October 11, 2025
While on a dual-purpose visit to Bedminster, MLHP stopped by to see the 2025 Bedminster Fall Fest and the 2025 Somerset County History Weekend, a county-wide celebration of history that includes the Jacobus Vanderveer House. While there’s good news, there’s also some sad news. On the positive side, there is a new leadership in place to oversee the JV / Knox House. Over 20 volunteers have stepped up to lead the way under the new direction of Bedminster Township. On the negative side, some of the artifacts are no longer in the house. We were there specifically to photograph the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment model, only to find out that the former President had taken the model from the house after stepping down from her position. We hope the new organization fights to get the model back as the house is the last structure that ties to the story of the Pluckemin Cantonment, in what we call the Greatest Untold Story of the American Revolution, the Pluckemin Cantonment that was part of the larger Middlebrook Encampment of 1778-1779.
July 31, 2025:
A new Bedminster Township-led commission has taken over the property and its contents, creating a new mission to preserve and promote the Vanderveer House and Museum in Bedminster Township, New Jersey.
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?
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Bedminster Township announced an ordinance to create the Jacobus Vanderveer House Commission, which was adopted unanimously, replacing the non-profit Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House (JHV), which had managed the site and its programs for 26 years. The municipally-owned, Revolutionary War landmark is located in River Road Park.
The governing body declined to extend the non-profit Friends group’s lease further and ordered it to vacate the JVH house by July 31, after concluding the group had become less active and lost touch with the community. Its membership reportedly dropped from more than 20 to six.
The ordinance to create a 15-member JVH Commission was introduced by the committee on Monday, June 16. It was subsequently amended to have 21 members, all of whom would be voting members:
- Darrick Anderson, a Friends group trustee, three years.
- Sean Blinn, a former Friends group trustee and township resident, three years.
- Cynthia Crosson, a Historical Society of Somerset Hills trustee and township resident, two years.
- Stephanie Daugherty, a Friends group trustee, two years.
- Jeanne Galbraith, a former Friends group trustee, one year.
- Wendy Weinstein Hickey, chair of the Bedminster Historic Preservation Commission, two years.
- Sue Mannion, a Historical Society of Somerset Hills trustee and township resident, two years.
- Bedminster Committeewoman Renee Mareski, one year.
- Leslie Mole, a former Friends group trustee and township resident, one year.
- Paul Muir, mayor of Bethlehem Township and trustee of the Morris Museum, one year.
- Steve Parker, a former township mayor and descendant of Revolutionary War soldiers, three years.
- Norm Penney, a grant writer and township resident, two years.
- Kathy Piersol, a reenactor and township resident, two years.
- Paula Podgurski, a Friends group trustee, will serve for three years.
- Township Administrator Robin Ray, a former Friends group trustee and a township resident, will serve for three years.
- Ray Sanderson, a Friends group trustee and reenactor, has been involved for three years.
- Craig Sutherland, a Friends group trustee, for one year.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
One of the Board members of the Mr. Local History Project reached out to offer assistance to the board on a quick plan of action. Still, it seems that no one on the current board of the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House nonprofit has the energy to challenge the eviction and the townships’ demands. But as they say, “it ain’t over till it’s over.”
“In New Jersey, it’s pretty hard to evict someone that doesn’t want to leave a property.
But you have to want to fight for your rights and it doesn’t seem Friends of JVH has the will.
The legal system could be tied up for years…..”
Posted on the Vanderveer House Entrance
Friday, June 13, 2025
Sorry to say, I’m not sure why the Bernardsville News didn’t publish our second letter (now two in total). I hope they revisit this story in an upcoming story. Not sure what the problem is. Perhaps they’re waiting to hear from the Board of Trustees at the Friends of the Vanderveer House. People have been asking, “What can I do?” One suggestion, call the Vanderveer House Friends and tell them to make a deal and an offer to volunteer would be a significant first step – (908)-397-3377
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
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