Bathroom upgrades for Buckelew House

The Borough Council approved a contract May 10 for the construction of a public restroom at the mansion.

By: Leon Tovey
   JAMESBURG — It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
   For the members of the Jamesburg Historical Association, that single step could be a bathroom. The association has a laundry list of improvements it would like to make to the borough’s oldest building, historic Lakeview: Buckelew Mansion, totaling well over $400,000.
   On May10, the Borough Council moved to cross one of those improvements off the list when it unanimously approved a restricted contract for the construction of a public restroom at the old mansion, much of which was built by borough founder James Buckelew.
   Borough Business Administrator Denise Jawidzik said May 8 thatthe builder, F & P Construction, of Sayreville, would begin work on the bathroom immediately. Under the terms of a $30,000 grant the borough received for the project from the state Department of Community Affairs, work must be completed by June 30, Ms. Jawidzik said.
   Historical Association President Ron Becker said May 8 that the new bathroom would be wheelchair-accessible in order to bring the historic house into compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The facility will be located in one of the house’s outbuildings, Mr. Becker said.
   Completing the bathroom and bringing the house into ADA compliance will allow the borough and the association to apply for more grants, Mr. Becker said.
   Lakeview, which started life as a Colonial-era farmhouse and was renovated in 1829, is in need of a new foundation and a new roof — two major projects that Mr. Becker said association and borough officials hope to pay for using grants from state, county and private sources. The house could also use some cosmetic work, he said.
   "We have 46 separate projects on our wish list," Mr. Becker said. "We’re asking for the world in the hope of getting what we need."