Freeholders Approve County Historic Preservation Grants for Projects in 16 Towns

Published on July 01, 2018

Approve $2.2 Million for 20 Historic Projects

The Morris County Board of Freeholders last night unanimously approved $2.2 million in county historic preservation grants to be financed by the county's 2018 Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve, restore, or protect historic sites in 16 towns across Morris County.

(JPG, 148KB) L'Ecole Kinnelon Museum

The vote was taken at the Freeholder Board's meeting held in Mount Olive, which will get $198 000 in construction dollars for the township's Seward House historic restoration project.

All of the grants had been recommended last month by the county's Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board. None of the awards were made for historc sites conncted to religious institutions due to a state Supreme Court ruling.

Awards were approved for projects in Boonton, Denville, Florham Park, Hanover, Kinnelon, Mine Hill, Madison, Morristown, Mount Olive, Parsippany, Pequannock, Randolph, Rockaway Borough, Roxbury, Washington Township, and Wharton.

To view the entire list, visit: /files/sharedassets/public/main-site/newsarchive-media/2018/2018Grants.pdf(PDF, 122KB)

Grants ranged from as little as $5,994 for construction documents for the Union School House in Washington Township to a high of $355,143 for rehabilitation of the Craftsman Farm Administration Building in Parsippany.

(JPG, 169KB) Lake Hopatcong Train Station

The grant money comes from the voter-approved Morris County Open Space, Farmland, Floodplain Protection and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. All 21 applications received this year received grants.

This historic preservation grant program, which was overwhelmingly approved by county voters, helps to finance the protection our county's heritage, and helps to ensure that we maintain important links to our past,'' said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.

The restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation work that is aided by these county grants helps to allows future generations to enjoy these historic sites, allows us to better understand our county's history and our historic roots, and enhances the quality of life for all residents of Morris County, '' added Freeholder Christine Myers.

The dedicated people working to preserve our links to the past, provide lessons for the present and ensure an inheritance for the future deserve our sincere thanks,'' said Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for Morris County. Their efforts, supported by these grants, ensure that our county's heritage and architectural legend are sustained.

(JPG, 2MB) Martin Berry House in Pequannock

Awards are recommended for projects that best meet the program's evaluation criteria in categories of construction, preservation planning, and creation of construction documents.

These criteria include the historic significance of the resource, relationship of the project to community revitalization, preservation of the built or natural environment, and heritage education and tourism.

Other factors include the degree to which projects promote preservation activity, represent innovative design, reach new audiences, offer significant contributions to the advancement of historic preservation; and restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive use plans of historic buildings and cultural landscapes.

Projects receiving 2018 grants include, Boonton, Holmes Public Library and the Stone Arched Bridge; Denville, Ayres Farm Tenant House; Florham Park, Hancock Cemetery; Hanover Township, Whippany Burying Yard; Kinnelon: L'Ecole Kinnelon Museum; Madison, Mead Hall; Mine Hill, Bridget Smith House; Morristown, Acorn Hall Carriage House and the Woman's Club of Morristown; and Mount Olive, Seward House.

(JPG, 2MB) Mead Hall, Drew University. Photographer: Lynne DeLade

Other projects include: Parsippany, Craftsmans Farms Administration Building and Smith-Baldwin House; Pequannock, Martin Berry House; Randolph, Friends Meting House; Rockaway Borough, Fox's Brook Culvert; Roxbury, King Homestead Museum and Lake Hopatcong Train Station; Washington Township, Union School House; and Wharton: Morris Canal Lock 2 East.

To view a summary of each project, visit: /files/sharedassets/public/main-site/newsarchive-media/2018/2018Summaries.pdf(PDF, 274KB)

County voters in 2002 approved an amendment to the county's Preservation Trust Fund to include the acquisition and preservation of historic sites and facilities.

Since 2003, when the first grants were awarded, 98 sites or resources in 32 municipalities in 32 Morris County municipalities have received funding assistance.

For more information on Morris County's historic preservation program, please visit: https://planning.morriscountynj.gov/divisions/prestrust/historic/