Farmstead Arts Receives State Award for Further Barn Restoration

The Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead in Basking Ridge has received a $176,000 state N.J. Historic Preservation Award slated to be used primarily for the continued restoration of an English barn that is part of the off King George Road.

The annual grant was awarded on Tuesday by the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Historic Preservation Office and the Historic Sites Council. Township Committeewoman Carolyn Gaziano, who attended the awards presentation, also announced the award at this week's Township Committee meeting.

The state award was presented to the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead project team. including the Friends of the KMS Farmstead; Bernards Township; the project's historic building architect Dennis Bertland Associates; English barn structural engineers, S. Harris & Co.; and English barn general contractors, Schtiller & Plevy, according to a news release from the Friends of the KMS Farmstead. The project was one of eight projects in six counties to receive an award.

The barn and the farmhouse on the Kennedy Martin Stelle property was last as an arts center, although the barn has not yet been able to host public events. Officials said at that time that continued work was needed on the historic structure before it could be made handicapped accessible, and open as a public building to host such events as art shows and perhaps barn dances.

Ann Rosenblum, vice president of arts programming at the Farmstead Arts, said then that public performances might also be held in the structure once it is complete. She and other officials at the center's opening said grant money already had been used to partially restore the barn.

John Campbell, vice president of the Friends group, that the state award would be used for work on the interior of the Farmstead Arts' English barn, including a cement slab topped by a wood floor, a new permanent closure with swinging emergency egress doors in the opening of one of the large sliding doors, and a ramp to provide handicapped patrol access and electric service.  

Completion of the work would enable the Friends of the Farmstead to begin three-season use of the 18th-century English barn, according to the members of the KMS Farmstead. Anticipated uses include plays, musical performances, art exhibits, and education about historic architectural techniques and the agrarian history of the region, according to the group.

The New Jersey Historic Preservation Award program, now in its 21st year, is held each May in recognition of National Preservation Month, according to information from the KMS. The awards recognize the efforts of individuals, organizations, and government agencies that preserve New Jersey's valuable resources. “The people who have worked to preserve these pieces of our past prove that the spirit of preservation is alive and well in New Jersey,” said New Jersey DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “Because of their efforts, important snapshots of our heritage and our architectural past have been preserved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.”

Following over 10 years of restoration efforts by the Friends of the KMS Farmstead, the Farmstead was opened to the public in October 2010 as Farmstead Arts, a not for profit center for the fine and performing arts.  The KMS Farmstead is part of a 36-acre park that was purchased by Bernards Township in 1999 through the township’s open space program, officials said last fall.

The Farmstead is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, according to information from the Friends of the KMS Farmstead. The 18th-century English barn and farmhouse that are examples of early English and Dutch framing, and was home to several important 18th and 19th century figures, including Reverend Kennedy, a noted minister and educator, Col. Ephraim Martin, a Revolutionary War hero and active advocate of the Bill of Rights, the Stelle family, who farmed the land for 150 years, and Gerald Pearson, who invented the solar cell.

The group said the barn project was nominated to recognize approach by local volunteers and the township for the restoration and executive of the restoration plan, the achievements of the Friends in opening Farmstead Arts, the importance of cooperation between the municipality and other government entities, non-profit organizations as an effective model for historic projects, and to highlight the role that historic sites on public land.

In addition to this grant, the Farmstead Arts previously received The Historic Society of Somerset Hill’s Lorraine Passmore 2010 Historic Preservation Award, eight Somerset County Historic Preservation grants, and two New Jersey Historic Preservation grants, according to the organization.

Since its opening to the public last October, residents and visitors have attended art exhibits, concerts, exhibits, workshops, classes, and music lessons at the KMS Farmstead.

Upcoming events include Flowers! art show and sale sponsored by the KMS Farmstead to be held in conjunction with Historical Society’s Garden Tour of the Historic Somerset Hills, scheduled to begin from the Brick Academy in Basking Ridge from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 17; and the Art for Paws art exhibit and sale on June 11 to 25 at the KMS farmhouse with local artists who will donate art for sale to benefit the Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter and Farmstead Arts. according to information from the Farmstead Arts.

Also scheduled are a wildlife drawing and painting workshop for 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 26; and the Farmstead Arts summer camps for preschool children through grade 6, scheduled for July 11 to15 and July 18 to 22.

A complete list of events and more information about the Farmstead Arts is available online, or on Facebook. Those seeking information also can e-mail farmsteadartscenter@gmail.com, or call 1-347-927-8748, or 1-347-9ARTS4U.