Holmdel Historical Society Gets $5K Grant For Old St. Catharine's

HOLMDEL, NJ — The Holmdel Historical Society received a grant from Monmouth County this March to continue their restoration work at Old Saint Catharine’s Church.

The HHS was given a $5,531 preservation grant. The Holmdel Historical Society has been working to restore Saint Catharine's for years; they did not respond to Patch when asked specifically how this grant would be spent.

Old Saint Catharine's Church is located at 84 Stillwell Road. Founded in 1879, it was the first Catholic Church in Holmdel

In 1975, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Trenton sold the property to the Holmdel Historical Society for $1. Currently, there is significant structural damage to the church, causing the church to tilt. There is also extensive water and insect damage, loose slate roofing and broken windows that need to be replaced. Additionally, the church has no heating, electric or running water or sewage system.

The 2019 Preservation Grant recipients from Monmouth County are:

• Asbury Park Historical Society – Stephen Crane Bedroom refurbishing
• Atlantic Highlands Historical Society – Strauss Mansion exterior transoms and kitchen doors restoration
• Holmdel Historical Society – Old Saint Catherine’s Church restoration
• Borough of Little Silver/ Parker Homestead – Parker Homestead front exterior wall repair
• Long Branch Historical Museum Association – Seven Presidents Church subfloor installation
• Monmouth County Historical Association – Middletown Campus smokehouse restoration
• Friends of Millstone Township Historic Properties – Baird House foundation stabilization Phase Two
• Ocean Grove Historic Preservation Society – Jersey Shore Arts Center east and west entrances restoration
• Historical Society of Ocean Grove – Founders Fountain recreation
• Old Wall Historical Society – Allgor-Barkalow Homestead rear roof replacement

"These historic structures represent where our ancestors lived and worked and how Monmouth County came to be the place it is today,” said Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the County Historical Commission. “I truly believe in historic preservation and know that one of the best ways to understand our County’s rich history is through the preservation and safeguarding of historic structures."