Historical Society Gets $20K in Grants for Hanson House Repairs

Cranford's Historical Society received $20,000 in Preserve Union County grants for renovations and updates to the Hanson House on Springfield Avenue.

The money will go to upgrade the house's electrical and HVAC systems, window installation, and ceiling repairs.

Cranford's Hanson House holds the historical society's offices, artifacts, as well as its own history as the preserved home of the late Dr. Hanson.

The grants were part of a total of $550,000 rewarded to preservation groups dedicated to repairing and restoring twelve historic buildings throughout Union County.

Funding for Preserve Union County comes from the Union County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, established by popular referendum in 2000.

“Preserve Union County brings the vision, energy, and know-how of local citizens together with the combined financial resources of Union County, to the benefit of all,” said Freeholder Scanlon, who is chair of the Freeholder Board’s Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Committee. She initiated the Preserve Union County program in 2003.

The other recipients were:

• Old First Historic Trust, $118,000 for the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth (conservation of cemetery markers).

• Borough of Fanwood, $50,000 for Fanwood Station/Museum/ Community House (architect services, and work on storms and screens, leaders and gutters, foundation, basement floor, and attic rafters).

• Kenilworth Historical Society, $31,000 for Oswald J. Nitschke House (installation of lighting and repairs to staircase, walls and ceilings).

• Historical Society of Plainfield, $52,200 for Drake House Museum (archaeological work, construction of accessible ramp and porch, restoration of porch roof).

• Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Frazee House, $3,675 for Elizabeth & Gershom Frazee House (architect and engineer services).

• Springfield Historical Society, $45,750 for Cannon Ball House (structural work and removal of possible asbestos material from cellar).

• Fortnightly Club of Summit, $10,750 for Twin Maples (electrical upgrade in the Carriage House, installation of safety lighting, and repairs to drainage, sewer and chimney).

• Reeves-Reed Arboretum, $21,125 for Reeves Reed Arboretum (repair/replacement of roof, windows, drainage, soffits, fascias, and shingles).  The Reeves-Reed Arboretum is located in Summit.

• Liberty Hall Museum, $60,000 for the Carriage House (repointing of brick, repair of roof, and replacement of sheathing, deteriorated framing, and other building elements).  Liberty Hall Museum is located in Union.

•  Union Township Historical Society, $24,385 for Caldwell Parsonage (purchase of six heating and cooling units and six compressors, driveway replacement, and window work).

• Westfield Historical Society, $100,000 for Reeve House (interior work).