By Kevin Coughlin
As the state proceeds to tear down one of Morris County’s architectural treasures, the Kirkbride Building at the former Greystone Park State Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, 32 other historically significant sites — including several Morristown churches and the Mayo Performing Arts Center — will share $3.5 million in preservation grants.
The awards from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund were approved on Wednesday by the county freeholders.
“This money will help finance the vitally important task of preserving and sustaining our county’s heritage, to restore and protect important links to the past are key connectors to how this county developed,’’ Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo said in a statement.
Restoration work supported by these grants “will allow future generations to fully enjoy and treasure these historic sites, which enhance the quality of life for all residents of Morris County, ’’ added Freeholder John Cesaro.
Morristown’s biggest winner this year is the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, a Gothic Revival structure on the state and national Historic Registers, which will receive $272,480 to complete restoration of its slate roof.
In all, nine Morristown sites are getting more than $900,000 in grants. They include:
- The Presbyterian Church on South Street, $219,168 to complete restoration of the slate roof, bell tower louvers and wood dormers.
- Acorn Hall, $125,000 to complete roofing work and site drainage.
- Willow Hall, $104,000 to complete roof replacement, window, exterior door- and millwork restoration.
- Assumption Church, $87,904 to complete restoration of the lower roof at the rectory.
- The Moses Estey House at Historic Speedwell, $42,320 for construction documents related to a full interior and exterior renovation of this circa 1770 Georgian and Colonial Revival house.
- The Community Theatre at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, $23,128 to complete “analysis and assessment of physical and acoustic qualities of the plaster” inside the auditorium; and $4,151 for construction documents related to repair or replacement of exterior fire escapes.
- Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, $21,936 for construction documents related to roof replacement.
- The Loyola Gate House, at the Loyola House of Retreats, $12,000 for a preservation plan that includes an accessibility review.
In Morris Township, the Morris Museum will receive $22,904 for a preservation plan that includes code and accessibility reviews and a structural evaluation.
Morris County voters approved the acquisition and preservation of historic sites in 2002, when they backed an amendment to the county’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.
THE FULL LIST OF 2015 GRANT RECIPIENTS
