A community coming together for a Moorestown farmhouse
It’s a race against the weather now at this point in time, as several township professionals and the Historical Society of Moorestown are hurrying to replace an aged roof at the Swedes Run Farm House before winter turns for the worse in South Jersey.
Sue Poaletti, project organizer and Boy Scout Troop 601 Leader, said the historical society and several engineers will present plans and designs for updates to the historic farm at the first township council meeting in December.
The farmhouse needs plenty of work, she said, but luckily it seems to be an important cause for Moorestown residents. As of late November, Poaletti said the historical society has received $14,000 in donations to help pay for the replacement of the roof and updates to the building to bring it up to code.
“That’s the most exciting part of this project. So many people from all walks of life have donated to us. They want to make sure the building is saved,” she said. “They’re speaking with their paychecks and it shows.”
Jan Daniels, a part time resident in Moorestown, has also created a coffee table about the township. All proceeds from the sale of the book go to the farmhouse project.
The farmhouse has been at the Swedes Run Field since the 1800s, but the historic farmhouse is not on the state’s historic registry. It has, though, become a symbol of Moorestown Township’s past.
An engineering report completed of the structure showed that it was rapidly deteriorating. The most pressing problem of the structure is the farmhouse’s roof, according to township representatives. It’s rapidly deteriorating and either needs to be repaired or completely replaced, which would most likely be an expensive proposition.
The roof is the most damaged part of the building and needs to be replaced before the first snow of the season, Poaletti said. The group is going to present its construction and engineering plans to the council at the start of December and hopefully construction will begin soon.
Larry Tait, a roofing expert, will donate his time to the project and will look to replace the roof as soon as possible. Kimberly Bunn, a local architect, and Tom Kulp, an engineer, have already drawn up several plans and designs for the new roof.
The building will also have a new ventilation system, its walls will be sealed from the weather, and its doors will be replaced, all while maintaining its historic features, Poaletti said.
The door replacement project — which would have to be done offsite because of safety issues — would be a great Eagle Scout project for a Boy Scout looking to give back to the community, Poaletti said.
Interested in helping the project? Donations by check should be made out to The Historical Society of Moorestown with “barn restoration” on the memo line. Donations should be mailed to Julie Maravich, 660 Chester Avenue, Moorestown, N.J. 08057.
To buy a copy of Daniels’ book, please visit the following web site at www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2679847.
