Clinton Township Newsletter

1 7 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 4 Fresh Seafood, Grilled Specialties, Italian Classics, Brick Oven Pizzas • Fireside and Patio/Courtyard Dining • Cigar Smoking on the Wrap-Around Porch Private Parties and Catering 1 F a i r m o u n t r o a d , L o n g V a L L e y www.RestaurantVillageAtLongValley.com 908.876.9307 Open for Dinner Tuesday – Saturday at 5:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm • Bar Open Late The Computer Guy A DIVISION OF BDB ENTERPRISES Is Your Computer Driving You Crazy? We'll fix your computer in your home and help you effectively use it! For HOME • Flexible hours • Computer repair • Internet connection, printer & file sharing • DSL/Cable setup • Virus/firewall help • MS Office training For BUSINESS • Web hosting • Computer purchasing • Web site design • E-commerce specialist • Search engine optimizing • Networking/Firewalls • Business solutions Bruce Bednar Office: 908-713-9843 Annandale, NJ Cell: 908-310-7988 LEBANON DOOR COMPANY • Overhead Doors • Electric Operators • Storm Doors 119 Main Street, Lebanon, NJ 08833 908-236-2620 Glenn Coats, Proprietor Established 1957 Fax: 908-236-2946 Home: 908-730-6536 t h e c l i n t o n t o w n S h i p h i S t o r i c a l p r e S e r V a t i o n c o M M i S S i o n "Elements of a Community" B y r i c h S c h e i c k In the days where "going green", recycling, saving energy and protecting the environment have become a regular routine in our daily lives, one of the many forms of recycling is in maintaining our built environment. Existing and historical structures are inherently sustainable. Whether preserving an historical structure for its original use or adapting one to a new re-purposed use, preservation can contribute to our fundamental goal of saving energy. Re-using existing structures vs. all-new construction can save energy in the manufacturing of new materials, fossil fuel consumption for new material transportation, less tons of hauling demolition waste and the overall impact on landfills. These benefits are not only energy related but re- using historical structures facilitates the preservation and character of our towns and villages, thereby maintaining a visual link to our past and the opportunity to understand history, architectural style and construction methods previously used. During the past year our County has been celebrating 300 years of history. Hunterdon County is rich in its agriculture history along with the various historic structures, village hamlets and agricultural farmsteads. Here in Clinton Township we are fortunate to have numerous existing examples of our architectural past distributed throughout 34 square miles. The Township contains six areas designated Historic Village Districts. These Village Districts consist of Cokesbury, Allenton, Hamden, Potterstown, the Turnpike District and, at the center of Clinton Township, the Annandale Historic District, formerly known as Clinton Station. The Cokesbury and Annandale Districts contain many examples of historically built elements. Creative development includes the reuse of existing structures. This practice maintains existing character and can influence new architectural elements that are included within the new development. One example of reusing and recycling our existing historic structures is the recently completed Village Green in the Historic Annandale District, readapting existing lumberyard structures and blending them with new construction for this solar powered multi-use development. Currently awaiting the start of construction is the Beaver Brook Home- stead Complex. Originated in the late 1700's, the homestead consists of the large main house facing Beaver Avenue and several out buildings. Plans include repurposing the main house into a restaurant while incorporating the existing outbuildings with new structures, creating a small scale multi-use retail and residential development. The Historic Runkle House complex on Walnut Pond Road with its decades of family history and Henry McCloughan's 19th Century Italianate style Villa on Old Allerton Road are two additional examples of our built history as they await new development decisions and their new purpose in our community. No matter which side of the Loyalist fence you may be on, the Vought House is a pure example of preserving history as this iconic piece of pre-revolutionary architecture is refurbished and truly restored architecturally to its historical glory. This preservation is not just an historical linkage for Clinton Township but for our history as a nation as well. Its unique plaster ceilings are constructed in a woven twig construction method, one of the very few examples still in existence today. Many historic structures have since been lost over the years due to repur- posing of land use, structural failure and the various mishaps by Mother Nature. Preserving historic or adapting existing structures for new use allows the appreciation of these structures, their style, architectural details and their historical significance. In traveling about Clinton Township in the final months of our County's Tricentennial, take a moment to enjoy our built history. Stop at the Methodist Church in Cokesbury and admire its Greek Revival ionic columns, or find the home readapted from the old school house that previously served this village. In Annandale ,observe the abundant gingerbread elements and architectural details that charm the homes in this 18th century village. Locate an old stone foundation, perhaps from one of the mills in the Hamden District; or one of the relocated homes that once graced the farm community now known as Round Valley Reservoir and, of course, delight in our landscape with its barns and farmsteads remaining as testimony of our agricultural past and present. In terms of construction, preserving an historic structure can be the ul- timate recycling. Preservation and reuse of our existing structures link us visually with our past history while making use of buildings, structures and materials already in place. These historic elements remind us of those who came before us… and know that just by existing, they are saving a little bit of energy too. n

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