By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
A little-noticed historic house off Amwell Road in the western part of the township will stay on the township’s historic sites list.
A request for removal, in a process called dedesignation, of a historic property at 751 Amwell Road was denied by the Historic Preservation Commission in late May.
The estate of Lotte Schregenberger wanted to remove the historic tag from the property, which is included on the historic sites list in the 2001 Historic Preservation Plan element of the township master plan.
Yvonne Barberio (and husband Anthony) and Sandra Jaakobs are heirs to the estate and sought the delisting to make property more marketable, they said.
Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Schregenberger bought the property in 1973 and it has been vacant since then. They have been trying to sell the property since 2012, with potential buyers discouraged based on the historic sites designation, they said. The lot lies between Amwell Road and the South Branch of the Raritan River east of Poplar Road and Larch Lane.
The two- and one-half story block building was constructed in first quarter of 19th century.
A patched wall suggest removal of beehive oven, says an old historic preservation survey.
Ms. Barberio said she could not find any record that her parents were ever notified that their property was to be designated as a historic site and thus couldn’t contest it. The applicant first learned of the site list designation in the summer of 2013. They claimed the lack of notification violated due process and nullifies the historic site designation.
They also said dedesignation is appropriate because the home on the 67-acre property is barely visible to the public and then only in winter.
They contend over the years renovations and deterioration due to the environment “has left the house with minimal historical details and historical value,” according to the resolution of denial passed by the commission.
Applicants showed a power point demonstration showing two additions to the house after original construction. The original roof was covered with composite shingles. An original porch was rebuilt. Brick work on the west side of the home was covered in cement. Modern storm windows had been added to the house. The interior renovated with modern conveniences.
The property is not on either the state or national registers of historic places.
Members of the public had no questions.
The commission’s resolution asserted the property “has significant historical significance to the community.”
The house’s brick construction is one of only four known examples before 1830, “indicating an intention to be elitist,” the historic record says. The house was occupied by Dr. (Rev.) Gabriel Ludlow, minister of the Dutch Reform Church of Neshanic. He was installed as minister in 1821 and his total ministry spanned 57 years. He died in 1878.
Thus, the house was the parsonage of one of the longest continuously worshipping churches in New Jersey. An old historic survey says the house shows “further sociological proof of the elevated status of the minister in this rural area.”
“The property was central to the formation of the community” and “is one of the core historic sites in Hillsborough.”
The commission called the notification argument “misplaced.” The notification requirement “pertains to the process for identifying and designating future (emphasis) historic districts’ historic sites and landmarks worthy of protection and preservation following adoption of the ordinance,” it ruled.
The lack of public visibility argument was “unpersuasive,” the HPC found. The lack of visibility is not “dispositive” but one factor to consider.
Commissioners disagreed with contention that changes to the house over the years have stripped it of value.
“The HPC acknowledges historic structures are modified over time to suit their inhabitants but such renovation can be performed in a manner consistent with the structure’s historical significance, which has not been lost and renovations and modifications can be made consistent with the original historical significance,” the resolution of denial read.
The HPC found the house is in good condition considering its age.
