Waterloo Village is one of the State’s great historic, recreational and tourism assets. While it is the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) intent to re-open the Village as soon as possible, it is temporarily closed to the public while priority maintenance issues are addressed, and as the State seeks new operational partners.
DEP’s immediate priorities for the village include stabilizing and preserving the historic buildings; re-establishing an educational program; and finding the means to operate the public Meeting House and an outlet to reconvene large-scale events.
After more than three decades operating under the Waterloo Foundation for the Arts, Inc. (the Foundation), the DEP officially terminated its lease in 2006 after the president of the Foundation reported that they were unable to continue operations.
Since the termination of this lease, the State and the Foundation have been in discussions over ownership of the contents of Waterloo Village. On September 19, 2008 a legal settlement was reached, providing that the State will retain the contents of:
- the Gristmill
- the Blacksmith Shop
- the Sawmill
- the Indian Village
- historical items of the village, including Smith family bibles, photographs, deeds and maps, and the ledger books from the General Store
Removal of the property within historic buildings began under State supervision on Monday, October 6. The Meeting House and Museum Shop, both built by the Foundation, were cleared the week of September 15 th of restaurant equipment and furnishings, as well as souvenirs.
Teel Auctions, of Mt. Bethel, Pa., has been hired by the Foundation to sell its property to satisfy debts. You can see what's being auctioned by checking www.teelauctions.com, where an Oct. 7 restaurant equipment auction of Waterloo contents is advertised, with pictures. There is also notice of a Waterloo auction on Oct. 25 and 26, where items not yet removed would be for sale.
Progress on Repairs
To date, the Indian Village has been repaired, rebuilt and expanded by its original designer-builder, John Kraft. Structural repairs at the Grist Mill and Apothecary Shop are completed. Re-roofing and roof repairs have been completed at Jake’s House, the White Barn and the Comfort Station, with repairs totaling $142,500 being completed on the Canal House, Wellington House and The Homestead. Evaluations have been finished on the Ironmaster's House, Smith House and Meeting House. Re-roofing and roof repairs have been bid for the Smith House and Carriage Barn.
The firm of HJGA Consulting, Preservation and Historic Architecture, Inc., of Montclair, is leading an eight-month project (due date: late October) to create a preservation plan for Waterloo Village, to include historic documentation, documentation of current conditions of the landscape and structures, and recommendations for future use and interpretation. The State will use these recommendations in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for an operator of Waterloo Village.
To date, approximately $500,000 of the $750,000 DEP committed for FY08 has been spent. This funding is from DEP’s capital account ($250,000) and the portion of the Corporate Business Tax reallocated to capital projects in parks and wildlife areas through a constitutional amendment approved by New Jersey voters in November, 2006 ($500,000).
DEP is partnering once again with the Canal Society of New Jersey for Waterloo Heritage Days, a free series of warm weather Saturday openings of Waterloo Village from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about remaining dates, call 908-832-2888.
October 11 and 25
To comment on the future of Waterloo, contact: waterloovillagecomments@dep.state.nj.us
