Historic Van Dien-Ruffgarten House's Fate Unknown

PARAMUS, N.J. — The historic Van Dien-Ruffgarten House's fate is unknown as the property continues to deteriorate following the borough declining to purchase it earlier this year.

The Jersey Dutch Stone house on West Midland Avenue dates back to the 1840s. The house sits vacant and is for sale. The borough declined to purchase the nine-acre property. The Paramus Historic Preservation Commission has been trying to keep the property preserved.

A group of five nearby families entered into a contract to purchase the property in an attempt to preserve it. That contract closed in Janurary, NorthJersey.com reported.

The property has been the subject of development talks for sometime now. Preservation New Jersey, Inc. included the property on its annual list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in the state earlier this year. The non-profit wants local officials and the property owners to work together to find a "compatible, viable" use for the property.

Photo: The Van Dien-Ruffgarten House on West Midland Avenue. Courtesy of Preservation New Jersey