Conservancy Trust Approves Application
The Warren County Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund Committee met on November 9th and voted unanimously to recommend that the Warren County Freeholders approve our application for a $247,000 grant to stabilize and preserve the Roseberry Homestead. This is a very big first step. If the Freeholders approve (and we have some confidence they will—money for the grant has already been encumbered) then we expect to have a very busy year.
We’ll have funds to engage an architect (Michael Margulies) to help us prepare a long-range Preservation Plan and to supervise contractors who will actually carry out the many tasks needed to secure the shell of the building; to fund the work of archaeologists (Hunter Research) to dig under the kitchen floor and around the perimeter of the building; and to pay preservation specialists (Keystone Preservation Group and possibly others) to study and preserve the wall paintings and stenciling. Included in the application was funding for completely repointing the stone work, installing authentic reproduction windows and doors, reconstructing the front porch, and restoring the attached kitchen to its eighteenth-century condition.
None of that work can technically begin before about February 2010, but our planning will begin almost immediately. That Preservation Plan will have to be approved by the state’s Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and all work will be done strictly in accordance with the guidelines issued by the U. S. Department of the Interior (which are available via a link on this blog). Long before we bring that preservation plan to SHPO (better get used to that acronym—you’ll be hearing it a lot) we’ll sketch out a preliminary version for the Phillipsburg Area Historical Society and seek comments and suggestions—this is a task for public participation, not just something for the professionals.
I recently retired from 33 years as a science teacher at Voorhees High School, just a few miles down the road. For the past six years I spearheaded a project to restore the 1805 farmhouse on the school grounds. I received money from the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission and guidance from its chairperson, Stephanie Stevens. We involved the students in as much of the work as possible, but we did extensive reconstruction work, including replacing the slate roof, windows, some flooring, and doors. We took great pains to keep this in the 1800′s materials and style, and I learned much through the process, including how to work with a limited budget. I also have extensive construction experience, having built my own log home and having worked for many summers with Phillipsburg resident and Voorhees teacher, Dave Miers. If you think I could be of assistance with this project, I would love to do so. Please feel free to contact me. I also have a DVD slide program that shows our renovation efforts if you are interested.