Van Ness House On ‘Most Endangered NJ Historic Places’ List

FAIRFIELD, NJ — The Van Ness House in Fairfield was recently named to a list of the “10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey” for 2019.

Preservation New Jersey (PNJ) released its annual list on Thursday in recognition of national Preservation Month. According to the nonprofit, the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places program spotlights irreplaceable historic, architectural, cultural and archaeological resources in New Jersey that are in “imminent danger of being lost.”

However, there’s still hope for the sites on the list... provided that their communities take action, the PNJ says.

“Selections to the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list are based on the likelihood that historic buildings and places can be brought back to useful and productive life,” the nonprofit states. “PNJ proudly points to many properties previously listed among the 10 Most Endangered that have now been saved and preserved or rehabilitated and have once again become character-defining and economy-boosting assets to New Jersey’s communities.”

Read more about the program and see past nominees here.

Here’s what the group says about the Van Ness House in Fairfield:

“The Van Ness House was built by one of the earliest Dutch families to settle in western Essex County, Simon Van Ness, who brought his family to Fairfield in 1701 and was one of the founders of the Reformed Church of Fairfield in 1720. The house was likely built circa 1760 and is a typical 18th century farmhouse in the Dutch brownstone tradition of northern NJ, which predates the Revolutionary War. Currently owned by the Township of Fairfield, the building has now sat vacant for a number of years and is uninhabitable due to lack of maintenance. The municipality has cited insufficient funds to properly stabilize or maintain the structure. Preservation New Jersey encourages Fairfield Township to redouble its efforts to repair the structure and find a suitable occupant for this important piece of regional history before it is too late.”

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