Talk about an eye-opener!!!!!!
So, I went to take the dogs for a walk and stopped by the grounds of Bedminster’s Jacobus Vanderveer House to see what had changed since my last visit. And look what we found on the front door… an eviction notice! An eviction notice for the non-profit, whose blood, sweat, and tears over the last 25+ years in restoring this property have been nothing short of amazing. So what’s going on?
Latest Updates:
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Monday, June 9, 2025 –
After a round of emails was sent out this past weekend, we received a few responses and had a few calls. The assumptions are correct, as we’ve seen this before. It appears that the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House has been struggling to secure talent to run the organization while maintaining its mission, bylaws, financial stability, and volunteer support and was unable to present an acceptable solution to Bedminster Township, the property owner. Basically, the Friends of JVH non-profit messed around for TOO LONG!
Discussions regarding a lease renewal of the property started over a year ago. Given the struggling JVH Friends leadership, the board has shrunk to a select few who have trampled on the previous 25 years of progress and ignored the obvious challenges it faces, stemming from the Covid pandemic, storms, and, most notably, a lack of solid leadership and commitment.
It appears that Bedminster Township has been more than willing to be flexible with new lease terms, but the non-profit has not acted in good faith to resolve any internal issues that must be addressed first. Today, it was announced that the current Friends of JVH President has resigned, potentially opening the door to a reconciliation. Former board members are hoping to gather and present a core set of principles that need to be implemented to satisfy the township, namely a $2,000/year commitment to partially offset the house’s utilities costs, which have been thoroughly covered in the past by the Township. There are a few other simple tweaks to the Board that the Friends need to align on so the Township can HELP the non-profit support their goals and bylaws at the same time. Problem is…. THE CLOCK IS TICKING!
So, Friends of JVH, who’s going to step up and secure a board concesus to broker a solution and secure a lease renewal?
Background
MLH Responded to The Bernardsville News Story
Bedminster’s Jacobus Vanderveer House – Knox Wartime Residence
During the winter of 1778-1779, the main Continental Army under George Washington established its winter encampment near Middlebrook, New Jersey. Over 8,000 infantry and artillery personnel spent approximately six months at this location. The Continental Artillery Park was located at Pluckemin, New Jersey, several miles north of the infantry camps. At this location, the artillerists constructed barracks for nearly 1,000 men and established a depot, repair facilities, and an academy for artillery officers. The Army abandoned this encampment in June 1779. In the 1980s, archaeological excavations by Rutgers University exposed remains of the “Artillery Park” and recovered thousands of artifacts.
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House played a central role in preserving and restoring the historic Bedminster property, beginning with its acquisition by the township of Bedminster in 1989. Partnering with the township and the Bedminster Historical Commission, the Friends helped secure funding and support for the restoration of the home. In the early 2000s, they received a significant grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust to initiate major structural and interior restoration work, thereby restoring the house to its 19th-century Federal-style appearance. This restoration was largely completed by 2007, establishing the Vanderveer House as a public museum that honors its Revolutionary War heritage.
In addition to the house itself, the Friends have also worked to expand the site’s historical value by relocating a historic Dutch barn to the property. In 2016, they secured a $94,190 grant from Somerset County to dismantle, relocate, and initiate the restoration of the barn, to create an interpretive farmstead experience. The complete farmstead project is estimated to cost $1.7 million, with approximately $200,000 raised so far. Additional funding, including a $30,000 state grant in 2006, contributed to various phases of restoration. Through sustained fundraising and preservation efforts, the Friends have ensured that the Vanderveer House remains a vital educational and historical resource for the community.
What’s Next?
Let’s see what we can find out through our network of history friends…. Stay tuned.
Let’s see what we can find out through our network of history friends…. Stay tuned.
