Joanne Nestor, the woman who wrote the application that put the tiny school on the state and national historic registers, found its 19th-century deed recently.
By: Linda Seida
STOCKTON The work of local historians isn’t over just because the Stockton Public School already has made it onto the historic registers of both the state and the nation.
Those achievements might be enough for most people. But for Joanne Nestor, the woman who authored the inch-thick application that lead to those prestigious honors, she seemed just as tickled last week by the ongoing research process, such as when the school’s 19th-century deed was found and verified last week.
Ms. Nestor, principal photographer for the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, is "the woman who really made it happen," according to school board President Rick McDaniel.
Suzanne Ivans, chief school administrator, said Ms. Nestor "has really been the heart of this application."
The schoolhouse was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Nov. 12, 2004. Placement on the National Register of Historic Places followed Jan. 12.
The school was constructed in 1832 and has operated continuously since that time. When the building succumbed to a fire, part of the remains were used to construct a new school in 1872.
"It was truly a symbol of education in the 1800s," Mr. McDaniel said.
And today the town regards the school in a similar light.
"Having New Jersey’s oldest continuously operating three-room schoolhouse is not only a matter of pride but also of accomplishment," Mayor Gregg Rackin said. "And that accomplishment lives daily and can be seen in each and every child that attends our school. We also have the lowest cost per pupil in the South Hunterdon district and have one of the highest college attendance rates in the county."
A title search company found the 1872 deed, but gave the wrong citation. Ms. Nestor, with some digging, found it listed in an area for special deeds. A copy will be sent to the state office of preservation to keep in its records, Ms. Nestor said.
The original deed from 1832 was recorded as an antique deed, according to Ms. Nestor. Before the Office of Vital Statistics started keeping records in 1848, the claim was measured in 19th-century measurements, chains and rods.
Researching the school’s history is "a never-ending project," Ms. Nestor said. "Everyone in town has been very helpful."
Many residents helped in the application process, she said. The application was begun years ago by a teacher. In later years, Ms. Nestor finished the lion’s share of the work with help from residents Wes Hendricks, Carl Cathers, Iris Naylor, Terry Slemmer and others.
"It was huge," Ms. Nestor said of the project to put the application together; a project that couldn’t have been completed "without all the help of everyone in town."
Incredible finds of old photographs have been popping up, aiding the research. Mr. Cathers and Mr. Hendricks in particular had "incredible photos," Ms. Nestor said.
The oldest and smallest K-6 school in the state could use some help with upkeep, and the official historic designations will be a boon as the district begins applying for grants.
Borough Council President Nicolo Messina said, "Stockton School’s placement on the National Historic Register is securing an irreplaceable piece of our history. It’s one of the finest managed and functioning public schools I’ve ever known. We can now look forward to new funding resources to preserve and grow an invaluable part of our community."
Mr. McDaniel agreed, saying the new avenues of grant sources opened up by the placement on historic registers could help keep taxes down.
"There’s only so much you can do in a school budget," he said. "Funding is critical if you want to restore the building."
Ms. Nestor added, "We want to preserve the school because it’s so important."
Her daughter, Laurel Leigh Wyatt Nestor-Pasicznyk, attends first grade in the Main Street school her mother calls "completely charming."
The work of authenticating and verifying facts and other items, such as the deed last week, is ongoing.
"Most of the hard work is done," Ms. Nestor said. "It’s just little stuff now."
Mr. Hendricks, who is in his 70s, can be found walking over to Ms. Nestor’s home to deliver a cache of historical photos or documents. Ms. Naylor, a former columnist for The Beacon, has reached a similar age but handles e-mail as well as any teenager, enabling her to keep involved in the ongoing work.
"They’ve lived in the town forever and remember people who were long gone before I arrived 14 years ago," Ms. Nestor said.