For immediate release from The 1759 Vought House, A Revolutionary War Loyalist Homestead (a 501 (c) 3 non-profit) PO Box 369 Annandale, NJ 08801 Contact: Don Sherblom 908 797-9900

Tuesday May 18, 2010
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The Vought House in Clinton Township, home to locally prominent Loyalist leaders during the Revolutionary War, is on Preservation New Jersey’s 2010 list of ten most endangered historic sites!
1. Placement on the list shows the Vought house is not only Hunterdon County’s most significant Revolutionary War site; it’s also immensely important to the history of Revolutionary New Jersey.
2. It is endangered because “mothballing” this house does not really preserve it for future generations. The fragile roof and moldering ceilings jeopardize this vital historic resource.
3. Being on the state-wide list should help mobilize support to rescue this derelict house. The newly formed partnership between the school district and The 1759 Vought House non-profit can only transform this into an educational asset with help from the larger community and funds from the county, state and private donors.

Importance:
Washington’s retreat across New Jersey to Pennsylvania in late 1776 marked the darkest days of the Revolution. On Christmas day he re-crossed the Delaware to a stunning victory at Trenton and Princeton which altered the course of the war. Although decided in battle, the Revolution in New Jersey involved far more than armed combat. To understand our Revolutionary heritage, we need to understand why people made the decisions that led them to war. Sites like the Princeton Battlefield, which was on last year’s list, memorialize the clash of armies but it is the conflict of interests and ideals within communities that led men to take up arms.

Restoring this homestead of Loyalist leaders is not intended to memorialize Tory sentiment. But this site can offer our sometimes jaded students a fresh, exciting perspective on the oft-told tale of Revolutionary New Jersey. As the only Loyalist museum in New Jersey, the Vought House will provide a unique vantage point for understanding the Whig-Tory debate and the personal and social dimensions of the American Crisis. This is where Christopher and John Vought rose to prominence as community leaders and where they led the Loyalist opposition to the government takeover by local Patriots. The Vought family saga parallels thousands of conflicts across New Jersey, sometimes vocal sometimes violent, over how to defend the rights of Englishmen and preserve a long tradition of self-governance. The course of events ultimately reduced the options to two: Continued allegiance to the King and parliament or a fight for colonial independence. Here at the Vought House and their neighbor Thomas Jones’ Tavern, as in similar communities across New Jersey, differences among neighbors hardened into partisan warfare in 1775 and 1776.

In September 2007, the Vought House was listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, having met not just one but all four possible criteria: It contributes to understanding ways of life in colonial New Jersey. It was the home of historically significant people, and the site of important local events. Finally, the house itself is an important artifact, especially the wattle and daub decorative plaster ceilings. No other homes of that period have met all four criteria for inclusion on the New Jersey Register, which makes this house the most significant Revolutionary War site in Hunterdon County. The Vought House also fits the “Divided Loyalties” theme of New Jersey’s Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. In fact, as a superbly rich resource, the Vought House could anchor this under-represented theme within the historic landscape of Revolutionary New Jersey.

Mothballing Not Enough:
Being on Preservation New Jersey’s ten-most endangered list also speaks to the fact that stopping the bulldozers and “mothballing” this house does not adequately preserve it for future generations. The deterioration continues and the fragile roof places the unique wattle and daub decorative plaster ceilings, still moldering and with one section collapsed, at risk of further damage.

The previous superintendent and school board resisted doing what was necessary to preserve this house. They even neglected their obligations under state law and received a Notice of Violation when they did not meet the November 2005 deadline to “moth-ball” the house. This led to a partial collapse of one of the four wattle and daub decorative plaster ceilings in June 2006, a site visit from the state Historic Preservation Office, and tens of thousands of dollars in potential fines before the Vought House was finally moth-balled.

With the Vought House being placed on New Jersey’s Historic Register in 2007, the school district, as a government entity, became responsible for the house’s maintenance. If it transfers the property, the district must write a preservation easement in the deed. The Vought House has no market value and it remains a distinct burden to the school district. Since June 2009 the current school board and Kevin Carroll, the new superintendent, have embraced the 1759 Vought House non-profit’s proposal to relieve the district of this liability and to transform it into an educational resource with funding from outside the district.

Turning years of “demolition by neglect” around first requires that the school district complete the anticipated transfer of ownership to a responsible steward like the 1759 Vought House non-profit. To stabilize, restore and interpret this house as a museum is a large goal but there’s also a rich vein of personal and political history and material culture at the Vought House to fuel the transformation. The diversity of remarkable stories this site holds even in its dilapidated condition justifies the investment needed to restore it as an authentic primary source for the study of New Jersey’s late colonial and Revolutionary experience and develop its interpretation as a museum for visitors and students of all ages.

This project has received enthusiastic support from the new superintendent and teachers at the Clinton Township Middle School and the volunteer efforts of dozens of local citizens. But its success will require even more: a continued commitment from the school district, the active involvement of hundreds of volunteers and financial support from our community members, local business and government leaders and private foundations. The 1759 Vought House, A Revolutionary War Loyalist Homestead is the 501 (c) 3 non-profit formed by concerned citizens specifically to take on this task. We’re ecstatic Preservation New Jersey recognized both the Vought House’s importance to the history of New Jersey and the currently fragile condition of this artifact which make this one of New Jersey’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites. To find out more, please visit www.1759House.org or send inquiries to The 1759 Vought House, P.O. Box 369, Annandale, NJ 08801.

Don Sherblom, President
The 1759 Vought House, A Revolutionary War Loyalist Homestead
(908) 797-9900

The press release is below.  For the story that appeared front page in the
                                                      Courier News click here: descendantvisits.pdf.

 Also, the chronology from new Fred Sisser III research: voughtsisser20101.pdf

Christopher Vought Returns to Family Home

On Thursday March 11, 2010, Christopher Vought will finally visit his family’s colonial home, believed to be the most significant Revolutionary era site in Hunterdon County, NJ.  Mr. Vought is the direct descendant and namesake of the Christopher Vought who purchased 285 acres near the Union Iron Works in 1759 and built this impressive stone house on a site now shared with the new Clinton Township Middle School.  The house was placed on New Jersey’s Register of Historic Places in 2007 due to the “wattle and daub” decorative plaster ceilings, the people who lived here and the sometimes violent clashes that took place here in 1776.  The Vought family has not lived here since the farmstead was confiscated by the Patriot government and sold at auction in 1779.  

In the 1770’s Christopher’s son John Vought came of age and took charge of the farm.  As township clerk John Vought presided over township meetings at their neighbor Thomas Jones’ Tavern.  In 1776, Captain Jones was recruiting militia to defend New Jersey’s Patriot government against the anticipated arrival of the British fleet and troops.  In June, shortly after New Jersey’s illegal Congress ordered the arrest of Governor Franklin, John led a mob of two dozen men that harassed and beat Thomas Jones at his Tavern.  This led to arrests and detention in the county jail.  It also marked Christopher and John Vought as leaders of the local Loyalist opposition. 

After stunning defeats that fall in the Battle of New York, Washington’s depleted army retreated across New Jersey and finally escaped across the Delaware in boats collected by Captain Jones and the Hunterdon Militia in December.  That’s when Christopher and John Vought left this stone house, possibly for the last time.  They led about 75 Hunterdon Loyalists to New Brunswick to join the British army.  They served with the New Jersey Volunteers, largest of the uniformed Loyalist units, on Staten Island throughout the war. 

Ultimately, their loyalty cost them everything they’d gained over 20 years:  their now four hundred acre farm, livestock, an excellent barn, tools, furniture and this large stone house.  After the war, they and their families were transported on British ships to Nova Scotia.  In 1792, during Washington’s presidency, John brought his parents and his children back to their 2,000 acre plantation near Albany in these newly United States.  Here John’s son, also named Christopher Vought, grew to manhood and fought against the British in the War of 1812.  

The house that Christopher Vought built was later purchased by the Hunt family, owners of the Red Mill in Clinton.  The house remained in private hands for two centuries until the Clinton Township Board of Education purchased this land for the new middle school.  Placement on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places requires the school district to preserve this house.  A group of concerned residents formed a non-profit public charity to take possession and assume responsibility for the preservation of this vital link to local Revolutionary era history. 

Don Sherblom, president of The Vought House, A Revolutionary War Loyalist Homestead which is hosting Chris Vought’s visit to his ancestral home this week, first contacted Mr. Vought by email.  “I found his name on an online roster of men who’d served on a coast guard cutter,” Mr. Sherblom said.  “I knew this family has served in every major conflict since the French and Indian War so I sent an email and forgot all about it.  One morning I was startled; my in box showed an email from Christopher Vought!  ‘Impossible’ flashed through my mind for a second, but of course, it was this Chris Vought, a direct descendant.  Thursday’s visit by a direct descendant of the man who built this house will simulate a homecoming made impossible by war over two centuries ago.” 

“Especially in 1776, the Revolution’s darkest days, the crisis became a civil war of neighbor against neighbor, father against son.  The story of this family and their neighbors brings that experience and New Jersey’s pivotal role in this war to light in a unique way.”  

For more information about the Vought family and this home’s heritage, visit 1759House.org.  You can also become a member or donate to the Vought House non-profit and help us transform this house into a local museum and educational resource. 

Our first meeting in 2010 will be January 14th, 2010. 
(The second Thursday, every second month, at 7pm.)______________________________________________________________________
It’s been a long haul over the past four years and we’ve all shown great determination.
And as a group, we’ve accomplished a lot in just the past six months: 

• We reached a milestone in June with the unanimous school board vote.
• In November, we increased awareness with a successful mailing to the entire township.  See both sides of mailer below.
• We have a new, more dynamic and more complete website at 1759House.org (open for suggestions and critiques - to Adam).
• Further research by our genealogist, Fred Sisser III, funded by the County Cultural and Heritage Commission, has uncovered more about the Vought family’s daily life.
• Adam and I retrieved two doors from a supporter of our project that had been salvaged from the house and restored.  Absolutely beautiful wood and hardware.
• Terri is pursuing 10 Most Endangered status with Preservation NJ.
• My talk and powerpoint presentation at the CTMS assembly was a great success (estimated snooze ratio of 2/100).
• An article in the December CTMS student newspaper asked: The Vought House, What Happens Now? (appearing soon with quotes from Adam  Wengryn and Superintendent Kevin Carroll) (Written by my daughter, Zoe Carpentier.  All’s fair in love and war.)
• The quotes from district educators, which appeared on the mailing, should help us in this year’s request for funding of an 8th grade appropriate booklet for use in classrooms throughout Hunterdon.
• I’m scheduled to address the northern Hunterdon County social studies teachers (sending districts to North and Voorhees High Schools).  I’ll give them a presentation on the Vought House museum and booklet.
• The subdivision plans are done.  A meeting of the Planning or Board of Adjustment could happen in January or February.
• The school board has been reminded -yet again- that they need to start work on the historic preservation easement.  

This year offers even greater challenges/opportunities. This year, The 1759 Vought House nonprofit will finally take possession of the most significant Revolutionary War site in Hunterdon County.  We’ll finally be able to start the arduous tasks of preserving and restoring the house, of transforming it by creating a vibrant local history museum, and we’ll uncover even more traces left by the Vought Family and neighbors like Thomas Jones that can tell us about life in this part of New Jersey in the late colonial and early Republican period, and, essential to the above, we’ll be raising funds to fulfill these goals.

This is year one! It’s a great time to help protect the future of Hunterdon County’s Revolutionary War past.

Our 1759 Vought House non-profit asked for quotes from the school district to include in a flyer we’re mailing next month.  Got great quotes.  Looks like they’re not just on board, finally, but actually excited about having a museum at the Clinton Twp. Middle School:

Mr. Kevin Carroll – Superintendent of Schools  “The partnership that will be formed between the Clinton Township School District and the 1759 Vought House will provide the children of the community an opportunity to experience history at their doorstep. This landmark building will be a showcase for our students as they learn about the Revolutionary era.”

Ms. Bobbie Felip – Director of Curriculum  “The opportunity of having a historical building in partnership with our schools will afford children a unique experience in understanding a portion of the social studies curriculum. From learning about family and community in the younger grades to reinforcing more specific content in the older grades, it will help bring history to life in a much more meaningful way.”

Mr. Gerard Dalton – Principal, Clinton Township Middle School  “The Vought House will offer opportunities for future generations to learn how history and geography have shaped our region. The proximity of the location to our schools and others within the region make it a viable resource for instructional activities.”

I got a copy of the appraisal done on the Vought House - dated April 1st for some reason, maybe so they cover their sloppy work by claiming it an April’s Fools joke.   It’s linked here in three sections (PDFs).  I didn’t scan the addendum because those documents are available elsewhere. 
                           
             Section 1 Facts    Section 2 Analysis    Section 3 Valuation

For a selection of the major problems from all 3 sections see:  appraisalmajorerrors.pdf

Every layperson knows that even renovated this house is not worth $600,000 in today’s market.  The question: How could the $590,000 renovated and $225,000 “as is” valuation be so far off? 

Here’s the major problems with the appraisal:

• Two Clinton Township properties are identical in every way, both priced at $600,000.  One house sits in an environmental buffer for a C-1 stream which prevents the owners from building a shed, ever mowing the lawn, paving the driveway, building a garage, or disturbing existing plants or the soil in any way.   As the potential home buyer, do you still value them the same?   The appraiser for this property barely mentions the environmental buffer and DOES NOT reduce the value of the “comparable” properties to reflect the significant fact that none of them were so restricted.
• Same two Clinton Twp. properites, but one is on the State Register of Historic Properties.  Does this affect the value?  It probably will, although in reality, private individuals are not affected by this, only government entities, like school districts, are prevented from harming properties on the NJ Register. The school district must also get approval to transfer ownership and that approval will rest on them placing a satisfactory historic preservation easement on the deed.
• This not-yet written SHPO-required historic preservation easement is not factored into the value of the property. Page 20 acknowledges that private individuals are Not restricted by the house being placed on the Register.  In bold underlined letters it declares that individuals would face no restrictions on the renovations or remodeling of the property. 
• WHAT the appraiser fails to explain is: How the property can be owned by a private individual Without being transferred from the school district.  The appraisal correctly says that ”sale of the property requires” prior review and authoriation by the SHPO to assure that adequate restrictions are in place to protect the home’s significant historic features!  It’s not the Register but the easement written into the deed prior to the sale that would prevent any future private owner from harming the historic features!
• It would be a strange law indeed that prevents the school district from ripping out the ceilings but allows it to sell the property to a private party to do as they please! 
• Besides the fact that there’s no allowance for the comparable propeties being buffer-free, the Potterstown Road property had a whole cottage, a second building, which was ignored by the appraiser, who added $175,000 for the supposedly smaller size of that property.
• I could go on but these major problems are a huge disappointment in an appraisal that took five months and cost several hundred dollars.  A little clarity is not too much to expect.  Instead the picture is clouded with obviously wrong information and a sloppy valuation.  

Don Sherblom  

With the recent appraisal of the Vought House (see news article) the fate of Hunterdon’s most historic revolutionary era site is unnecessarily brought into question.  The questioning is unnecessary because anyone who knows this house and that it cannot be expanded, knows it can never be worth $590,000! 

Saving money is a good thing, especially in these trying times.  As America’s founding genius said, a penny saved is a penny earned.  But a deal where you loose far more than you gain is no bargain.  It’s penny wise and pound foolish.  Were the Vought House sold off, we’d gain a fraction of a penny one-time tax relief and lose control of what happens at our elementary and middle school campus forever, be it a smoke shop, tattoo parlor or derelict vandal magnet.

This crystal-clear picture was recently clouded by a wildly optimistic valuation of the property.  As a full-time Realtor with 12 years experience in Clinton Township and a part-time historian, I am uniquely qualified to speak to this multifaceted issue:

1) The valuation seems extremely high. A habitable three bedroom, one bath home with no garage 100 years newer than the Vought House is currently on the market in Annandale not for $590,000 (no surprise) but for $290,000! Any lay person knows a list price near $600,000 for this small old house with no garage sitting in an environmental buffer at the entrance to two schools and a stone’s throw from Rte 31 is just crazy talk.

2) Also, this valuation does not include the historic preservation easement, since that easement has not been written.  There’s absolutely no doubt the State Historic Preservation Office will require an approved preservation easement prior to any property transfer since the house is listed on the NJ Register of Historic Places.  What will it cost to repair the damaged ceiling and stabilize all four historic ceilings as required for their preservation?

3)  Even if sold ‘as is’ for $100,000, that would be a minuscule one-time savings for local taxpayers, literally a single drop in the 9 billion dollar Clinton Township tax bucket, a fraction of a penny savings for one year and 100 years of who knows what problems at the school.

4)  My daughter will  be attending the Clinton Township Middle School next year. As a parent I do not want to see this remain a derelict  abandoned house, a private residence, or a “candy” store at the edge of the middle and elementary school campus.

5) Ultimately this is not about personal gain or temporary expedient actions.  A sale is forever.  It’s about who we are as people, as a community, a township past, present and future. 

6) The most important revolutionary era historic site in Hunterdon County cannot be auctioned off to the highest bidder with no regard to what happens with this house and grounds in the years ahead.  That would be short-sighted, contradict our district’s educational mission and be a huge betrayal of our identity.

7) This property is part of American history.  Even if the citizens of Clinton Township have a legal right to sell with no regard to what happens here, as citizens of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, as Americans we are not worthy citizens if we allow such a key educational testament to the history of the American Revolution be destroyed or become unavailable to the public.   

You may think I exaggerate for effect.  If so, please read the history of the Vought Family and the American Revolution available in the Clinton Bookshop and the County library.  This property met the criteria in all four categories of the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, was nominated for the National Register and preparations are in the works for designation as a National Landmark (5% of National Register sites).  It is clearly the most important Revolutionary War site in Hunterdon County.
 

The 1759 Vought House, A Revolutionary War Loyalist Homestead, a 502 (c) 3 non-profit, is ready to forge an Educational Partnership with the Clinton Township School District to maximize the educational utility of the Vought House and bring financial resources to the district.  
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GOALS:

To transform this property from a liability draining resources from the school district to an asset with a positive financial impact on the educational mission of the district.

To enhance the aesthetics and safety of the Clinton Township Middle School and Spruce Run Elementary School campus.

To enhance the education of students in Clinton Township and beyond by providing them direct access to the material culture of Revolutionary era New Jersey.

UNTAPPED RESORCE:

This house met all four possible criteria for inclusion on the state register, which means it offers educational insights on several aspects of life in 18th Century Hunterdon County, NJ:
a. This family’s material culture is seen in the architecture and rare wattle & daub decorative plaster ceilings. 
b. The qualityof life on this prosperous Hunterdon County family farm is also well documented.
c. The builder, Christoffel Vought and son John, were prominent leaders among Hunterdon Loyalists.
d. Their mob attack on Jones’ Tavern, skirmish with the militia, and military service are emblematic of conflicts in New Jersey during the American Revolution.

Divided Loyalties is one of three interpretive themes of New Jersey’s Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, created in 2002.  It is an under-represented theme within this National Heritage Area of the National Park Service.

CONTRAINTS:

In 2005 environment and archaeological restrictions were placed on file prohibiting a disturbance of the grounds.

In 2007 this property was placed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. The State Historic Preservation Office will require the district to write an historic preservation easement into any deed transferring the property to new owners.

PARTNERSHIP:

Ownership Responsibilities – We would be stewards of the subdivided house and grounds.

Raising Funds – We would be solely responsible for gaining government and foundation grants, private donations, local and national corporate gifts, and public fundraising to meet our goals.  All money invested in this project would be raised outside the school district’s budget and would benefit students and residents of Clinton Township by creating a potentially important local educational resource and museum. 

Occasional Partnership Grant Applications – We would also like to apply for grants and donations in partnership with the school district for specific educational projects while the house is being renovated and as it is developed into a local public history museum.

Curriculum Development – We will assist your efforts to incorporate this house history into your middle school curriculum and can help with the historic preservation easement, etc.

Library Space – To increase student access to collected research materials, especially while the house is being renovated, we would like to have some space in the Middle School Library/Media Center devoted to these materials, books, pamphlets and Compact Disks.

Parking – Although the house has access to Grayrock Road and limited parking, public events and school buses would utilize Middle School driveway and parking facilities.

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SAMPLE PARTNERSHIP GRANT:  SaveOurHistory
                                            
Inspire the youth in your community to become the preservationists of tomorrow. Museums, historic sites, historical societies, preservation organizations, libraries, and archives are invited to partner with a local school or youth group and apply for funding to help preserve the history of their communities. Each year, HISTORY awards $250,000 in grants to organizations that partner with schools or youth groups on community preservation projects that engage students in learning about, documenting and preserving the history of their communities.
The 2009/2010 Grant Cycle will kick off in January 2009, when the grant application is posted online at saveourhistory.com. Applications will be due in June of 2009. In the interim, questions about the program can be directed to info@saveourhistory.com.
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NOTE:  2009 Save Our History grant recipients nationwide included:
Vernon Township Historical Society  in Vernon, NJ
Partner: Glen Meadow Middle School
Description: Bringing the Past to the Present: Teaching Lenni Lenape History and Culture through the Black Creek Site
Assisted by professional archaeologists, students from Glen Meadow Middle School in partnership with the Vernon Township Historical Society will participate in an archaeological dig of the Black Creek Site, home to thousands of artifacts dating back 10,000 years (from 8500 BC to 1700 AD) through 500 generations of human history during the Great North American Stone Age. Maps, trail markers, signage and an outdoor classroom area will enable teachers to bring students onsite to learn the rich prehistory and history of the Black Creek Site.