Freeholders Approve 2020 County Historic Preservation Grants — 28 Projects Funded
Freeholders Approve 2020 County Historic Preservation Grants — 28 Projects Funded
Posted Thursday, August 13th, 2020
Projects in 18 Morris Towns Getting Voter-Approved Preservation Funds
The Morris County Board of Freeholders last night unanimously approved $4.4 million in county grants to help preserve, restore, or protect 28 historic sites in 18 towns across Morris County.
The grants, recommended by the county’s Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board, will be financed by the voter-approved Morris County Open Space, Farmland, Floodplain Protection and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
The grant awards were approved last evening at the Morris County Board of Freeholders virtual meeting (online due to COVID-19).
Included were grants ranging from $12,920 for construction documents for the Schuyler-Hamilton House in Morristown, to $198,000 for roof restoration of the Friends Meeeting House in Randolph, and $300,656 for the Ford-Faesch House interior restoration project in the Rockaway Township.
The largest amount, $480,000, would be used towards the purchase of the historic Morristown Post Office in downtown Morristown.
Recommended projects are located in Boonton, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Hanover, Kinnelon, Madison, Mendham, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive, Netcong, Parsippany, Randolph, Rockaway Township, Roxbury, and Washington Township.
2020 HP Recommendations – Summary
2020 HP Recommendations – Chart
“The restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation work that is aided by this voter-approved grant program allows us preserve and better understand Morris County’s history, and it maintains important links to our past, ’’ said Morris County Freeholder Stephen Shaw.
“The many dedicated county residents who work to maintain our history, which offers lessons for the present and ensures an inheritance for our future, deserve our sincere thanks,’’ said Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for Morris County. “These county grants assist their efforts to ensure that our county’s heritage and architectural legend are sustained.”
Stone Arch Bridge, Town of Boonton
The 1866 Stone Arched Bridge served as a viaduct to provide fire protection for the Boonton Ironworks. It is the only intact portion of the ironworks remaining.
It now functions as a walking bridge and overlook for the Boonton waterfalls, and is the only connection across the Rockaway River from Grace Lord Park to the ironworks.
The $320,000 funding is recommended to provide for stabilization and repair of the masonry structure including stone cleaning, raking and repointing of mortar, and replacement of concrete bridge deck.
Scott Farm barn in Mendham Borough
Scott Farm Barn, Borough of Mendham
The Scott Farm Barn (aka the Cary Barn) is a c. 1825 banked English barn. It is listed on the Historic Registers as part of the individually listed Stephen Cary House property.
The property was continuously farmed until the 1990’s, and in 2015 the Borough of Mendham, with assistance from the County Open Space Trust Fund, purchased 10.5 acres, which included the barn.
The $16,000 funding is recommended to provide for the completion of a Preservation Plan.
For information on the selection process, visit the county’s Historic Preservation site.
| 2020 Historic Preservation Recommendations | |||
| Property Name | Grant Type | Location | Funding |
| Boonton Holmes Public Library – Exterior Restoration | Construction | Boonton Town | $221,360 |
| Stone Arch Bridge – Bridge Stabilization | Construction | Boonton Town | $320,000 |
| Arthur W. Condict House – Exterior Restoration | Construction | Dover Town | $144,576 |
| Whippany Burying Yard – Stones & Lane Restoration | Construction | Hanover Twp. | $20,995 |
| L’Ecole Kinnelon Museum – Interior Restoration | Construction | Kinnelon Boro. | $263,760 |
| Museum of Early Trades & Crafts – Phase 5 Interior | Construction | Madison Boro. | $286,321 |
| Acorn Hall Carriage House – Phase II Rehabilitation | Construction | Morristown Town | $245,488 |
| Historic Speedwell Waterwheel – Waterwheel Restoration | Construction | Morristown Town | $311,329 |
| Seward House – Phase 1C Partial Exterior Restoration | Construction | Mount Olive Twp. | $220,000 |
| Growing Stage – Fly System Restoration | Construction | Netcong Boro. | $274,800 |
| Richardson History House – Phase 2 | Construction | Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp. | $177,647 |
| Smith-Baldwin House – Phase 3 Rehabilitation | Construction | Parsippany-Troy Hills Twp. | $250,000 |
| Friends Meeting House – Roof Restoration | Construction | Randolph Twp. | $198,190 |
| Ford-Faesch House – Partial Interior Restoration | Construction | Rockaway Twp. | $300,656 |
| King Homestead Museum – Store Electrical System | Construction | Roxbury Twp. | $89,820 |
| Lake Hopatcong Train Station – Site Restoration | Construction | Roxbury Twp. | $331,632 |
| Boonton Train Trestle – Engineering Assessment | Non-Construction | Boonton Town | $36,800 |
| Mount Vernon School – Construction Documents | Non-Construction | Chatham Twp. | $16,600 |
| Ayres Farm Garage – Construction Documents | Non-Construction | Denville Twp. | $17,500 |
| Cook House – Preservation Plan | Non-Construction | East Hanover Twp. | $22,360 |
| Madison Masonic Lodge – Construction Documents | Non-Construction | Madison Boro. | $21,440 |
| Phoenix House – Construction Documents | Non-Construction | Mendham Boro. | $32,050 |
| Scott Farm Barn – Preservation Plan | Non-Construction | Mendham Boro. | $16,000 |
| Morristown Post Office – Acquisition | Non-Construction | Morristown Town | $480,000 |
| Schuyler-Hamilton House – Construction Documents | Non-Construction | Morristown Town | $12,920 |
| Woman’s Club of Morristown – Construction Documents | Non-Construction | Morristown Town | $4,500 |
| Former Borough Hall – Preservation Plan | Non-Construction | Mount Arlington Boro. | $22,400 |
| Obadiah LaTourette Grist and Saw Mill – Preservation Plan | Non-Construction | Washington Twp. | $30,856 |
| Total Funding: $4,370,000 | |||
