Historic Van Doren-Howe Farmstead to Host Archaeological Demonstration

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ - The Somerset County Historical Society (SCHS), and its partner Somerset County, are pleased to announce that the historic Van Doren-Howe Farmstead will host its first public event on Saturday, May 14th from 10am-3pm. Through collaboration efforts and extraordinary support from the archaeology team at Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., the Van Doren-Howe Farmstead is opening its gates for a demonstration of ground-penetrating radar with displays of various materials that illustrate the farmstead's rich agricultural history.

The historic Van Doren-Howe Farmstead consists of a group of buildings including an eighteenth century Dutch farmhouse, carriage house, hay barn, corn crib, chicken house, hired man's house, outhouse and well. The original farmhouse (c. 1732) is believed to have been constructed and owned by a member of the prominent Somerset County Van Doren family. The original dwelling now serves as the kitchen wing, with a larger two-story farmhouse addition added c. 1790-1810.

The nearby athletic complex and nature trail also bear the names of their benefactors, the Howe family. The Howes were respected historic preservationists in the area, who donated land and financial resources to the park and community. In 1992, the Howes donated their property to Somerset County with the agreement that they be allowed to continue living in the farmhouse. It was their intent that their beloved farmstead be preserved by Somerset County for generations to come.

Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey, is a full-service cultural resource management firm providing archaeological and historic preservation services. The firm has completed projects in over 35 states and several U.S. Territories.

When asked about the opportunity to host this event with Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., Rikki Lyn Hauss-McCarthy, a trustee of the SCHS, told Patch, “My excitement comes from the rare opportunity we have to bring a historic site back to life. This includes looking under the surface with ground-penetrating radar to understand the archaeological significance of the site. Preservationists do not always get the opportunity to demonstrate these types of techniques to the public.”

The SCHS is always seeking concerned citizens, nonprofit organizations and businesses to provide financial and labor support to renovate and preserve the Van Doren-Howe Farmstead. Over the course of this project, the SCHS has sought to continue the process of building collaborative partnerships dedicated to historic preservation that will ensure the farmstead remains an important fixture of the community for years to come.

Founded in 1882, the SCHS is dedicated to finding, saving and sharing the history of Somerset County, New Jersey. If you are interested in supporting the Van Doren-Howe Farmstead restoration and preservation efforts, please visit the SCHS website for more information on how to become a volunteer and/or member of the SCHS. Volunteers with the organization come from all backgrounds, trades and skill sets. You can also support historical interpretation and preservation throughout Somerset County, like those taking place at the Van Doren-Howe Farmstead, by becoming a member of the SCHS for $25 a year. All email inquiries should be sent to the SCHS at schshowefarm@gmail.com.

For additional information on the Van Doren-Howe Farmstead, please visit the SCHS website, Facebook page or Instagram. Weekly updates on restoration and historic preservation at the Van Doren-Howe Farmstead will be made on social media under the hashtag #HoweWeHistory.

(The rain date for Saturday’s event is Sunday, May 15th from 10am-3pm.)