Somerville Historic Advisory Committee

06/04/2026

Thank you to all who attended last night's Zoning Board meeting for the continuation hearing of the proposed storage facility at 20-30 West End Ave. We especially thank those who returned, as well as many new members of the public. We again had a full house and many important questions were asked regarding traffic, safety, and the current trends on where, why, and how many of such units are being built emerged.
What we did not see last night were the promised revised street elevations showing proximity to Borough Hall and revised night illumination and signage . Also yet to come are developer's final summary arguments about why this project will improve the current zone and be of public benefit to our community.
The date of the continuation of the application hearing has not yet been determined, but will be set at the June 17 meeting. It is likely to be in July or possibly even later. Information about this will be posted here.

06/03/2026

It was a great day at the Wallace House yesterday. Check out this article from My Central Jersey:

$4M Wallace House restoration leads statewide preservation push

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2026/06/03/nj-wallace-house-restoration-130m-historic-preservation/90373544007/

The photo in the article is a little misleading because the house is still under scaffolding, but the roofers were banging away until they quit for lunch (Press conference began at noon). The estimate is that within the next 3-5 days, the Wallace House will have a new roof! Looking forward to having the entire exterior uncovered sometime in July--but maybe not in time for the 4th.

06/03/2026

9c. The Reverend’s Stepson: Frederick Frelinghuysen. We know the most about the path of the eldest son of the late John Frelinghuysen and Dinah Van Berg thanks to research by the late Kels Swan. Born in Somerville, Kels grew up in Bound Brook hearing the local tales of Jersey in the American Revolution from his grandfather. Together, they roamed the once open fields hunting for artifacts that eventually became the Swan Collection. https://www.swanhistoricalfoundation.org/shf-collection. As an adult, Kels became the primary historian at Washington Crossing State Park. His characterization of Frederick as “the fatherless protégé of Dirck Middagh” seems a bit off base, although the two boys did grow up as neighbors. Frederick was clearly mentored by his stepfather, the Reverence Hardenbergh if anything can be inferred from the historical record. Of the sons associated with the Wallace House-Old Dutch Parsonage historic sites, he had the strongest Patriot and a military path.
At the time of the Wallace-Hardenbergh real estate deal, Frederick had already cast his lot with ‘the rebels’ nurtured by his stepfather’s ideals. With Queens College closed (The 1770 Princeton graduate was one of its two original faculty members), he signed up as a minute-man in the First Battalion authorized by the state Provincial Congress in February 1776. The unit had to disband when Somerset County patriots forwarded local ammunition stores for the defense of Perth Amboy. Undeterred, that June, Frederick joined a newly formed battalion of five companies from Somerset and Hunterdon Counties. Formerly a Captain in the Eastern Artillery Battery, he would now serve in the First Somerset Militia under General Alexander/Stirling at New York. Soon, he would see action on Long Island and be part of Washington’s long retreat across the state after Manhattan was lost to the British. Within a year, however, he would rise to the rank of Colonel of the First Somerset Militia, alongside his boyhood friend, Lt. Colonel Dirck Middaugh, both barely 25 years of age. We’ll leave him here, since his story unfolds in battles, rather than as part the Wallace’s farm story, although he will return to his roots after the war.
H. Kels Swan (1967). Raritan’s Revolutionary Rebel: Frederick Frelinghuysen, Fatherless Protege of Dirck Middagh. Published by General Frelinghuysen Chapter, DAR.

05/31/2026

A Reminder: Hearing of the proposed storage facility construction at 20 West End is scheduled to resume at the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Wednesday, June 3, 7pm at Somerville Civic Center. Check the Borough website (somervillenj.org) to be sure that there are no last-minute changes to the agenda, or to view the meeting online, if you are unable to attend in person.
At the last meeting, residents turned out strongly to question the design and environmental aspects of the project. Presentation of the application will continue with regard to safety, traffic, and any testimony prompted by concerns raised at the last meeting. For example, elevations showing its proximity to Borough Hall or night-time lighting were lacking from the presentation so far. Questions from the public will again be allowed at this point.
Finally, the developer will review their case that project --which is not a permitted this use ---will improve the existing zone and will fill a public need. After this, the public who are present will have a chance to voice their opinion. After the public comment has been heard, the Zoning Board members will vote on whether or not to approve the multiple variances requested to allow new construction and the demolition of the existing building on the property.
The Somerville Historic Advisory Committee will oppose this application due to its proximity to Borough Hall. We ask the public to again show up and voice their concerns and issues with this application. Even if you do not wish to speak, your presence will help demonstrate residents’ concerns about how this project will change the character of our town. It is easy to vote in an empty room.

05/30/2026

In case you need a refresher, Bruce Doorly's latest article in Raritan Online gives the big picture as well as where the DoI was initially read in our area and how it was received.

05/29/2026

Feed your inner archaeologist! Maybe it was a childhood fantasy or maybe Oak Island has you fascinated, whatever: Here's your chance to help uncover the original footprint of General Alexander (aka Lord Stirling)'s mansion, add to the thousands of artifacts already uncovered, and help the County Cultural & Heritage Commission get a better understanding of 'what lies beneath' Lord Stirling Park.

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

On Thursday, May 27, the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission will present one of several awards for “History In Action” to the Planing Committee who organized the recent Middlebrook Symposium Series. The ceremony will be at the Lord Stirling Environmental Center at 7pm. This biennial Award will recognize Somerville residents, Bob and Linda Barth, who chaired the effort of the Committee, along with individuals from Somerset County’s five Revolutionary War headquarters (Wallace House, Van Horne House, Van Veghten House, Staats House, Vanderveer House) and other sites. The Committee executed a four-year plan to raise awareness of the American Revolution in our midst. Additional Somerville residents being recognized include Cindy and Eric Blumenkrantz, Maureen and Brian Cote and Marge Sullivan, representing the Heritage Trail Association/Van Horne House), and Cynthia Hollod, representing the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage Association. The Heritage Trail Association served as the non-profit lead for the project.
These day-long themed programs were held annually at Raritan Valley Community College from 2023-2026 to educate the public as well as local history enthusiasts about how and why Washington brought the Continental Army to our area twice during the struggle for independence. Well-known researchers and highly regarded first person re-enactors told the story of the people, places, and events by which New Jersey and our nation was defended. The Middlebrook Cantonment story promoted by the Symposia is continuing to be retold in published versions of the series proceedings, with the final one, the Legacy of Middlebrook, to appear later this year. The books, edited by Linda Barth, Kathy Ormossi, and Marge Sullivan are available from Amazon or at the Van Horne House. The Symposium series, funded in part by a grant from the Cultural and Heritage Commission, was a unique and sustained effort in heritage education leading up to this year’s 250th National Anniversary and furthered our state’s RevNJ 250 goals. It also broke new ground by awarding privately raised cash prizes for new research on the Revolution in our area. Congratulations to Bob, Linda and all the committee members from Somerville and the surrounding communities who undertook this effort so New Jersey can continue to celebrate our great national heritage for “the duration” of NJ’s 250 celebration,

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day Weekend, HAC recognizes with great appreciation the work of Eagle Scout Candidate JP O'Neill, of Somerville Troop 83. For his qualifying project, he cleaned Somerville's WWII monument surface, walkway, and plantings (location: William and Bridge Street, opposite the YMCA.) He upgraded it by adding benches and a solar powered spotlight, so the flag may be properly illuminated during evening hours. Thank you, Scout O'Neill for helping Somerville remember it's WWII veterans on Memorial Day and everyday. The Parade may have been cancelled due to inclement weather, but your work has returned one of Somerville's most visible Veterans Memorials to excellent condition.