkways, allowing safe strolls through South Brunswick, and children can ride their bikes, play without danger and improve their health.
• Document the flora and fauna of our trails and walkways.
• Learn the best ways to calm traffic and reduce noise caused by traffic,
• Provide information and education to the public on the village history.

Activities

• Research information about the history of our area.
• Learn about Victorian gardens and plant flowers to beautify the spaces we share, particularly at the five corners in Dayton. Share our information about heritage gardens through seminars, tours, and publications. Design Colonial herb gardens at historic Wetherill and Victorian garden rooms at the Slack-Carroll house.
• Organize environmental cleanups and inform businesses and the public about the importance of reducing litter.
• Restore the Slack-Carroll house at 354 Georges Road, which WAWA donated to the Coalition in March of 2001. This includes carrying out research on the inhabitants and the era, and preparing information about that period.
• Create Civil War Era and post-Civil War Era medical exhibits in the Slack-Carroll house, as well as exhibits highlighting everyday Victorian life-style.
• Build a Victorian memory and friendship garden at the Slack-Carroll House.
• Expand our Garden Club and our knowledge about appropriate plants. Share gardening knowledge with our community.
• Offer tours of potential bike paths and help create pedestrian and bike paths. Safe walking areas permit neighbors to recreate the positive aspects of village life, getting to interact with others and slowing the hectic pace so common in modern lives and increase health. Inform the community about the importance of providing areas for safe pedestrian travel.

What you can do-

• You give the time you can give. Fit your community into your schedule.
• You can visit the meetings and share your concerns during the community discussion session, which is first on the agenda. You can leave after that, or stay if you wish.
• E-mail us your ideas and concerns if you can't join us in person. E-mail us at info@daytonvillage.org
• Visit our website.
  Http://www.daytonvillage.org

Join the Dayton Village Citizens' Coalition or to obtain more information;
e-mail us at the above e-mail address, or write to us at
P.O. Box 258
Dayton, New Jersey
Phone: 732-329-3429 or 732-208-6111.
Our offices are in the Historic Slack-Carroll house. Office hours are by appointment, and we can be reached there most Saturday and Sunday afternoons. But call first at 732-208-6111 as we may be outside or on an errand. Our monthly meetings, which are typically at the Slack-Carroll House, are set as the third Tuesday of the month, with the exception of December. For information on the meetings or other information, email us at info@daytonvillage.org .

Membership information

Membership is open to all individuals, families, and businesses.

The cost of membership is 5 dollars a year per household and 10 dollars a year for a business. The membership includes listing of a business website on our website, newsletters, voting privileges, trips, and participation in coalition activities.

History of the Organization

During the academic year 1997-1998 a group of Dayton neighbors living on the corners of Ridge and Georges Roads were approached by a developer who sought to buy their properties, demolish their Victorian homes and build an office building. Most of the neighbors had spent decades learning about village history and historic home renovations, as well as renovating and restoring their homes. All valued community history and a village ambiance, which would have been destroyed by disregarding the historic structures. The neighbors banded together and sought a way to maintain and enhance what had been Dayton Village, a quiet agricultural crossroads where people could stroll to the neighborhood stores, children could ride their bikes safely, and neighbors could chat with neighbors.

The neighbors sought to expand their circle of neighbors as they discussed their concerns for their neighborhood and broader community. A list of their original concerns and goals are listed below. Of course, because of working on these concerns, some problems have been solved. There is much yet to do to maintain and enhance the ambiance of a village.

In March of 2000, the neighbors incorporated their community group as the Dayton Village Citizens Coalition, a nonprofit corporation.

The Coalition is working to preserve the Slack-Carroll House in the heart of the crossroads, to develop bike paths so that our children can ride safely, calm traffic so pedestrians can stroll without fear and enjoy quiet, develop our garden club, and share community activities that honor and inform us about our history.