| Author | Message | ||
     e roberts Citizen Username: Wnwd00 Post Number: 48 Registered: 3-2004 |
so there is the disaster of a building behind the south orange police headquarters i think it is technically on grove road. i asked someone one day why is it still standing. it has major water damage, currently unlivable except for racoons and cats and well it is an eyesore that could be made into a useful space. the person i asked said that the building could not be demolished because one wall of the building is one of the oldest walls in the area or something like that. i was wondering if anyone had any information about this. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 215 Registered: 5-2003 |
True. One wall is a wall from one of the oldest houses in the county. The rest of the place used to serve as Board of Ed. headquarters. This may be heresy, but just because a thing is really old doesn't mean that it should be retained forever, in my opinion. I used to work as a librarian for the New Jersey Historical Society, so I am well aware of the need to preserve our historic treasures--but I have always felt that this wall is a tad ridiculous. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 503 Registered: 9-2003 |
The old stone house, built in 1680, was the former home of the Board of Education - before they took over Fielding School in the late 70s. It is the oldest home in the Village and there has been a "grass roots" effort to fund preservation. So. Orange was awarded grant money for the project: http://www.nj.gov/dca/news/2003/pr073003.shtml It is definately something that should be restored and possibly used as a museum. | ||
| Lizziecat Citizen Username: Lizziecat Post Number: 217 Registered: 5-2003 |
Yes, well, this is what happens when here are tons of good intentions but little understanding. A grant was awarded, but obviously nothing was ever done. I believe that there was or is a SO Historical Association (or Society) which is largely ineffectual. What happened to the grant money is anybody's guess. The building itself has deteriorated to the point where, at best, it can be described as an attactive nuisance. I think that the building should be razed, except for the fragment of wall. Put up a nice bronze plaque and create a small sitting area with some flowers and the wall will be preserved, and the eyesore house will be gone. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 504 Registered: 9-2003 |
Lizzicat - I've not see the building in years - if it is as bad as you say, and is beyond repair, your suggestion is a good one. But.. "what happened to the grant money" is an excellent question. (Moving on to the S. Orange thread for response from one of the three trustees who post on this board.) | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 811 Registered: 5-2001 |
I posted on the SO thread but I'll add something here as well. The Old Stone House is the oldest dated structure in Essex County and second-oldest in New Jersey. There is more than a wall still there behind the shingles--most of the original 17th-century house, plus the 18th-century addition, is still there, surrounded by 19th- and 20th-century structures. In all, the house is a time capsule of all the historical eras of South Orange. Although the Village has sadly neglected the house since the Board of Ed moved out (over 20 years ago now), its overall condition is not as decrepit as parts of the outside would suggest. The South Orange Historical and Preservation Society received a grant a couple of years ago which paid for a preservation plan. We then received a second grant which, with partial matching funds from the Village, will pay to "stabilize" the house--repair the roof and exterior walls to prevent further deterioration. As for "what happened to the grant money"--nothing happened to it. It has not yet been transferred from the state to the Village. | ||
| e roberts Citizen Username: Wnwd00 Post Number: 53 Registered: 3-2004 |
kathy, when i went over to look at the house today it appears that an entire horizontal beam on the west side of the building is severely stagging and gives the impression it may just topple over. i am by no means an engineer but it does not look safe. i am wondering if the historical society or the village will take responsibility if someone is hurt or worse by the building if it where to fall? also i have lived in many places and well i am honestly a bit sick and tired of the whole "historical" reason of keeping old, unused buildings intact as opposed to destroyed. a museum? uh right i live in south orange but if i want a museum i am going to NYC. so it has walls that are old..i am not impressed. i have a significant education and it really does take a wall older then the 17th century to impress me especially since byeond being old it does not seem to hold any significance. time to move on it is 2004, lets get ride of the danger and eyesore and put something productive there or well even a small park. anything but an old, not attractive building that is of no use to anyone. if you can tell me a use for it lets keep it, but do not just keep it because it is old. | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 814 Registered: 5-2001 |
The South Orange Historical and Preservation Society has been working for years to try to find a use for the building that the Village would accept. The conditions are difficult: For instance, because of the way the property was subdivided when the senior citizens' residence was built, the OSH is landlocked and has no parking. Also one of the Village's requirements has always been that they not have to pay for restoration, while at the same time they have been unwilling to relinquish ownership of the building. However, in the past couple of years some progress has actually been made. I agree that it is frustrating that everything takes so long. But nothing is beyond repair, and if there is one building in South Orange that should not be torn down, it is this one. | ||
| e roberts Citizen Username: Wnwd00 Post Number: 57 Registered: 3-2004 |
beyond being old what value does the building have? as you said there is no parking and no one can seem to come up with a use for it. i really wish that people would think before the acted on something so permanant as getting somthing declared a historical landmark. it severly limits what can be done to improve the property and what it can be used for. has the south orange historical society recently funded or supervised any type of restoriation of a building that was decalared a landmark? i have personal expierence and it is an expensive process that can often in non toursit based communities such as south orange become a drain on tax payers due to upkeep and other fees. | ||
| e roberts Citizen Username: Wnwd00 Post Number: 64 Registered: 3-2004 |
no response kathy? | ||
| kathy Citizen Username: Kathy Post Number: 824 Registered: 5-2001 |
I've been responding to you in the South Orange section. I really don't feel the need to say everything twice. |
