Kinnelon Museum Awarded $187K Preservation Grant

KINNELON, NJ — The L'Ecole Kinnelon Museum has been awarded a $187,560 historic preservation grant from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund. It was one of 21 county sites to receive a grant this round.

Officials will use the grant to rehabilitate the inside of the building, including making utility upgrades. Officially known as "L’Ecole The Dr. Helen Miller Residence and Office," the building was first constructed in 1873 and was used throughout the years as a schoolhouse, a town hall, and eventually a doctors office where Dr. Helen Miller, a pioneer in female cancer screenings.

The home is currently listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

A total of $2.1 million in grants were awarded this round. This year, all the applications were approved for grants.

“This historic preservation grant program, which was overwhelmingly approved by county voters, helps to finance the protection our county’s heritage, and helps to ensure that we maintain important links to our past,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.

“The dedicated people working to preserve our links to the past, provide lessons for the present and ensure an inheritance for the future deserve our sincere thanks,’’ said Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for Morris County. “Their efforts, supported by these grants, ensure that our county’s heritage and architectural legend are sustained.”

To receive a grant, projects just promote preservation activity, represent innovative design, reach new audiences, offer significant contributions to the advancement of historic preservation; and restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive use plans of historic buildings and cultural landscapes.

Since the grants began in 2003, 98 sites in 32 towns have received funds.

Image via Morris County Government