PITNEY FARM DESIGNATED AS "ENDANGERED"

Mendham’s Pitney Farm has been designated as one of the “10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey” by Preservation New Jersey. The official announcement will be made in front of the War Memorial, Memorial Drive in Trenton, this Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10am.

Pitney Farm is about 12-acres of public land on Cold Hill Road in Mendham. It includes 7-acres of protected Open Space land with lawns, gardens, and a historic Alle of heritage trees, all surrounding 5-acres of un-protected public land with the main farmhouse (early 1700’s, older than Mendham itself), a large barn, and many other features. Eleven generations of the Pitney family lived there, many having important historic impact on Mendham and the region. Pitney Farm has been widely recognized as a unique and critical historic treasure. Mendham Township has recently decided to sell the historic 5-acres for private development. The Friends of Pitney Farm (visit www.PitneyFarm.org) opposes this decision, and is dedicated to preserving the historic features and repurposing the site for needed community and educational uses. The Friends of Pitney Farm intend to use available non-taxpayer funding, as has successfully been done many other nearby sites, such as the very similar and successful Kennedy Martin Stelle / Farmstead Arts site in Basking Ridge, and as recommended by two town-appointed professional study teams.

Founded in 1978, Preservation New Jersey advocates for and promotes historic preservation as a sustainable strategy to protect and enhance the vitality and heritage of New Jersey’s richly diverse communities. PNJ is the only statewide private membership-supported historic preservation organization in New Jersey.