Mount Vernon School Restoration Completed in Chatham Township
Published on May 08, 2026
Commissioner Presents Historic Preservation Plaque to Mark Project Fruition
Restoration of the historic Mount Vernon School, also known as the Red Brick Schoolhouse Museum in Chatham Township, has been completed following several years of preservation work supported by more than $305,000 through the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw recently visited the circa 1860 landmark to present a Morris County Historic Preservation plaque to Chatham Township Mayor Jen Rowland and the Chatham Township Historical Society in recognition of the successful restoration project. The visit followed Morris County’s annual Pathways of History weekend on May 2 and 3, when the museum welcomed visitors from across the region.
“Preserving our history is always a priority in Morris County, and this year it carries even greater significance as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary,” said Director Shaw. “The Mount Vernon School is a wonderful example of the historic places we are proud to protect for future generations.”
View the Video of the Historic Preservation Plaque Being Presented
Originally constructed around 1860, the building later received a vestibule addition around 1900 and a rear addition in 1958. It served as a local school and Sunday school until 1928 before later housing community organizations and Chatham Township Hall. The building was eventually repurposed as a local history museum.
Since 2019, $305,450 in Morris County historic preservation grants have supported a National Register nomination, a preservation plan, construction documents and extensive exterior restoration work.
View More Photos from the Visit to Mount Vernon School
The 2022 and 2023 grants supported repairs to deteriorated brick and mortar, reconstruction of the northwest vestibule corner, restoration of stone window lintels and sills, and installation of interior storm windows to help preserve the building.
“We're so grateful for all the support and all the funding. The Red Brick Schoolhouse is a beloved site in town -- not only because it holds so much history for us and our residents -- but it is the destination for field trips for our students. This is a field trip that they remember and they continue to come back with their grandparents and parents,” said Mayor Rowland.
“Morris County has been with us since the beginning of the process. From the preservation plan and National Register nomination to the construction documents and restoration work, we could not have completed this project without the county’s support,” said Martha Wells, president of the Chatham Township Historical Society.
Since 2003, the Board of County Commissioners have approved more than $56 million in Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund grants to help preserve and restore 136 historic sites across the county.
As part of the county’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Chatham Township Historical Society (CTHS) also featured the RevolutionNJ “Revolutionary Lives” exhibit during Pathways of History weekend.
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Photo 1: (l-r) Ray Chang, Morris County Historic Preservation program coordinator; Donald Davidson, CTHS trustee; Karen Blumenfeld, CTHS trustee; Diana Clark, CTHS trustee; Pat Wells, CTHS Vice President; Stephen Shaw, Morris County Commissioner Director; Martha Wells, CTHS president; Mike Kelly, CTHS trustee; Sarah Stanley, CTHS trustee; and Jen Rowland, mayor of Chatham Township.
Photo 2: Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw speaks on camera inside the Mount Vernon School.