Historic Parsippany Site In Line To Receive Part Of $3.6M Grant

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Twenty-three Morris County projects, including one in Parsippany, 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 the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Inc. had applied for county funding for the restoration of Craftsman Farms. 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, the Craftsman Farms Log House was built in 1911 to support the 650-acre property owned by Gustav Stickley, a leader in the United States' Arts and Crafts movement.

The Log House is regarded as an important landmark of American design.

In 1989, the township purchased the remaining 30 acres of Craftsman Farms, which was designated a historic landmark the following year.

Today, the nonprofit Stickley Museum shares its story with Stickley fans around the world.

The $37,620 grant will be used to repair deteriorated log ends with seasoned white oak pinned with stainless steel rods.

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.