Grant will help Plumsted preserve historic farmhouse

PLUMSTED - The executive director of the New Jersey Historic Trust Fund, Barbara Irvine, has informed the Township Committee that its grant application has been approved for the preservation of the Singleton farmhouse, more commonly known as the New Egypt Historical Museum on Evergreen Road.

According to Mayor Ron Dancer, for 2007, the New Jersey Historic Trust could only fund 61 historic preservation projects statewide and Plumsted's application, the first in the township's history, was selected in the competitive grant process.

Dancer said Plumsted's initial grant award is in the amount of $16,920 to fund, prior to construction, the necessary professional services such as architectural, planning, design, research, etc.

The Township Committee purchased the Singleton farmhouse a few years ago and leased it to the New Egypt Historical Society to provide the community with its first historical museum.

Dancer and the other committee members thanked all the members of the historical society for their dedication in establishing the museum and accentuating the importance of historic preservation for Plumsted.

"Preserving Our Past and Protecting Our Future" is a common goal shared by Dancer, his fellow members of the Township Committee, Mike McCue, Eric Sorchik, Ada Roberts and Deputy Mayor Ken Francis, and members of Plumsted's Planning/Land Use Board, all of whom are committed to adopting, this year, Plumsted's first historic preservation element of the township's master plan, according to the mayor.

The committee ap-plied for and received a $20,000 state grant to fund the master plan project.

During the committee meeting of March 21 the members of the governing body approved the appoint-ment of Steven Reed as the newest volunteer member to serve on the recreation committee.

According to Dancer, Reed, whose mother, Carol, is past president of the New Egypt Historical Society, and whose father, Don, is a past chairman of the Planning Board, expressed a desire to continue the family tradition of community service. Reed is the father of four children, all of whom are involved in athletics in Plumsted.

The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Township Committee will be April 4 at 8 p.m.