5 Historic Morristown Sites In Line To Receive Part Of $3.6M Grant

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Twenty-three Morris County projects, including five in Morristown, will receive $3.6 million in grants as part of a yearly initiative to revitalize and protect historic sites in the area.

Last month, it was announced that various Morristown organizations had applied for county funding for several Morristown historic sites. The county Board of Commissioners approved the funding request on Tuesday, July 18.

The funds were approved by the county Board of Commissioners based on recommendations from the Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board.

The majority of the funds will be used to build and renovate 17 projects, with the remainder funding activities such as design work for future construction and preservation planning.

According to county officials, Acorn Hall, which was built as an Italianate residence in 1853 and expanded in 1860, will receive a construction grant of $40,500 and a non-construction grant of $61,320.

Acorn Hall is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers, as well as being locally registered.

The recommended grant, based on an approved Preservation Plan, will cover the design, fabrication, and installation of 200 feet of a replicated concrete and metal rail fence based on historic photographs.

The Morristown and Morris Township Library will receive a $232,460 grant for the Willis Wing, which was built in 1917. Edward Lippincott Tilton designed the Morristown Library's Willis Wing in the Collegiate Gothic style.

The recommended grant will cover exterior and interior restoration, including exterior masonry restoration and leaded glass conservation.

The Morristown Community Theater will receive a $282,280 grant for partial exterior restoration. The Community Theater, built in 1937 for the Walter Reade cinema chain, was designed by Thomas W. Lamb, the foremost theater designer in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century.

The building was renovated in 1994 for use as a performing arts venue and is part of a historic district. The proposed grant will help with brick and limestone masonry repairs as well as selective roofing replacement.

The Women's Club of Morristown will receive a $90,480 grant for exterior repairs.

The 1797 Federal-style building was originally built as Dr. Lewis Condict's home and now serves as the Woman's Club of Morristown's headquarters and is listed on several historic registers. The suggested grant will help with partial exterior restoration and repair, such as new windows to replace older vinyl windows and exterior stucco repair and refinishing.

Lindenwold at the Peck School will receive a grant of $65,765.

The 1886 High Victorian former residence is owned by the Peck School. The building is currently used for administrative purposes and is part of the Morristown Multiple Resource Area Historic District. The recommended grant will help with the completion of Construction Documents for masonry repair, slate roof restoration, interior plastering and woodwork.

For the 23 projects, the review board received nearly $5.9 million in grant requests. Following site visits and final presentations from applicants last month, the board approved full funding for 12 of the proposals and partial funding for the others.

“The staff and volunteers do a phenomenal job evaluating these applications and making recommendations on how to invest our dollars. People often thank the Commissioners for the money, but it ultimately comes from the taxpayers, who always overwhelmingly support these programs and it’s fortunate that they do," Commissioner Stephen Shaw said.

The trust fund was established 20 years ago when Morris County voters approved a referendum authorizing what was then the county freeholder board to allow funding for historic preservation as permitted by state law.

The fund considers grant proposals from county officials, municipal officials, and qualified nonprofits for the acquisition, restoration or preservation of historic resources. Since 2003, when grants were first issued, Morris County has awarded 535 grants totaling nearly $50 million.