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Burd Family Will Have Day In Court By Curtis Leeds Tewksbury TWP.-A popular tradition that dates back at least 50 years in being challenged by a zooming officer who accuses the owners of Hickory Grove Opry of “operating a concert hall on a residential property.” “People come here to enjoy it, and they leave happy.” That’s how Ellie Burd sums up Hickory Grove Opry, a country music tradition here. That’s how she and her husband Milt first featured his brothers, known as the Burd Boys, a Hickory Grove Farm on Farmersville Road. In was 1967 and rock ‘n’ roll may have been sweeping the country, but it couldn’t stop the Burd Boys from being hit. With the Burd Boys as anchors, the Grove became a hotbed of traditional country music. It drew country musicians from far and wide. Stars such as Mel Tillis, Ricky Van Shelton, and the Bellamy Brothers have graced the Hickory Grove stage. The Burds hosted country music festivals about twice a year, including a 1974 Jamboree that Johnny Burd said drew about 5,000 people. He’s Ellie and Milt’s son and still lives on the farm. Johnny also worked as a volunteer “agent” for the Burd Boys, helping to book shows and traveling with them on the road. “It was a very affordable afternoon,” said Len Rambo of Califon about the Opry shows. He was one of the original Burd Boys, along with Art London and Walter, Donny, and sometimes Dick Burd. Donny Burd died in 1975 and Walter died in 1980. Since 1974, the Burds said, they’ve used the stage only a few times a year. Usually, it’s to benefit charities, such as Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, Anderson House, or Freedom House. The Burds have also used the Grove to raise money for WDVR, a nonprofit radio staton “that plays a lot of the traditional country music we like, “ said Mr. Rambo. Today’s Hickory Grove Opry shows still feature traditional country music, but a lot else has changed. There’s a modern concert hall that seats more than 450 people “with plenty of room for dance.” Ellie said. In the winter, they store farm equipment in the building. There’s also a modern sound system that can be used by bands of all sizes. “We don’t make any money for this,” Ellie said. “It’s all just to share the music. For us, that’s country music.” The Hickory Grove Opry has been around so long that it shocked Ellie and Johnny when they received zoning officer Randall Benson’s notice of violation. “This has been no secret,” said Walter David, the Burds’ attorney. The township issued construction permits for all the improvements made at the Opry and township officials have issued permits to the Califon Fire Company to serve food there. The Burds built a separate septic tank to serve only the Opry and it was approved by county health officials, he said. Mr. Davis said the Burds have gathered 800 signatures from neighbors on a petition of support for the Opry. “This is a tempest in a teapot.” Mr. Davis said. Mr. Benson said the real problem is that the Burds are operating a commercial enterprise. They may see it as a nonprofit endeavor, “but the ordinance doesn’t distinguish” between profit and nonprofit businesses, he said. Mr. Benson said he’d suspend the notice of violation if the Burds apply for a use variance. Instead, Mr. Davis said they’ll go to court hearing scheduled for 1:30 P.M. Tuesday, March 6 at North Hunterdon Municipal Court on Route 31 in Clinton Township. It will be a strange experience for Ellie. “I’ve never even had a traffic ticket,” she said. Hickory Grove’s reputation for fun procedes the Burd boys. The Grove was a haven for church picnics and family reunions as far back as the 1800s. Johnny said that history may partly explain how the Opry evolved. Musicians who played the Opry would tell us, “You made everyone feel like family,” Johhny said. “Once they come here, everyone wants to come back.” |
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‘Opry’ May Need Variance