[learn_more caption=”How do I join the MPHDA?” state=”open”] There are a variety of membership levels for both residents and friends of the Montrose Park Historic District. For information, please see our membership page.[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”Are there any tax incentives for owners of historic properties?”]
For information on federal tax incentives please visit the NJ State Historic Preservation Office’s website page which discusses this topic.
There is also pending NJ State legislation in under the Historic Property Reinvestment Act. Visit Preservation New Jersey’s “Take Action” webpage for more details.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”How do I research the history of my house?”]
A good place to start is at the South Orange Village Hall,
101 South Orange Avenue at the corner of Scotland Road. You can check
to see if the Tax Office and the Planning Board have any documents on
file pertaining to your property. Any changes to your property which
would have required a building permit or variance would be on file with
the Planning Board. Permits and variances were not required until the
mid to late 1900’s to present; therefore any additions or changes early
than that would probably not be on file at Village Hall. Unfortunately,
many of the older records for South Orange no longer exist, victims
of a past flood.
The South Orange Public Library, Scotland Road, 973-762-0230,
www.sopl.org maintains an informal
archive of maps, tax maps, local atlases, and old phone directories
dating back to the late 1800’s. The old phone directories are a great
source of information. Most provide a list of phone numbers not only
by name of property owner, but also by address (reverse listing). You
can look up your address and then turn to the page with the former owner’s
name and phone number. The older directories often list the owner’s
profession.
A Title search of your property, searching back from current
deed to previous deed, and so forth, can provide you with a list of
the names of all previous owners to your property. You can complete
this title search on your own, or pay a Title Company to complete it
for you. All of Essex County’s titles are recorded at the Essex County
Hall of Records in Newark. For information, call 973 621 – 4960 or visit
their website. The Hall of Records also has a map archive.
Seton Hall University maintains historic archives including
old maps, atlases, vintage postcards, and photographs. It was popular,
years ago, to photograph homes to be used as postcards.
There are also archives available at the New Jersey Historical
Society in Newark,
and the New Jersey State archives are located in Trenton. Contact the
NJ State Historic Preservation office to find out the location of the
state archives in Trenton.
The State Historic Preservation office publishes a booklet
with further information which pertains to researching the history of
your property. In addition, the South Orange Historical & Preservation
Society, a village-wide preservation group, also publishes a similar
pamphlet.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is the definition of an Historic District?”]
An Historic District is one or more historic sites and intervening or surrounding property significantly affecting or affected by the quality and character of the historic site or sites. This area shall have a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity
of sites, buildings, structures and/or objects which, viewed collectively:
- Represent a significant period(s) in the development of the town
- Or have a distinctive character resulting from their architectural
style. Resources within an historic district shall be classified as “key”,
“contributing”, or “non-contributing”.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is an Historic Site?”]
The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office defines an historic site
as: houses, structures or objects which possess integrity of location,
design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association and which have
been determined, pursuant to the terms of the ordinance to be any of
the following:
- Of particular historic significance to the Village of South Orange by
reflecting or exemplifying the broad cultural, political, economic or
social history of the nation, state or community; Associated with the
historic personages important in national, state or local history; The
site of an historic event which had a significant effect on the
development of the nation, state or community; An embodiment of the
distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
architecture or engineering; Representative of the work or works of a
locally, regionally or nationally important or recognized builder,
designer, artist or architect; Significant for containing elements of
design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a
significant innovation; - Able or likely to yield information important in prehistory or
history.
A site is defined as real property, whether public or private,
with or without improvements, which is the location of a significant
event or series of events, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity,
or a building, structure, or object, or any configuration, portion,
or group of the foregoing which has been designated by the Commission
as having historical, archeological, cultural, scenic, or architectural
significance.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”Is my house within the Montrose Park Historic District of South Orange?”]
A map of the historic district with a description of the general boundaries
is located here. The shaded area of this map indicates
the areas of Montrose Park South Orange which are considered to be within
the Historic District.
Within this shaded area, there are properties
which are considered to be “contributing” to the district (the majority
of properties), and some which are considered to be “noncontributing”.
Some properties are considered to be “key” properties.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is a “contributing” versus a “noncontributing” property to the Historic District?”]
Contributing is defined as any building/s, structure/s, site/s,
or object/s that are integral components of the historic district either
because they date from a time period for which the district is significant,
or because they represent an architectural type, period, or method for
which the defined historic district is significant.
Non-Contributing is defined as any building/s, structure/s, site/s,
or object/s that are not integral components of a defined historic district
because they neither date from a time period for which the district
is significant nor represent an architectural type, period, or method
of construction for which the district is significant.
(An object is defined as a material thing of functional, aesthetic,
cultural, historic, scenic, or scientific value.)
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is the definition of a “key” property in the Historic District?”]
Key is defined as any buildings, structures, sites, or objects
which, due to their significance, would individually qualify for landmark
status.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”How do I determine whether my home is a “contributing”, “noncontributing”, or “key” property to the Montrose Park Historic District?”]
An Architectural Survey of properties within the Montrose Park Historic
District was completed as a part of the District’s application and
nomination for historic status. A copy of this application including
the survey and inventory of properties within the historic district is
located at the South Orange Public Library and at the Village
Administrator’s office located at South Orange Village Hall. You can
also read the individual paragraph descriptionsfor each property in
the district inventory via the “District Inventory” page.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is an Architectural Survey?”]
According to the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, an architectural
survey is defined as the process of gathering information about
historic architectural resources, including all visible aspects of the
built environment that combine to form our historic fabric, including
houses, churches, schools, municipal buildings, commercial structures,
bridges, canals, farm structures, parks, gardens, street furniture,
etc. The Architectural Survey of homes within the Montrose Park Historic
District was completed as a part of the District’s application and nomination
for historic status. A copy of this application including the survey
and inventory of properties is located at the South Orange Public Library
and at the Village Administrator’s office located at South Orange Village
Hall. In the future, we hope to have the descriptions of properties
within the application available on-line.
There are various types of surveys including ‘Windshield Level’, ‘Reconnaissance
Level’, and ‘Intensive Level’. The survey noted above is considered
to be an intensive level survey.
- Windshield Level Survey, also known as a Reconnaissance Level Survey,
includes initial information on local properties including buildings,
structures, objects, sites, and districts, etc., as well as a preliminary
report containing an historic overview of the survey area, survey methodology,
and recommendations for further research. - Intensive Level Survey. In depth documentation of buildings,
structures, objects, sites, and districts already identified in a Reconnaissance
or Windshield level survey.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is an Architectural Inventory?”]
An inventory is a list of historic properties determined to meet
specified criteria of significance.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is a designated property?”]
A Designated Property is defined as any individual building,
structure, site, object, or district, which has been designated as having
historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic, or other significance.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is a designated district or landmark district?”]
A District (also often referred to as “Landmark District”) –
is defined as a geographic area with distinctly definable boundaries
composed of several buildings or sites which
a) has acquired a unity of character through the interrelationships
of the component buildings and sites; and
b) has been designated as having historical, archeological, cultural,
scenic, architectural, or other significance.
A Landmark is a building, structure, site, or object which has a
special character or special historical or aesthetic interest as part
of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the township,
state or nation, and which has been designated as a landmark pursuant
to the provisions of the Ordinance.
[/learn_more]
[learn_more caption=”What is the difference between “historic preservation” and “restoration”?”]
Historic Preservation is the act or process of applying measures
to sustain the existing form, integrity and material of a building or
structure, and the existing form and vegetative cover of a site. It
may include initial stabilization work, where necessary, as well as
ongoing maintenance of the historic building materials.
Restoration is considered to be the historically accurate repair
or replacement of architectural features.
[/learn_more]
Or try our Glossary of Architectural and Historic Preservation Terms.