The Monmouth County Historical Commission awarded preservation matching grant awards totaling $57,815 for 12 restoration projects in the county including projects in Asbury Park, Neptune City and Ocean Township.
“It was my privilege to present grants to 29 commendable organizations who have dedicated their time to preserve historical structures in Monmouth County,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the County Historical Commission. “Preserving our historical structures helps protect Monmouth County’s beautiful history and will help educate our youth.”
The Historical Commission is dedicated to remembering the past and preserving history for residents and visitors to learn about Monmouth County’s past. The projects eligible for funding are preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of historic structures, which are owned by non-profit organizations or municipalities, and are accessible to the public. The program covers structural work for projects commonly known as “bricks and mortar” endeavors.
“Since 1990 the Historical Commission continues to provide support for preservation undertakings,” said John Fabiano, Executive Director of the Historical Commission. “Once again, we have a variety of dedicated grantees that are moving these preservation projects forward.”
The 2020 Preservation Grant include:
Asbury Park Historical Society – Repair and repaint Stephen Crane Lecture Hall
Atlantic Highlands Historical Society – Strauss Mansion West 2nd floor porch restoration
Borough of Fair Haven – Bicentennial Hall exterior restoration and painting
Freehold Township Historic Preservation Commission – Oakley Farmhouse exterior painting and repair
Friends of Monmouth Battlefield – Craig House dutch doors replacement
The Parker Homestead-1665 – Parker Homestead cellar wall structural support
Squan Beach LSS Preservation Commission – Lifesaving Station Sump Pump Project
Township of Millstone – Clarksburg Cultural Center front door restoration
Township of Ocean Historical Museum – Stucile Tower Restoration Project
InfoAge Science and History Museum – Restoration of Broadway: Fire & Safety door repair
In addition, the Monmouth County Historical Commission issued history regrants to 17 applicants totaling $19,185 through New Jersey’s County History Partnership Program. This Partnership Program supports existing local history organizations by providing grant funding for General Operating Support (GOS) and Special Projects (SP) to those same organizations, as well as other non-profit entities, such as municipalities, libraries and local cultural organizations.
The 2020 History Regrant recipients inlude: Asbury Park Public Library – SP for microfilming and digitizing housing records, Asbury Park African-American Music Project, – SP for African-American Music Oral History Project, Neptune City Borough – SP for historic Bennett Cemetery restoration, Township of Ocean Historical Museum – GOS for insurance and utility costs and InfoAge Science History Museum – GOS to develop interactive kiosks.