County Grants Recommended to Freeholders for 28 Historic Preservation Projects

Projects in 18 Towns Would Get Voter-Approved Funding
 
The Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board has recommended $4.4 million in county grants to help preserve, restore, or protect 28 historic sites in 18 towns across Morris County.
The grant money would come from the voter-approved Morris County Open Space, Farmland, Floodplain Protection and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.
The recommendations were presented last evening at the Morris County Board of Freeholders remote meeting (due to COVID-19).
They included grants ranging from $4,500 for construction documents for the Women's Club of Morristown, to $89,820 for an electrical system at the King Homestead Museum in Roxbury, and $320,000 for the Stone Arch Bridge stabilization project in Boonton.
The largest amount, $480,000, would be used towards the purchase of the historic Morristown Post Office in downtown Morristown.
The freeholders, who were briefed on the projects by Review Board Chairwoman Nita Galate, will make a final decision on the recommendations at the board's Aug. 12 public meeting.
“The restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation work that is aided by this voter-approved grant program allows us preserve and better understand Morris County’s history, and it maintains important links to our past, ’’ said Morris County Freeholder Stephen Shaw.
“The many dedicated county residents who work to maintain our history, which offers lessons for the present and ensures an inheritance for our future, deserve our sincere thanks,’’ said Ray Chang, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator for Morris County. “These county grants assist their efforts to ensure that our county’s heritage and architectural legend are sustained.”
 
Recommended projects are located in Boonton, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Hanover, Kinnelon, Madison, Mendham, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive, Netcong, Parsippany, Randolph, Rockaway Township, Roxbury, and Washington Township.
Chairwoman Galate highlighted two of the many projects in her presentation.
 
Stone Arch Bridge, Town of Boonton

• The 1866 Stone Arched Bridge served as a viaduct to provide fire protection for the Boonton Ironworks. It is the only intact portion of the ironworks remaining.


• It now functions as a walking bridge and overlook for the Boonton waterfalls, and is the only connection across the Rockaway River from Grace Lord Park to the ironworks.


• The $320,000 funding is recommended to provide for stabilization and repair of the masonry structure including stone cleaning, raking and repointing of mortar, and replacement of concrete bridge deck.

• The Scott Farm Barn (aka the Cary Barn) is a c. 1825 banked English barn. It is listed on the Historic Registers as part of the individually listed Stephen Cary House property.


• The property was continuously farmed until the 1990's, and in 2015 the Borough of Mendham, with assistance from the County Open Space Trust Fund, purchased 10.5 acres, which included the barn.


• The $16,000 funding is recommended to provide for the completion of a Preservation Plan.