Local news- Press Release
Warren County New Jersey - Commissioners Award $500 477 in Preservation Grants 15 February 2024 ( news )
Warren County , state New Jersey ( By Press Release office)
Feb 15,2024
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( WHITE TOWNSHIP , NJ – February 14 , 2024 ) - Six grants totaling $500 , 477 to local nonprofits and municipalities for open space and historic preservation projects received unanimous approval from the Warren County Board of County Commissioners .
Recommended by the 12 - member
Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund Committee ( MCCTFC ) , these grants will be financed through the County’sOpen Space Trust
, which is funded by a voter - approved dedicated tax . Since the program’s inception more than 25 years ago , 168 grants have assisted local historic and open space projects in each of Warren County’s 22 municipalities .
“I want to thank the County Commissioners for continuing to support this wonderful program . Warren County boasts so many great natural and historic treasures – it’s exciting to see our community preserving these sites , ” said Corey Tierney , Director of Land Preservation . “I also want to thank the applicants for all of their hard work and the Committee members for generously volunteering their time to review the applications and visit each site , ” he added .
“These projects represent some of the county’s most special places , ” Commissioner Director James R . Kern III said . “Thank you to the dedicated volunteers and organizations who help keep these sites operational and open to the public . I encourage everyone to explore Warren County and see them in person , ” Kern added .
Commissioner Jason J . Sarnoski also thanked Tierney and the county
Land Preservation Departmentstaff for their efforts with the grant program , explaining , “If it wasn’t for him and his staff , this wouldn’t be possible . ”
“It is with great pleasure we approve these projects , ” Commissioner Lori Ciesla remarked . “Preserving our heritage , culture and history is so very important and these projects will do that while also providing for the residents of today , ” she added .
This year the County awarded $375 , 477 to four historic preservation projects and $125 , 000 to two open space preservation projects .
HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS:
Blairstown Township – Footbridge Restoration Plan
$70 , 189 to prepare a professional restoration plan for the pedestrian bridge at Footbridge Park . John I . Blair installed the steel footbridge in 1893 and the property was purchased by the Township in 1959 . In honor of the Nation’s Bicentennial , the Township established Footbridge Park in 1976 . The footbridge now serves as an important connector between the Paulinskill Valley Trail and Footbridge Park to the Blairstown Historic District and local businesses . While structurally safe , the three overwater spans were deemed to be in poor condition by a professional engineer . Other bridge elements are also in need of repair . Restoration of the historic footbridge will ultimately be a multi - phase project as guided by the professional restoration plan .
Friends of N . J . Transportation Heritage Center – Union Station Restoration
$172 , 099 for the continued restoration of the building’s interior , including the lower level waiting room and finishes throughout , as well as some exterior restoration including refinishing the front façade .
Designed by Frank J . Nies and constructed by the Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad ( DL&W ) , the Union Station was opened in 1914 and shared with the Central Railroad of New Jersey ( CNJ ) . The station is now owned by the Friends group and open to the public on a regular basis with exhibits from their archive collections .
Mansfield Township – Mount Bethel Community Center
$95 , 199 for the installation of a septic and generator so that the structure can be used as a heating and cooling center by residents , in addition to being used as a year - round community center .
Constructed in 1844 , the former church sits on land that was purchased on January 16 , 1788 by Dr . Robert Cummins , a Methodist and surgeon in the First Sussex Regiment during the Revolution , who is buried in the adjacent cemetery along with other Revolutionary and Civil War veterans . In 1809 the village and church received the name of Mount Bethel , given by Reverend Francis Asbury , the first Methodist bishop in the United States . The form of the church is a traditional meeting house; the style is a restrained and stoic Greek Revival with Federal undertones . The fine construction of the building is still evident today in its elegant millwork and crisp , cut limestone masonry .
Phillipsburg Area Historical Society – Roseberry House Restoration
$37 , 990 for the removal of the existing 20 - year - old asphalt shingle roof and installation a new cedar shingle roof typical of such homes during its historical period of significance .
Likely built by Loyalist John Tabor Kempe sometime during the Revolutionary War , this 18
thCentury Georgian style manor house was seized by the colonial government and sold to John Roseberry , remaining in the Roseberry family for nearly 100 years . Originally Johannes Rosenberger , John Roseberry was a German immigrant who was likely part of an influx of German settlers to New Jersey in the Colonial and Revolutionary eras . He went on to establish a farm at the property as well as an inn nearby . Believed to be the oldest standing structure in the Town of Phillipsburg , the Roseberry House would have been an exceptionally large and grand building for its time .
OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION PROJECTS
Alpha Borough – Alpha Rails to Trails
$75 , 000 toward the purchase of approximately 17 acres of land currently owned and controlled by the New Jersey Transit Corporation for the creation of an approximately 1 . 3 mile multi - use recreational trail for the public . The Borough envisions this trail will connect to the future Phillipsburg Rails to Trails segment that would utilize the same railroad corridor .
Town of Phillipsburg – Phillipsburg Rails to Trails
$50 , 000 toward the purchase of approximately 29 acres of land currently owned and controlled by the New Jersey Transit Corporation for the creation of an approximately 3 - mile multi - use recreational trail for the public . The Town envisions this trail will connect to the future Alpha Rails to Trails segment that would utilize the same railroad corridor .
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