Notice:
The Clara Barton Schoolhouse is open by appointment only.
Please call 609-298-1740 or email us at bordentownhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
CLARA BARTON SCHOOLHOUSE RESTORATION UPDATE (2/6/25):
DONATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR OUR HISTORIC SITE MANAGEMENT GRANT MATCH!
Did you know that the Clara Barton Schoolhouse deed provides that the BHS is bound to preserve the Schoolhouse “in trust for and on behalf of the schoolchildren of New Jersey and to be forever preserved as a memorial of Clara Barton”?
That is our mandate.
You may have noticed that our beloved Schoolhouse is looking pretty cute lately! Its new look is the result of a lot of hard work by a number of skilled contractors and committed volunteers. Not surprisingly, a lot of funds have been expended as well.
The New Jersey Historic Trust Preserve NJ Grant that was awarded in November of 2021 has resulted in the restoration of the exterior of the Schoolhouse and the work that was the focus of that grant has been completed. It was a matching grant with $109,034 supplied by the State and the BHS raised $72,690 as our match! The focus of this Grant was to restore the Schoolhouse to its appearance in 1921 after it was restored following an historic schoolchildren/teacher funded restoration (insufficient documentation existed to restore the Schoolhouse to the 1852 time-frame when Clara Barton taught there).
The scope of the exhaustive work undertaken by that Grant is detailed below after the description of the Historic Site Management Grant referenced above was awarded on 9/25/24.
The Historic Site Management Grant will provide funding for the professional services necessary to address the construction of the restroom, HVAC, and lighting installation. Reports and estimates from a mechanical engineer, a civil engineer, an archaeologist, and our architect, are required all as a prelude to obtaining another, more significant grant needed to accomplish all of these upgrades.
The State Site Management grant award is $43,867 and the BHS match is $14, 623.
So…
DONATIONS ARE NEEDED TO HELP US RAISE THIS $14,623 MATCH!!!
WHAT RESTORATION HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE?
The scope of work that has been undertaken to stabilize and restore the Schoolhouse includes:
- Archeology (required)
- New wood shingle roof and recommended protective treatment
- Exterior rotted woodwork repair, priming and painting and repair of well cover
- Paint analysis that was done to determine original paint colors
- Barrier free access to Schoolhouse including replacement of the front door with a wider door matching the historic configuration shown in the 1936 Historic American Buildings Survey and 1942 interior photo permitting wheelchair entry
- New brick grade ramp for barrier free (wheelchair) entry
- Interior painting of walls, beams, ceiling, windows and woodwork
- Interpretive sign
- Substantial Masonry Stabilization
- Plantings consistent with historic landscaping
Of note is that the original grant scope also proposed a barrier free restroom in the footprint of a previous addition (shown in the 1892 Sanborn map but removed in 1921). Due to the unanticipated construction costs of the restroom, the NHT allowed us to substitute masonry repair as part of this grant. Masonry was severely damaged in the 1950’s due to sandblasting. It was spot repointed, caulked, window wells were rebuilt, shutter hardware was repaired, a plaque was relocated and the brick was painted as it had been during the 1920 restoration.
Over 350 children and approximately 50 adults visit the Schoolhouse each year. We host students from our local school district and those from other districts and states and we focus on the amazing accomplishments of our beloved American Icon Clara Barton, hoping to inspire our young (and old) guests.
OUR CLARA BARTON SCHOOLHOUSE IS A BELOVED HISTORIC SITE AND WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP US RESTORE AND MAINTAIN IT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME!!
THANK YOU.