2020 Historic Preservation and History Award Winners

SOMERVILLE– Winners of the 2020 Historic Preservation and History Awards were recognized at a virtual ceremony earlier this year.

“The biennial awards ceremony is an opportunity to thank our Historic Preservation and History Awards recipients for enhancing the county’s quality of life,” said Freeholder Brian G. Gallagher, Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission liaison. “Somerset County is fortunate to have so many people and organizations that understand the long-term benefits of preserving our past.”

Following are the 2020 Historic Preservation and History Awards recipients:

HISTORIC PRESERVATION EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP

Friends of Historic Bernardsville

The Friends of Historic Bernardsville advocate, educate and raise funds to support historic preservation in the Borough. Together with the Bernardsville Historic Preservation Advisory Council, they present exhibits; discuss local historic preservation efforts, historic properties and architects; and publish a free walking tour of historic downtown Bernardsville. Their focus is the preservation of the Dunster-Squibb House, for which they’ve received Historic Preservation Grant funds from the county and additional support from the New Jersey Historic Trust.

HISTORY LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION

STOUTSBURG SOURLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum Board of Trustees is an agent of change. Formed in 2016, the board is dedicated to commemorating the lives of people whose legacy has largely been omitted from our nation’s history books, discussing the difficult stories often associated with African American history and preserving the Mt. Zion AME Church in Skillman.

The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum Board of Trustees include John B. Buck, president; Bruce Daniels, vice president; Marylou Ferrara; Kevin Burkman; Ian Burrow; Catherine Hogan; Edwin Lloyd; Jonathan Lloyd; Caroline Katmann; Laurie Cleveland; Beverly Mills and Elain Buck.

HISTORY LEADERSHIP & PUBLICATION:

BRUCE DOORLY

For the last nine years, Bruce Doorly has written about the Bridgewater-Raritan area, and the impact national and global events have had on Somerset County. He also authored three books, Raritan Hero, Raritan’s Finest Hour and The Story of Raritan during World War II, as well as numerous articles for The Breeze. Bruce is known for his love of history, attention to detail and verification of facts—especially when it comes to telling the little-known stories of our area. His work reaches a wide audience and conveys the rich history of events that helped shape and influence our communities.

HISTORY EDUCATION:

VAN HARLINGEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY received the History Education award for its May in Montgomery “Our Farms to Your Table” event, which featured tours of local farms and a ‘farm to table’ lunch.

The Van Harlingen Historical Society has coordinated and produced the township’s “May in Montgomery” event for decades. The focus on Our Farms to Your Table reflects the county’s historic and farmland preservation efforts and the collaboration between the Historical Society and local farmers. Attendees were given a glimpse of farm life and a touch of history. Buses took visitors to three working farms–each with a unique story to tell—that featured a display of historic farm equipment. It also promoted the arts by including an exhibit by local artist Wayne Mathison and a film titled, Farming in the Millstone Valley.

CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY VANDER FLIET

Christopher Fliet first got involved with the Watchung Historical Committee in 2013 when he was asked to create a short documentary on Watchung’s history as told by some of its long-term residents. The project grew, and ultimately became an oral record of the borough and a staple of the Texier House Museum’s archive. In 2019, he took on a project inspired by another local resident, based around a small cemetery near Watchung Lake, known as God’s Acre. Fliet researched the family histories connected with the cemetery and created an interactive experience around his findings.

HERITAGE TRAIL ASSOCIATION

Washington’s Middlebrook Encampment and Cantonment Symposiums

The Heritage Trail Association has made great efforts to educate the public about these two historic events by holding symposiums in 2017 and 2019. The first symposium focused on George Washington and the Continental Army’s 1777 tent encampment in the Watchung Mountains, which foiled British plans to draw the Continental Arm into battle prematurely and ultimately caused the British to abandon their occupation of New Jersey. A second symposium on the 240^th Anniversary of the Middle Brook Cantonment educated the public on Washington’s choice of Somerset County as a base for the Continental Army during the winter of 1778 to 1779.

Heritage Trail’s symposium committee, including Linda Barth, Robert Barth, Sean Blinn, Kathy Faulks, Jessie Havens, David Lang, Marge Sullivan, Olinda Young, Eric Blumenkrantz and Cynthia Blumenkrantz, made the symposiums a reality, promoting collaboration between organizations and historic sites with Middlebrook connections.

SPECIAL AWARD OF RECOGNITION FOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL & HERITAGE COMMISSION

THOMAS D’AMICO

As the Historic Sites Coordinator for the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, Thomas D’Amico has ensured the preservation of over 50 sites through the county’s Historic Preservation Grant program. During his tenure, over 20 million dollars has been invested in our historic resources.

D’Amico raised public awareness of these resources through the publication of a National Register book for Somerset County and the county’s Historic Marker Program. He is the Project Manager of the county’s first Preservation Plan, which includes the first Historic Preservation Plan and updates of the Open Space and Agriculture Preservation Plans.

As a result of his years of dedicated service and accomplishments, Thomas D’Amico received the state’s prestigious 2020 Richard J. Hughes Award, which was presented to him at the New Jersey Historical Commission’s annual conference.

The Historic Preservation and History Awards are sponsored by the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission and Friends of Somerset County Cultural & Heritage, Inc. The program is administered by an Awards Committee, comprised of individuals appointed by the county’s Cultural & Heritage Commission, which is comprised of Cultural & Heritage Commission board members and advisory committee members.

For more information, contact the Cultural & Heritage Commission at 908-231-7021 or email CulturalHeritage@co.somerset.nj.us.

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