HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – The Hunterdon County Freeholder Board last week continued the county’s commitment to historic preservation and tourism through the approval of four grants, funded by the County’s Historic Preservation Fund, for projects listed in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places in Flemington, Stockton and Kingwood Township.
Freeholder Board Director Shaun C. Van Doren, who has served as President of the Tewksbury Historical Society for the past nine years, and is the Township’s official Municipal Historian, said, “Restoring and preserving the county’s historic properties maintains the community and connects people to our past. Maintaining historic structures reminds visitors and residents alike about the vital cultural history of the area. We are fortunate to have numerous historic sites located in Hunterdon County which helps to bolster tourism.”
Van Doren also served as the first Secretary of the Tewksbury Township Historic Preservation Commission from 1989 to 1996.
Voter approval of past public referendum created a set aside from a portion of the County’s Open Space Tax for
historic preservation projects each year.
Freeholder John E. Lanza, the board’s liaison for Planning and Land Use and the Cultural and Heritage Commission, said, “Historic preservation has financial, as well as cultural benefits. Studies have demonstrated that historic preservation creates positive economic benefits. Preservation advocates point to the preservation of buildings and heritage for the attraction of visitors and investment.”
The grants recommended to the Freeholder Board by both the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) and the County’s Cultural and Heritage Commission included:
- John Prall House, Stockton, roof replacement, $102,200; grant to the Delaware River Mill Society. This circa 1795 stone house was built along the Delaware River in the 1790s and the land behind the Prall House serves as public access to trails along the Wickecheoke Creek.
- Case Dvoor Farm Bank Barn Grant, Flemington, structural repair and improvement to the Bank Barn, Flemington, $112,415; grant to the Hunterdon Land Trust. The historic Dvoor Farm Barns are from the early 19th and 20th centuries.
- White House, Kingwood Township, site work, structural repair and improvement, $45,000; grant to Kingwood Township. The White House is part of 101 acres and is part of Kingwood Township’s Farmland Preservation Plan and Horseshoe Bend Park.
- Doric House, Flemington, front portico restoration, $64,623; grant to the Hunterdon County Historical Society. Constructed in 1845, the Doric House was designed by Mahlon Fisher, a popular carpenter and home builder in the Flemington area, known for Greek revival style design.
“Preserving these historic buildings, which capture the culture of Hunterdon County, provides a rich legacy of architecture to the county, encourages tourism and increases the value of surrounding homes,” Lanza said.
The Freeholder Board said, we’re grateful to POSAC and the Commission members for dedicating their time reviewing the proposed grant requests. Their volunteer positions contribute to the beautification of the county and improve the experience of all who live in and visit Hunterdon County
