Waterworks Site to Get $740K in Funding

Governor Christie signed legislation last week that earmarks more than $10 million to help preserve 58 historic sites throughout the Garden State, including Van Buskirk Island on Main Street.

Christie signed S-2898 in Mount Laurel at Paulsdale, the residence of suffragette and noted New Jerseyan Alice Paul. The home is on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

“From the Revolutionary War and the Underground Railroad to Thomas Edison and Alice Paul, New Jersey has been the nucleus of many of our nation’s most significant historical events,” said Christie. “Preserving these cultural and historic sites is critical to ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to learn more about New Jersey’s place in history. I am proud to sign this legislation to help the New Jersey Historic Trust rehabilitate these wonderful places, which ultimately will attract tourism, spur neighborhood revitalization and encourage economic growth in our state.”

The grants will be awarded and administered by the New Jersey Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Eligible projects are funded under several categories.

The borough of Oradell will receive a Level II Capital Preservation Grant award of $704,384 to benefit the New Milford Plant/Hackensack Water Company preservation project. The grants must be used for the restoration and rehabilitation of historic resources for new or continued active use. These properties are required to be listed or eligible for listing in the State or National Register of Historic Places.

The Waterworks began in 1886 as a massive, state of the art water treatment and distribution facility, expanded through 1912 and updated through 1955, to provide water to northern New Jersey. The complex retains the equipment chronicling the engineering technology of water purification and is unique for the scale and architectural beauty of its structures. Closed since 1980, there are two main buildings, the water treatment building and the pump house that are in deteriorated condition. 

The Trust grant will help fund the continued stabilization of the Treatment Building and Pump House. The proposed work will focus on making the buildings weather tight and provide protection from vandalism. This will include roofing repairs, roof drainage repairs, window and door protection, provide adequate ventilation into the buildings, and the removal of water from the buildings. Completion of Phase I and 2 stabilization will allow the public to walk around the buildings safely. 

“Historic places enhance New Jersey’s image as a vacation destination. These sites tap into people’s desire to learn something new and they capitalize on the trend of people taking trips closer to home,” said DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa. “Historic attractions also often bring developers to the area, which can lead to new economic opportunities.”

This year’s grant recipients were previously approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board of Trustees and the Garden State Preservation Trust. Funding for the grants comes from the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund, which was created to preserve open space, farmland and historic sites and to encourage joint preservation efforts by the public and private sectors.