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Somerset County awards $1.15 million in historic preservation grants to four projects
Summary
Somerset County announced four historic-preservation grants totaling $1,145,982, funding interior restoration, stabilization and updated historic-structures reporting across Franklin Township, Hillsborough and Warren Township and the Somerset County Historical Society.
Somerset County announced four recipients of its 2025 Historic Preservation Grant Program, awarding a total of $1,145,982 to projects intended to stabilize, rehabilitate and make historic properties accessible for public use. The program is administered by the Somerset County Planning Division and the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
Josephine Taranto, a preservation planner for the county planning division, told the board the competitive program supports planning and construction projects including preservation plans, stabilization, rehabilitation and restoration. "It is my honor tonight to announce the grant recipients for the program's 26th year," Taranto said.
Awards announced and amounts: the Somerset County Historical Society received $442,500 for interior restoration of the Stillwell Van Tine farmhouse in Colonial Park, Franklin Township; the Franklin and Van Loo Homestead Association received $237,730 for stabilization and rehabilitation of the 1754 Franklin Inn; the Township of Hillsborough received $402,402 for ongoing restoration of the Vanderveer Harris House, including interior upgrades to meet ADA and fire-safety standards; and Warren Township received $63,350 for an updated historic structures report for the Kirsch/Tyrrell House.
Recipients at the meeting thanked county staff and commissioners. Frank McGonigal, president of the Somerset County Historical Society, acknowledged staff support and noted the society's docent program; Barbara Tenbrook, president of the Franklin and Van Loo Homestead Association, described plans to address foundation and drainage as flood-prevention measures; and Lisa Lontay, mayor of Warren Township, said the updated report will guide preservation and interpretation work.
The board introduced and approved the enabling resolution for the grant awards (resolution 25-2141) before the presentation. The transcript includes a numeric line that appears to be a transcription error when reading a cap figure; the awards actually announced at the meeting total $1,145,982 as stated by the preservation planner.
