Farmstead Arts Recommended for State Grant for Barn

The Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead of Basking Ridge is on Gov. Christopher Christie's recommended list for a $176,000 Historic Preservation Grant that would be used to continue improvements at an English barn that is part of the township's Farmstead Arts center, the Friends of the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead have announced.

The Farmstead is one of 58 historic preservation projects in the State that was recommended for funding by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board under the highly competitive grant program, the Friends organization said. Recommended projects await formal approval by the Garden State Preservation Trust and the state Legislature.

Ann Rosenblum, vice president of arts programming, said the grants are routinely approved after being recommended, but cautioned that approval cannot be taken for granted in the current economic climate.

The barn and the farmhouse on the Kennedy Martin Stelle property was last October officially opened as an arts center, although the barn has not yet been able to host public events.

John Campbell, vice president of the Friends group, said the grant 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 announcement.  Anticipated uses include plays, musical performances, art exhibits, and education about historic architectural techniques and the agrarian history of our region.

“The Historic Trust continues to make great strides in preserving New Jersey’s important cultural and historic sites,” Christie said in an announcement by the state. “These grant awards are indicative of our comprehensive efforts to grow the Garden State economy by spurring investment, generating jobs and attracting tourism opportunities to these areas.”

The New Jersey Historic Trust administers the grants from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund.  The Trust Fund was created to promote historic preservation and encourage joint preservation efforts by the public and private sectors. It funds both capital projects and planning projects for historic preservation across the state.

The Friends of the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead have reached several important milestones over the past year, the group said. The property's historic farmhouse was officially opened for public use in October 2010, following more than 10 years of restoration efforts.

Since that grand opening, more 850 people have visited the Farmstead as a venue for art exhibits and lessons, musical performances, and lectures, and local artists now are leasing two of the farmhouse studios on the second floor, the announcement said.

“We are delighted by the intense interest of local artists and musicians, and by the enthusiastic involvement of local residents," Campbell said. "We are eager to continue improving the historic buildings so we can expand our arts center activities and intensify our historic education efforts."

For more information about the Farmstead Arts and a list of current events, visit the website, or on Facebook.

“Since 1990, the Historic Trust has awarded hundreds of grants to worthy preservation projects in every county in the state,” said N.J. Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa in a news release from the state DCA.  “The investment reflected by these matching grants will not only save our significant history but create jobs, encourage economic growth and attract 
tourism. Buildings and landmarks that might have otherwise faded are now actively used and contributing to our state’s economy.”