Donated money,services from township volunteer organizations, and possible state grant help rehabilitate barn.
By: Jessica Beym
Three months ago, the site of a backhoe sitting next to the barns on Cranbury Neck Road grabbed the attention of a number of residents, many of whom said they were appalled that the township would let a piece of history be demolished.
Now, with donated money and services from volunteer organizations in the township and possibly a matching grant from the state, the barns are on the road to rehabilitation.
Township Committeeman Wayne Wittman told the committee on March 27 that the Cranbury Historic and Preservation Society plans to donate $50,000 from its farm-related preservation fund to help restore all three of the historic barns on the 1-acre parcel of preserved open space known as the Barn Park.
The Cranbury Lions Club has also volunteered its services.
The barn subcommittee consisting of township officials and interested residents will also apply for an emergency grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust to help stabilize the 1930s potato barn. The township approved its demolition in August after the barn was said to be beyond repair.
When the backhoe appeared in December and the residents expressed their concerns, the Township Committee reversed its decision and gave the community three months to find a way to rehabilitate the barn.
After hearing the commitment and enthusiasm from the community, the Township Committee decided that the $5,000 that was set aside to demolish the barn would be put toward the rehabilitation project.
Mr. Wittman said the subcommittee plans to apply for the grant, which is designed to help preserve endangered historic properties, by the end of the month.
The grant ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 and must be matched dollar-for-dollar. But in order to apply they must estimate the damages, the cost of rehabilitating the barn, and show proof of matching money. If the application is approved, the township could receive the grant within one and three months, Mr. Wittman said.
But the subcommittee’s plans don’t stop there. In addition to the potato barn there also is a hay barn from the mid-1800s and a corncrib from the 1700s on the property.
Subcommittee members said they plan to apply for an additional grant from the Garden State Historic Trust which offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $750,000 to help rehabilitate the other two barns. Once the three barns are rehabilitated, township officials said they would proceed with plans to reconstruct the 200-year-old Parsonage barn on the same property to create a historic barn park.
The Parsonage barn which is currently in storage is also known as the Howarth barn because it was located on the Howarth family’s property on Cranbury Neck Road before it was dismantled and sold to the township last summer for $60,000.
Mr. Wittman said the barn subcommittee, members of the Parks Commission, Board of Recreation, Cranbury Arts Council, Lions Club and Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society have drawn up a list of possible uses for the barn park.
Some of the ideas include using the barns for art programs in warmer months, having occasional organic fruit stands, or having historic tours with information about the barns and their use.
"These historic barns are the last of their kind in town and to create this facility would be an asset to the town," Mr. Wittman said. "We have enough momentum from various groups to get this going."
Committee member Pari Stave agreed with Mr. Wittman.
"This will only succeed if we keep the momentum up," she said. "I’m glad to see so many people are passionately involved."
Money contributions to help rehabilitate the barns can be sent to the Barns Preservation Project, c/o Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society, Post Office Box 77, Cranbury N.J. 08512.

