$725K In Historic Preservation Grants Awarded To Somerset County Sites

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Six local historic sites in Somerset County were awarded a grant from the county's Historic Preservation Grant Program.

The Somerset County Board of Commissioners presented around $725,000 from the Historic Preservation Grant Program "to ensure the county’s rich history is never lost." The grants were allocated through a competitive process, and range from $22,000 for improved signage to more than $300,000 for a full building renovation.

"These great organizations and the grants Somerset County provided today show our joint commitment and partnership to preserve our great history and heritage," said Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Commission. "No matter where you go in Somerset County, from Bernardsville to Franklin, from Montgomery to Bound Brook, you will find great historical sites taken care of by volunteers and non-profits, and we’re thrilled to be a part or their work with these annual Historic Preservation grants."

The annual grants are funded through the Somerset County Open Space, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. Many of the sites have benefitted from Somerset County’s support over a period of years to ensure projects are able to move forward to completion.

Here is a full list of the 2022 Somerset County Historic Preservation grants:

Pluckemin School House, Bedminster: $27,000

The Pluckemin School House is a two-story, brick building constructed in 1912 and used as the local schoolhouse until 1958, and is noted as a pivotal building in the Pluckemin Historic District National Register Nomination Form. The site is currently home to the Center of Contemporary Art which conducts art classes, workshops, art exhibitions, and art outreach programs for children with special needs as well as workshops for adults affected with cancer. The $27,000 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will replace the existing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramp with a new ramp including full railings, grab bars, and compressed concrete joints.

The Cottage at the Dunster Squibb Property, Bernardsville: $322,900

The Dunster Squibb Property is made up of a house first constructed in 1805 by Revolutionary War veteran John Dunster, with additions made in 1852 and a major renovation in 1905 by Charles Fellows Squib. The property is also host to a 19th century barn, caretaker’s cottage, and smoke house. The site is listed New Jersey Register of Historic Places, is proposed as a part of a National Register Nomination, and was listed as one of the state’s Most Endangered Historic Sites in 2007 by Preservation NJ. The $322,900 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will be used to perform a major renovation on the Cottage and Barn/Stable including new floors, walls, and ceilings, ADA upgrades to various lavatories, upgrades to the furnace and air conditioning systems, and more.

Revolutionary War Middlebrook Cantonment-Maryland Encampment, Bridgewater: $25,000

The Revolutionary War Middlebrook Cantonment-Maryland Encampment was home to George Washington’s Continental Army during the height of the Revolutionary War, and was the site of the first official unfurling of the Flag of the United States. This event is commemorated with a reading of the Declaration of Independence every July 4 by the Washington Camp Ground Association that oversees the site. The $25,000 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will fund two interpretive signs, a county historic marker, a required project sign, and the removal of damaged trees and underbrush.

Van Doren Farmstead, Franklin: $288,310

The Van Doren Farmstead is significant for its association with the early Dutch settlement of Somerset County and its collection agricultural buildings. The earliest section of the farmhouse was constructed in the mid-18th century with Dutch framing techniques, and its ongoing restoration is being overseen by Somerset County Historical Society. The $288,310 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will fund a major exterior renovation and safety upgrades to the main house of the property.

Van der Veer-Harris House, Hillsborough: $39,000

This 18th century dwelling, with significant Colonial Revival renovations, was originally the home of a prominent local physician, Dr. Lawrence Van der Veer. In 1940 Dr. Robert Harris incorporated colonial revival style into the home’s renovation. The property is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places and managed by Hillsborough Township. The $39,000 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will fund an historic structures report that will address the Van der Veer-Harris House’s structural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety system, accessibility, and energy efficiency and help to make the facility usable for events and possibly tenancy.

Reasoner-True House, Montgomery: $22,200

The Reasoner-True House, located near the newly renovated Mount Zion AME Church, was recently purchased by the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum. The house was constructed as early as the late 18th century or early 19th century. The property is associated with African American settlement of the Sourlands region as it was purchased by a former enslaved person in 1881 and owned by African Americans until 1994. The $22,200 Somerset County Historic Preservation grant will fund interpretive signage, an historic marker, and the submission of a National Register Nomination Form.