Historic mansion facing repairs

Lakeview closed in Jamesburg.

By: Bill Greenwood
   JAMESBURG — The historic Lakeview Mansion has been closed to allow "severe structural problems" with the house to be fixed.
   Despite the closing, the Jamesburg Historical Association’s annual Buckelew Day celebration, which will be held Sept. 8, will continue as scheduled.
   Council member John Longo, who is head of the council’s Buildings and Grounds Committee, said about $900,000 of grant money will be used for foundation work, structural work to replace rotting beams, a new heating system, electrical upgrades and a new roof at the house. The grant was provided by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders’ Parks and Recreation Program.
   According to the JHA Web site, the problems with the mansion include a sinking foundation, leaking roof, cracks and splits in the wood around the mansion and support columns slanted by age and stress.
   The mansion serves as the museum for Jamesburg history and headquarters for the JHA, which runs tours on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. The mansion, which was built in various stages between 1685 and 1870, belonged to borough namesake James Buckelew, who lived there from 1829 until his death in 1869, according to the JHA Web site. It is listed in the national and state registers of historic places
   The grant also covers the cost of an archaeological survey being done of the area around the house by Richard Grubb and Associates, of Cranbury. Mr. Longo said the survey is being conducted now so that additional surveys will not be needed later.
   "We want to investigate the area appropriately," he said.
   Mr. Longo said he hopes to get electrical and mechanical work under way in October with foundation and roof work beginning in November or December. He said he hopes to finish the project within a year to 18 months.
   The borough has not advertised for bids yet, but Mr. Longo said it expects to within the next few weeks after plans and specifications for the project are approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Historic Preservation Office.
   The house has been closed to the public and could remain that way until construction is completed. However, Mr. Longo said the borough is looking into temporary reinforcement for the house, which would allow it to remain open for a period of time before construction begins. Mr. Longo said the reinforcement is needed because there has been deflection on the main beam by the mansion’s entrance and first-floor parlor.
   If the reinforcement is completed by Sept. 8, then the JHA will be able to run tours of the house on Buckelew Day, Mr. Longo said. However, council member Tom Bodall Jr., who serves as borough historian and curator for the JHA, said the problems with the house will not affect Buckelew Day.
   "Buckelew Day will go on whether the house is fixed or not," he said. "We still have the outside, the grounds."