(WHITE TWP., December 9, 2009) – Eight historic and open space preservation projects received funding authorization from the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders to draw grants from the county’s Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund.

The grants total $995,882 to help fund $1.5 million worth of work on the eight projects.
“These grants, using funds raised by a dedicated tax for these purposes, help to preserve our county’s heritage and open spaces,” Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner said.
The projects and the grant amounts are:

• Lopatcong Township, Marble Hill Greenway, $55,000 to acquire approximately 6 acres adjacent to county-owned open space property.
• First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, White Township, $249,500 for stabilization and restoration of historic church buildings and the cemetery.
• Phillipsburg Area Historical Society, $121,900 to stabilize the Roseberry Homestead in Phillipsburg,
• Ridge & Valley Conservancy, $150,000 toward acquiring land in Hope Township for the Moravian Springs Preserve.
• Port Colden United Methodist Church, $208,732 toward the continuing restoration of the historic church in Washington Township.
• New Jersey Conservation Foundation, $88,750 toward acquiring the Morrison property in the Scotts Mountain area of Harmony Township.
• Pohatcong History & Heritage Society, $31,000 for restoration work at the Finesville Cemetery in Pohatcong Township.
• Pohatcong Township, $91,000 for repointing work on the restoration of the Still Valley Tunnel, a stone arch tunnel on Still Valley Road in the township.

Frank Greenagel and Randy Piazza of the Phillipsburg Area Historical Society were at the freeholder meeting to thank the board for supporting the Roseberry Homestead project.

“There’s remarkable history to the place,” Greenagel said of the house on Warren Street, which is probably the oldest structure in Phillipsburg. Built between 1759 and 1770 of cut limestone, it has been vacant and in disrepair for years as various restoration efforts were attempted.

The Roseberry Homestead in Phillipsburg is one of the projects receiving funding.

Greenagel said the grant will enable the historical society to hire professionals for the restoration work, and the organization plans to have an active facility interpreting local history when the building is repaired.