County awards historic preservation grants
Local treasures get 'bricks & mortar,' receive matching funds
TheMonmouth CountyHistorical Commission awarded preservation grants recently for 25 restoration projects in 18 municipalities. The awards totaled $100,000.

Stained glass at Christ Church

Local projects awarded grants include window restoration at Christ Church in Shrewsbury and restoration of the barn at VanMater Farm in Holmdel.

"These grants directly support the great work being done by the community," said Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the county Historical Commission. "Through these collective efforts, we can share our storywhilewe create a greater understanding and appreciation of who we are as a people."

The Historical Commission is dedicated to preserving the past and creating a living history. The types of projects eligible for funding are preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of historic structures, usually 50 years or older, and which are accessible to the public. The programcovers essentially structural work for projects commonly known as "bricks and mortar" undertakings.

"It is particularly fitting that the county's Historical Commission presents these awards as we begin a celebration of 325 years of history in Monmouth County," Freeholder Burry said. "The ongoing preservation and restoration of one-room schoolhouses, RevolutionaryWar houses,monuments,museums, cow barns and farm houses helps make history real and present in our daily lives."

TheMonmouth CountyHistorical Commission was created by the Board of Chosen Freeholders for the preservation and conservation of Monmouth County history. Established in August 1988, its principal program is the preservation grants, an undertaking that recognizes the acute need for funds to preserve Monmouth County's rich and diverse historic legacy. The commission grants matching funds on a competitive basis to municipalities and nonprofit organizations needing financial help in the preservation or restoration of historic structures.

"We have a good mix of grantees, including a number with repeated grants as well as first-time applicants," said Randall Gabrielan, executive director of the Historical Commission. "The Historical Commission provides both sustained support and an open door for new projects."

Each grant application must include a description of the mission, its meaning to history and the significance and the audience it serves. Itmust also include a detailed budget, a source of funding available for the applicant's dollar-for-dollar contribution, detailed quotations for the work, thematerials to be used and a time frame for completion.

In 2008, the total amount available for matching grants is $100,000. There is a $500 minimum and $5,000 maximum per applicant in any year. The programis competitive and the commission requires proof of the availability of matching funds.

Each grantee is required to submit interim and final reports; the documents are to be accompanied by three photographs that detail project progress. The interim report is due when 50 percent of the work is completed. The final report, due at completion, must show evidence of completion and a cancelled check to document payment to the contractor.

The deadline for applying for the preservation grants is Nov. 1 of every year. Information about the Historical Commission grant programcan be found atwww.visitmonmouth. com

For information about the county'sHistorical Commission, contact the Hall of Records, Room #201, Freehold, NJ 07728, call (732) 431-7413, or visit the County of Monmouth Web site at

www.visitmonmouth.com.

The 2008 Preservation Grant recipients are:

Holmdel Historical Society - Dr. Cook's office restoration, $1,500

Holmdel - Van Mater Farm, barn restoration, $5,000 Middletown - Monmouth Hills Inc., Clubhouse Widow'sWalk, $5,000

Middletown - MacLeod-Rice porch roof, $2,800 Middletown - American Littoral Society Building 18 porch railing, $2,900

Red Bank - Century House exterior preservation, $2,900

Rumson - Junior League Headquarters tin repair, $5,000

Shrewsbury - Religious Society of Friends,windows & doors, $5,000

Shrewsbury - Christ Church stained glass work, $5,000

Tinton Falls- Crawford House, windows, $4,798

AtlanticHighlandsHistorical Society- Phase 3 porch restoration, $4,000

Avon Borough - Pavilion doors restoration, $1,700

Belmar Historical Council - World War IIMonument restoration, $1,063

ColtsNeck Twp. Preservation Committee - School blackboard restoration, $1,500

Farmingdale - William Goodenough House roof , $4,800

Freehold - First Baptist Church, stained glass window restoration, $4,000

Freehold - Historical Association, museum exterior restoration, $5,000

Long Branch- Church of Presidents, south porch restoration, $5,000

Long Branch - Elberon Memorial Church, stained glass restoration, $5,000

Manalapan - Old Tennent Church exterior preservation project, $5,000

Manasquan - Boat room doors, $5,000

Neptune - Ocean Grove Historic Preservation Society exterior brickwork, $5,000

Ocean Township - Eden Wooley House, interior, $5,000

Wall- InfoAge Learning Center,Marconi Power Station Repair, $2,789

Wall- OldWallHistorical Society,Allgor Barkalow chimney, $3,250