Historic Preservation Grant Pending for Van Riper-Hopper House
State could appropriate $9,500 to help preserve historic house.
More than $9,000 could be appropriated to help preserve the Van Riper-Hopper House if the state Legislature approves a slew of Historic Preservation Grants.
The Christie administration has included 37 preservation projects that would receive $1.4 million in matching grant funding, including Van Riper-Hopper House. The recommendations must go before the Garden State Preservation Trust for ratification before heading to the Legislature for approval.
The house is one of the oldest buidings in New Jersey. The Dutch Colonial was built in 1786.
Funding for the 2012 grant round is coming from the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund, which was created to preserve open space, farmland and historic sites with money raised through voter-approved bond referendums.
"These matching grants go to projects that encourage local investment, create jobs, stimulate economic growth and attract tourism," said New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Richard Constable, III. "New Jersey's history is a great asset for attracting residents and businesses to participate in our state's growth and development."
Victor Alfieri
5:55 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Wayne Community Garden Project
http://www.woodlotfarms.com/community_garden.html
The Van Riper-Hopper house is showing it's age and with lack of resources the museum has become visibility run down. This town museum is in dire need of some local attention.
After speaking with museum volunteers the problem became very clear. Not enough visitors, not enough local Interest in the museum, not enough dedicated volunteers, no support from local town, therefore not enough money.
Musuem Pictures Link
http://www.woodlotfarms.com/uploads/Musuem.pdf
For every problem there is a solution. The WCGP will bring life back into this historic site and start creating local interest in what the museum has to offer to the local community. Museum projects will feed off of community garden resident traffic and increase local interest and support.