If you are like most of us, you have a keen awareness of what is happening in our envi­ronment and “going green,” while all the rage, has a very real feel and meaning to us. As you ask yourself “what can you do,” one group, the South Orange Historical and Preservation Society, has taken the “Go Green” message to heart and has been moving wholeheartedly in this direction.

While the group’s mission statement had been formed at the advent of the organizations existence in 1983, the ability to act on this mis­sion is now more relevant then ever. This can be exemplified by a few of the group’s mission statements, which states we strive “to support preservation activities within the Village of South Orange” and to “promote adaptive reuse of significant historic structures rather than abandonment or demolition.”

With that as a key part of their mission, the South Orange Historical and Preservation Society members have launched into a number of key initiatives to help save the environment, combined with addressing their other key mission statements of “providing programs to dis­seminate historical, preservation and architec­tural information” and “supporting the recog­nition of landmark buildings and historic neighborhoods.”

The South Orange Historical and Preserva­tion Society group has found from past initia­tives that the key to successfully creating meaningful change has been to get buy-in and support from parents, teachers, community cit­izens, elected officials and business leaders. Then provide meaningful campaigns to help individuals feel a part of making actual change. The South Orange Historical and Preservation Society is involved in saving a truly historical Gem of South Orange, the old­est dateable building in New Jersey, called the Old Stone House, which is located behind the South Orange Police Station.

June 5, 2008
PNJ Building Industry Network (BIN) Charrette :
Greener Heritage - Enhancing Sustainability in Adaptive Use
 

The South Orange Historical and Preserva­tion Society mission is to support the preserva­tion and restoration of the Old Stone House by working with the South Orange Village, which owns the property. The feeling is that, ulti­mately, there will be many benefits for the res­idents of South Orange Village and future gen­erations by promoting the reuse of this signifi­cant historic structure rather than abandonment or demolition. “Save Our History — Save Our House” is the mission.

Another effort will be to support the development of a “Living Class Room” for the stu­dents of the South Orange Middle School. This program aimed at reclaiming the central out­door courtyard will focus on gardens of ancient plants, butterfly houses and sculptures of historic importance. Rather then paved it, the goal is to make the past come alive and cre­ate an enjoyable learning environment for our children.

In addition to these major efforts, members of the group are involved in a number of activ­ities, such as supporting the river restoration and bike trail construction project, working in the environmental commission, developing a history- related scholarship for local high school students, securing grants from Trenton, developing lectures and producing a newsletter to keep the community informed of local his­toric activities.

To move these efforts along, the South Orange Historical and Preservation Society has announced an open house and talk on April 27 from 3 to 5 p.m., at the home of Jim and Mary Kay Mitchell in South Orange.

2008 Historic Preservation Conference
See It, Keep It, Use It: The New American Standard
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
June 4, 2008

For more info -> Preservation NJ