Lake Hopatcong Foundation Awarded Grants Towards Rehabilitation of Train Station in Landing

LAKE HOPATCONG, N.J. - Aug. 17, 2016 - PRLog -- The Lake Hopatcong Foundation was awarded a $215,571 grant by the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust and a $10,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with both going toward the rehabilitation of the Lake Hopatcong Train Station in Landing.

The Morris County grant will specifically be used toward the replacement of the roof, complete with original Ludowici Brookville green tiles, which adorned the station when it was constructed for the Lackawanna Railroad in 1911 and are still made today by the same company. The roof replacement is the most major component of the rehabilitation effort, which the Lake Hopatcong Foundation has been working on since it purchased the station in November 2014. The building has since been placed on the National and State Registries of Historic Places. The National Trust grant will go toward interior construction design and contract documents from the historical architectural firm Connolly and Hickey, and the Morris County grant, which was approved by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, will go toward the construction of the roof itself.

"These taxpayer-approved preservation funds will help finance the important task of preserving and sustaining our county's heritage, to restore and protect important links to our past,'' said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.

"Organizations like the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, help to ensure that communities and towns all across America retain their unique sense of place," said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "We are honored to provide a grant to the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, which will use the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared national heritage."

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is providing a required match toward both of the grants; for the Morris County grant, the LHF board has allocated $53,893 from the capital campaign effort (20 percent of the grant project cost) and for the National Trust the LHF board has allocated a one-for-one match of $10,000.

"Ongoing community financial support towards the train station restoration is critical in order for the foundation to continue to apply for historic preservation grants which require matching funds.  Without sufficient matching funds available, we would be unable to apply for these substantial grants.  The community can continue to support the project by making a donation towards the train station, giving $25 each to purchase a tile for the roof restoration and buying tickets to the upcoming barbecue at the train station on Sunday, August 28 from 3:00-6:00 pm" said Donna Macalle-Holly, Lake Hopatcong Foundation grants and program coordinator. Visit www.lakehopatcongfoundation.org, click on Giving Menu and Lake Hopatcong Train Station Capital Campaign to give.

Lake Hopatcong Foundation board chairman Marty Kane said, "Over a hundred years after it was constructed, the Lake Hopatcong Train Station has been given a new mission and a new life, one which will both honor its proud past and allow it to thrive in the years ahead. Once the rehabilitation is complete, the building will be focal point of the community to serve as a cultural and environmental center and as the foundation's home."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization that works to save America's historic places to enrich our future. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is committed to protecting America's rich cultural legacy and helping build vibrant, sustainable communities that reflect our nation's diversity. Grants from the National Trust Preservation Funds are awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the country to support wide-ranging activities.

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders created the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund to help support the preservation of the county's exceptional abundance of historic resources. The Fund considers grants for the acquisition, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration or preservation of historic resources by municipalities, qualified non-profits and the county. All funded activities must be in conformance with the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that was established in 2012 with the mission of improving Lake Hopatcong for all, now and in the years to come. The LHF will move its headquarters into the station when the bulk of the construction is complete, and will open its doors to the community as a cultural and environmental center and event space. To learn more about the LHF and the station, go to www.lakehopatcongfoundation.org.