Clinton Township Newsletter

7 o c t o b e r 2 0 2 3 L o R i b o C K o w s K i , R E A L T o R 79% of Americans consider owning a home one of the greatest goals to achieve, but home ownership isn't just a goal; it's a dream shared by so many. Lori Bockowski's singular goal is to make every client a client for life. As a successful, full-time Realtor, she has extensive knowledge of her hometown surrounding areas. Lori is 100% committed to serving her clients. Lori is not only aware of the responsibility of being a Realtor; Lori lives and breathes it every day. When Lori acts as an advocate for her clients, she takes that trust they place in her very seriously. As a result of her professionalism and high quality of service she gives to her clients, Lori maintains a strong referral base and repeat clients. Her clients are loyal, and they recognize and appreciate her consistent superior performance and work ethic. Lori will work with you to make your dream a reality, finding the perfect home that reflects your unique aspirations. Your journey to homeownership begins with a single step – reaching out to Lori Bockowski! (cell) 732.672.2420, (office) 908.735.8080, email: lorisellsdreamhomes@gmail.com. ... continued from previous page I'll never know the answers to, but allow me to daydream anyway. The family we purchased our 1853 home from had owned it for more than twenty years, and they meticulously maintained and repaired the home by hand over the course of their ownership. I recently came upon a new batch of historical photos (taken in 1860 to 1910, several undated) from HPC's archive, showing the original state of the home, and even the original homeowner dating back to the 1800's. It's truly incredible how much detail and sweat-equity is required to maintain a home's historic character over time. Specific to our home, the only noticeable aesthetic alterations I see from the historic archive photos and my lived experience in the house are: the relocation of the chimney, which may have been done when the house had a stint as a legal two family home (since reconverted back to its original single-family state) – or, perhaps the chimney was relocated when the home converted from a coal fired furnace to oil; and The stairs of the gingerbread porch were double wide at some point, which is a minor difference from how the porch looks today. It was likely a building code revision or safety code compliance item which required the porch be narrowed, and railings installed. Other than these two minor items, the interior and exterior of the home remain almost exactly as they were when the house was built in 1853. Every year around Halloween many of the families in our historic village decorate their houses with impressive displays (some of which deserve awards). It feels like a trip back in time, strolling the streets – admiring distinct older architectural stylings and the intricate details of the properties here, and the creativity harnessed in decorating them. Though it's a sight to see any time of year, there is something special about the amount of buzzing energy on our streets on Halloween Day. One of my favorite aspects of living in Annandale Historic District is the palpable energy buzzing around the holidays here – the best being Halloween. Village residents and hundreds of local visitors with their families in costumes flock here, creating a truly unique experience that brings Halloween to the next level. On Halloween, hundreds of trick or treaters and their families flock to our village to trick or treat. Many come to the village to stroll the sidewalks, and visit friends. Over Halloweens past, I have been impressed at the amount of parents who share the same curiosity and appreciation for the unique architectural styles and features of the homes, which vary widely from property to property. We love to engage in conversation with curious parents and passersby who ask about the history of our home. Over the years, our first responders provide community support via safety and traffic control to ensure the massive wave of trick or treaters and their families can relax, and soak in the spirit of Halloween. Our first responders host a community celebration with food, music, and various activities, and provide educational awareness about public safety and fire safety. This is hosted in the Annandale Train station parking lot on Halloween day, and it is free to the public. We hope that everyone can experience the mystery, uniqueness, and joy of Halloween in the Historic Village. However you choose to celebrate, we encourage you to keep mystery alive in your imaginations! Stay safe, and most of all – have fun! If you liked this article or have feedback for future articles from HPC, we welcome your feedback! Please feel free to send us a note: historic.clintontownshipnj@gmail.com. For more information about Clinton Township Historic Preservation Commission or Annandale Historic District, please feel free to visit: www.AnnandaleVillage.com, www. ClintonTwpNJ.com/images/HPC/Historic-Preservation- C o m m i s s i o n . p d f , h t t p s : / / C l i n t o n T w p N J . g o v / b o a r d s - commissions/historic-preservation-commission. T H E H u n T E R D o n C o u n T y Q u i L T i n g g u i L D The Hunterdon County Quilting Guild will have their monthly meeting on October 20, with an Open House/ Trunk Show/Workshop at the Readington Reformed Church, located at 124 Readington Road, Readington. We love to welcome new members at our regular and Zoom meetings, workshops and lectures! Check out our website for our schedule of meetings and events: https:// hcquiltingguild.wixsite.com/hcquiltingguild, email: hunterdoncountyquiltingguild@gmail and consider joining our guild. We look forward to hearing from anyone interested in becoming a member! "The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

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