Florham Park
Historic Preservation Commission

During Preservation Week, many regional events are planned to promote historical places for the purpose of instilling national and community pride, promoting heritage tourism and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

To mark the week, neighboring Madison Borough plans a guided tour of the historic James Building and the James Library, now used by the Museum of Early Crafts and Trades. Nearby Chatham Borough utilizes Preservation Week each year to award a Preservation Flag to a property owner that has demonstrated caring renovation of an historic property.

Alas, the Florham Park Commission learned about the event too late to be able to organize a formal local observance this year. Your ideas for a hometown, grassroots celebration of the event NEXT year would be appreciated!

• Lectures on local history and architecture?
• Open House at a historic building?
• A walking or bus tour of local historic sites?
• Recognition of restoration and preservation done by local owners of historic homes?
• Preservation workshops on preserving and restoring old photos?

Initial Activities of the New Commission

• Organization Activities
  • The newly constituted Historical Preservation Commission, established on January 1, 1999, elected officers, set and published meeting dates, and discussed the creation of by-laws.
  
  
• Old Firehouse
  • The Commission discussed the possible rehabilitation of the former firehouse on Ridgedale Avenue, across from Chase Manhattan Bank.
  • Several members toured the Afton Hook and Ladder, as it is known.
  
  

  The old firehouse's door was converted into windows

  
  
• Exploration of how to use and promote the LRSH and Old Firehouse
  • Ideas for the use of the Little Red School House and the first Fire House were discussed, especially their potential for tours for school childen and adults.
  • The Florham Park teachers have been invited to inspect the LRSH Museum during March and April.
  
  
• Inventory Begun
  • A preliminary list of historic homes and buildings has been created and will be added to.