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HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP: Enoch Titus farmstead: today and yesterday

Property has been designated as historic landmark

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   Occupying one of the most frequently viewed spots in Hopewell Valley is a historic farmstead that is being restored, as closely as possible, to its original state.
   ”The Enos Titus farmhouse on Pennington-Rocky Hill Road takes us back to the time of Thomas Jefferson’s first administration in the newly built White House in Washington, D.C.,” said David Blackwell of the Hopewell Township Historic Sites Preservation Commission.
   ”The nation was young, and the style of architecture is what we now call Federal,” said Mr. Blackwell.
   The Enos Titus farmstead includes a barn and well-house as well as the farmhouse. The property is at Pennington-Rocky Hill Road’s junction with Old Mill Road, about a half-mile east of Pennington.
   At the recommendation of the Historic Sites Preservation Commission, the Township Committee voted unanimously in December to designate the Enos Titus tract a historic landmark. The buildings are being renovated by the residential construction firm of Lucash and Montgomery.
   The renovations are really a restoration, done under the guidance of local architect Max Hayden, also a member of the township’s preservation commission.
   ”What we’re doing here is restoring a landmark, restoring history,” Mr. Hayden said at the farmhouse last week. Mr. Hayden said that, because the farmhouse sits so close to a heavily traveled commuter road, it makes more sense to use it for a business than a residence. And that’s what will happen.
   Partners Chris Montgomery and Marty Lucash will use the farmhouse for their offices and the barn for a workshop and storage. Work on the restoration has been under way for several months. “We hope to be finished with the job this summer,” Mr. Montgomery said. “A condition of our approval for this project from Hopewell Township was to work with the Historic Preservation Commission, to restore the property to the way it used to be. So whatever Max says, we do.”
   The firm that will use the farmstead after restoration seems to be a perfect fit for it. Lucash and Montgomery’s regular workload includes restoration of historic sites as well as new residential construction.
   The Enoch Titus project includes reconstruction of a now-gone chicken coop, that will be used for parking. Cars will enter that structure from back, out of sight of Pennington-Rocky Hill Road.
   ”We’ve very excited that they (Lucash and Montgomery) have purchased the building and are in the process of restoring it,” said township Mayor Vanessa Sandom. “It’s a very prominent structure in the area, standing so close to a well-traveled road. It will be a great pleasure to drive by it and know that we’re passing another preserved piece of Hopewell Valley history.”
   Mr. Blackwell said legal documents show that Enos Titus bought the 53-acre farm, which included a blacksmith stand, from his brother Samuel in 1802 for “500 pounds of gold or silver money.”
   Mr. Blackwell added: “Documents indicate that he had occupied the property for a few years before the purchase, and, at 34, Enos was married a second time, and the first three of his seven children were born. He was prospering, and the clang of his hammer on the anvil was heard through the farmyards of the neighborhood. Judging from the architectural details recently emerging through the excellent restoration taking place, and interiors publicly seen for the first time in many years, we can see that Enos set about enlarging the house almost immediately.”
   Upon entering the house from the east side, one sees right away how construction has changed in two centuries. This entrance is to the kitchen, which needed major reconstruction. As a result, the heavy floor beams are exposed. These beams are really trees, hewn from nearby woods. The bark is still visible on the underside of these beams.
   ”Enos Titus was a long-time elder of the Presbyterian Church at Pennington,” Mr. Blackwell said. “Four of Enos’ children and many of his grandchildren were active in the business and church life of Pennington into the 20th century. The house on Pennington-Rocky Hill Road is a stone in the path from the earliest times of Hopewell Township until today, and we are fortunate to have it carefully restored.”
   The financing for the restoration work is being provided by Hopewell Valley Community Bank.
   ”To us, it’s a win-win situation,” said Richard Koenig, the bank’s senior loan officer. “We’re helping a local business achieve an important goal and, at the same time, helping to preserve and enhance a piece of local history.
   ”When Montgomery and Lucash approached us for financing, their business plan for the purchase of Titus farm made perfect sense. The Titus farm buildings not only provide space needed due to recent growth in their business, but are located on a highly traveled road in Chris and Marty’s primary market area. And since they are in the home-remodeling business, the renovations and remodeling planned for the property will be excellent tools for future sales and marketing,” Mr. Koenig said.