Six historic sites in Somerset County share $725K in preservation grants
The Somerset County Board of Commissioners presented six local organizations with approximately $725,000 from the Historic Preservation Grant Program.
The grants were allocated through a competitive process and range from $22,000 for improved signage to more than $300,000 for a full building renovation.
“These great organizations and the grants Somerset County provided today show our joint commitment and partnership to preserve our great history and heritage,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Commission, in a statement. “No matter where you go in Somerset County, from Bernardsville to Franklin, from Montgomery to Bound Brook, you will find great historical sites taken care of by volunteers and non-profits, and we’re thrilled to be a part or their work with these annual Historic Preservation grants.”
The grant program follows the county's announcement of the nation’s first Preservation Plan to integrate open space, farmland and historic preservation into a single document. In the plan the county committed to continue and expand management and acquisition of new properties not only for the environmental benefits but also in support of tourism and economic development. The annual Historic Preservation Grant Program is a part of that commitment.
“The entire process of preservation is not just the act of history in the making, but it takes fortitude, patience, and perseverance from everyone involved,” said Somerset County Historical Society Trustee Rikki Lyn McCarthy in accepting a $288,310 grant for the Van Doren Farmstead in Franklin. “We’d like to thank our incredible advocates on the Board of Commissioners for helping us secure the presence of the past for the future.”
The annual grants are funded through the Somerset County Open Space, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Many of the sites have benefitted from Somerset County’s support over a period of years to ensure projects are able to move forward to completion.
Also see:New Jersey Historic Preservation Awards announced
“We’ve relied on the county for continued assistance on the Van der Veer-Harris House, and we continue to thank the commissioners for that,” said Hillsborough Councilman Frank DelCore in accepting a $39,000 grant. “The good news is the property is just about ready for use, and we’re nearing the point where it’s inhabitable for events and even possibly some tenancy.”
The following grants were distributed:
Pluckemin School House, Bedminister: $27,000
The Pluckemin School House is a two-story, brick building constructed in 1912 and used as the local schoolhouse until 1958, and is noted as a pivotal building in the Pluckemin Historic District National Register Nomination Form. The site is currently home to the Center of Contemporary Art which conducts art classes, workshops, art exhibitions and art outreach programs for children with special needs as well as workshops for adults affected with cancer. The grant will replace the existing Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp with a new ramp including full railings, grab bars and compressed concrete joints.
The Cottage at the Dunster Squibb Property property, Bernardsville: $322,900
The Dunster Squibb Property is made up of a house first constructed in 1805 by Revolutionary War veteran John Dunster, with additions made in 1852 and a major renovation in 1905 by Charles Fellows Squib. The property is also host to a 19th century barn, caretaker’s cottage and smokehouse. The site is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, is proposed as a part of a National Register Nomination and was listed as one of the state’s Most Endangered Historic Sites in 2007 by Preservation NJ. The grant will be used to perform a major renovation on the cottage, barn and Stable including new floors, walls, and ceilings, ADA upgrades to various lavatories, upgrades to the furnace and air conditioning systems and more.
Revolutionary War Middlebrook Cantonment-Maryland Encampment, Bridgewater: $25,000
The Revolutionary War Middlebrook Cantonment-Maryland Encampment was home to George Washington’s Continental Army during the height of the Revolutionary War, and was the site of the first official unfurling of the Flag of the United States. This event is commemorated with a reading of the Declaration of Independence every July 4 by the Washington Camp Ground Association that oversees the site. The grant will fund two interpretive signs, a county historic marker, a required project sign and the removal of damaged trees and underbrush.
Van Doren Farmstead, Franklin: $288,310
The Van Doren Farmstead is significant for its association with the early Dutch settlement of Somerset County and its collection agricultural buildings. The earliest section of the farmhouse was constructed in the mid-18th century with Dutch framing techniques, and its ongoing restoration is being overseen by Somerset County Historical Society. The grant will fund a major exterior renovation and safety upgrades to the main house of the property.
Van der Veer-Harris House, Hillsborough: $39,000
This 18th century dwelling, with significant Colonial Revival renovations, was originally the home of a prominent local physician, Dr. Lawrence Van der Veer. In 1940 Dr. Robert Harris incorporated colonial revival style into the home’s renovation. The property is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places and managed by Hillsborough Township. The grant will fund an historic structures report that will address the Van der Veer-Harris House’s structural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety system, accessibility and energy efficiency and help to make the facility usable for events and possibly tenancy.
Reasoner-True House, Montgomery: $22,200
The Reasoner-True House, located near the newly renovated Mount Zion AME Church, was recently purchased by the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum. The house was constructed as early as the late 18th century or early 19th century. The property is associated with African American settlement of the Sourlands region as it was purchased by a former enslaved person in 1881 and owned by African Americans until 1994. The $22,200 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will fund interpretive signage, an historic marker, and the submission of a National Register Nomination Form.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerset County historic sites share preservation grants
