LACEY, NJ — A local building that predates Lacey Township itself was named a top endangered historic place.
The group Preservation New Jersey announced their 2026 list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey Thursday, including the Worden House in Lacey.
The Worden House is the oldest structure remaining in Lacey. It was built in 1850; the township itself was incorporate in 1871. It's named for one of Lacey's oldest families.
"The house holds extraordinary Civil War significance: Vaughn’s sons Gustav and Benjamin survived imprisonment at the notorious Andersonville prison camp, where more than 12,000 Union soldiers perished, and returned to live in the family homestead after the war," Preservation New Jersey said.
This building has been a source of controversy over the past few years. It previously housed Vetwork offices, then was sold to a developer who plans to construct a QuickChek on the property. Officials have said the building cannot be moved again (as it was decades ago) and that it is filled with black mold. The county also declined to take ownership of it.
RELATED: QuickChek Will Replace Historic Lacey Buildings
A group of local advocates have been fighting to keep the historic building as it currently is. Read more: Lawsuit To Save Historic Lacey Buildings Fails, But Battle Continues
"Although engineering evaluations confirm the structure is sound and capable of relocation, it currently lacks formal legal protection," Preservation New Jersey said. "Local advocates have initiated litigation to delay the sale while a State Register application is pending."
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