Review – Rumors Regarding the Littell-Lord Farmstead
Over the past few months rumors have been circulating regarding the contentions of the two main building which occupy the Littell-Lord Farmstead property at the south-west corner of Horseshoe Road and Mountain Avenue, and the ultimate fate of the two buildings.
In the morning of June 12, 2018, a walkthrough of the buildings were performed by Town Business Administrator John T. Bussiculo, Historical Society of Berkeley Heights President Daniel Palladino, Historical Preservation Specialist Margaret Westfield of Westfield Architects and Preservation Consultants, and Structural Engineer Brian D. Wentz of Keast & Hood. The walkthrough was only to get preliminary scope of the reported problems, not to provide an in-depth evaluation nor present any solutions to discovered issues.
The primary focus was on the “Grandmother House”, the larger white house constructed around 1870-1872, because of the reports of a floor “cave in”. The determination was that the building is structurally sound and will not be taken down. The “cave in”, while serious, was due to the failure of one or two of the century and a half old beams that support the floor of one of the first level rooms of the house. The damage is repairable, and the expectation is that the building will again be inhabited. Because there is no formal report the cost and timeframe for repairs have not been determined.
A second, in less depth, review was made of the Littell-Lord House, the smaller building which housed the Farmstead Museum. That building, which also has some structural damage, is also sound and will remain open to visitors.
At this time it is not known when the full report will become available, so it is not appropriate to speculate on the follow-up events. The Farmstead is the oldest continuously occupied farmstead in Union County. The HSBH is hoping continued town interest will make the property a valued park for local residents and an attraction for both in-state and out-of-state tourists.