Much-needed repairs to a historic house on Route 206 in the northern part of Hillsborough Township were kickstarted Tuesday by the Township Committee.
The governing body issued a $39,200 contract to Mills & Schnoering, LLC, to provide building updates and construction documents for the Van der veer Harris House, which is considered significant for its Colonial Revival appearance.
The work will be paid for from a Somerset County historic preservation grant for $211,550.
Former mayor Marion Fenwick, who said she had been working on the project since 1975, said at the meeting the it was the intent of a Friends group to incorporate the building as a community place. She envisioned it to be used for small weddings, art shows and similar public receptions.
The house is associated with the late 18th-century Van der Veer family and several generations of medical practitioners. Today, however, the structure is most significant for its Colonial Revival appearance, which was commissioned by Dr. Robert Harris, who owned the property in the early 20th century.
Acquired in 2003, the property is now part of the township’s master plan at the gateway to its town center vision.
Tuesday’s resolution says the house needs work of an urgent nature,” including repair or replacement of the roof, leaders and gutters and a porch.
In 2006 the N.J. Historic Trust said the building suffers from deferred maintenance, including water damage, structural stabilization of attic framing, lack of accessibility and code violations.

