Hiasvtoernics BY LORI DRAZ
The Parker Homestead-1665
T
readers who have tackled a remodeling project like adding a deck
or even simply repainting a room know that things can go from easy
to pretty complicated in a hurry. Now imagine if your project was the
complete restoration of a 13-room, 330-year-old historic treasure – with,
by the way, no funds to pay for any work. That’s what the Friends of the
Borough obtained a grant to repair the leaking roof and install a mod-
barns sat unused for years.
raise the money necessary for daunting tasks of restoration and to open
the property to the public. Keith Wells, president of The Parker Home-
shared a lot of the details of this massive undertaking.
awards small matching grants every year for historic property preservation,”
he said. “We organized the necessary work into 10 annual proj-
painting of the earliest rooms in the house: the kitchen, center hallway
ceiling resulted in the plaster collapsing, revealing the original 1740
hand-hewn beams. Plans were quickly changed to permanently expose
these beams. In December 2013, the Parker Homestead opened to the
Now, eight years later, nearly all the initial preservation projects
have been accomplished, including repairs to parts of the roof and the
60 APRIL 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
front porch. The Borough restored the three barns. Wells continued, “There
were a few unexpected detours, such as a bulge in a section of the 1740
where coins and pottery from the early 1700s were found.
to room, we quickly realized each room was added to the house at different
times by different generations
of Parkers, resulting
in a different feeling for
each room. The earliest
room is Colonial; the front
parlor is from the Revolu-
-
torian, etc. The kitchen is a
big, sunny room used as
a family gathering place.
Saved by the Parkers, we
have the original 1924 gas
stove, a 1920s oak kitchen
table and chairs, and boxes
of early 20th century kitchen utensils. The plan is for a 1930s farm kitchen
-
-
room in one of the barns into a classroom or community meeting room. Af-
being used to store the Parker Library and Archives. The list goes on.”
a plan and modify it as needed. It’s better to eliminate or postpone some
details than to not at least consider them. Unexpected events occur, such
to your advantage. He concluded, “Count on your friends and community.
Some of our bleakest times were turned around by simply a kind word of
encouragement or a meaningful donation.”
but you are welcome to walk the grounds and take pictures. To learn more,
-
wells@gmail.com.
Upstairs hall before and after renovation
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