4 Central Jersey Revolutionary War sites to benefit from $25M in restoration funding

The Proprietary House in Perth Amboy, Wallace House in Somerville, Rockingham Historic Site in Kingston and Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth, are among 10 historic Revolutionary War sites in New Jersey to share $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds for restoration and other work in preparation for the nation's 250th year of independence in 2026.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said the Proprietary House is receiving a $3 million investment, as the state prepares to greet visitors to make the nation's Semiquincentennial anniversary marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Information about how much funding each of the other sites is receiving was not immediately available.

The Proprietary house, located at 149 Kearny Ave., is the last-standing mansion of a royal governor among the 13 colonies, according to local officials. The nation's birthday will serve as an opportunity to educate a new generation about the historical significance of the state-owned structure.

“The historical significance of Perth Amboy during the Revolutionary War rivals any city in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania or Virginia,” Coughlin said. “As America prepares for celebrations in 2026, it is vital that Perth Amboy’s history play an integral role, as well as a top tourism site.”

Also see:Historic sites in Somerset, Camden counties awarded $1 million for restoration

Also see:Middlesex County Revolutionary War site eyed for America's 250th birthday

In announcing the funding last week, Gov. Phil Murphy said the money would go toward restoration and making the sites Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

The Wallace House was the country home of Philadelphia merchant John Wallace and was the largest private dwelling built in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. The home served as General George Washington’s winter headquarters for the 1778-79 Middlebrook Cantonment.

Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth was the home of Elias Boudinot who served as president of the Confederate Congress when the Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783, and Rockingham in Kingston was where Washington was staying when he received word of the Treaty of Paris and he penned his letter resigning his command.

Prior to this latest grant, $3 million was allotted in the state's 2019 budget to support the Proprietary House's rehabilitation. The site is now well maintained and showcases late 18^th century living as the home of a loyalist royal governor, William Franklin, through 1776.

“Revolution NJ,” through the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution, was established in 2018 as the state's planning entity for the upcoming anniversary. The group is now conducting planning studies to establish New Jersey as a major Revolutionary War Heritage Tourism destination.

Funds will be allocated to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury and distributed to Revolution NJ, in partnership with the New Jersey Historical Commission and Crossroads of the American Revolution, to help in the restoration of the 10 state-owned Revolutionary War sites. Besides the four in Central Jersey, the other sites are Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton's Old Barracks, Battle Monument in Trenton, Princeton Battlefield State Park, Monmouth Battlefield State Park and the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield.

“New Jersey’s role in the American Revolution is unquestionably significant,” Coughlin said. “The Battles of Trenton and Princeton singularly re-energized the fledging effort at perhaps the most crucial point of the war. Today’s sizable $25 million investment in capital upgrades across ten critical, state-owned sites marks a big step in the leveraging the full civic and economic potential of our state’s consequential revolutionary war history, not just in preparation for 2026 but for the years that lie ahead.”

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Revolutionary War sites to benefit from $25M restoration grant