The Small Grants Committee was proud to announce that the following organizations have been awarded Small Grants, as part of the 2025 Small Grants Program: Skylands Preservation Alliance, Sparta Responsible Development, Boonton Main Street, Inc., Help Our Preservation Effort (H.O.P.E.), Concerned Citizens of Frelinghuysen NJ, Mountain Lakes Concerned Citizens, Hardyston Responsible Development, and Preservation of the Terhune Historic Settlement, Inc.

“We are proud to support these organizations as they protect, educate about, and defend the Highlands on a local level,” said Michael Henderson, trustee and now Chair of the Coalition’s Small Grants Committee. “We are only able to be effective as an organization because of the strength of our partners and the support of our individual members whose donations help fund our programs—including the Small Grant Program. These small member organizations and volunteer groups are crucial to the continued viability of the State of New Jersey for generations to come as an environmentally healthy place that protects its myriad resources and where people want to live and play.”

This delicious Pasta Dinner will be prepared by our own Lisa Iulo, and she’s Italian. In addition to a delicious meal, this community-wide event will have a variety of prizes and a 50/50.

Tickets can be purchased at Hope Junction Antiques, 331 High Street, Hope, NJ (Wednesdays - Sundays 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM) or online at hopepreservation.org.

A fun evening awaits you!

Location and Time: Hope Community Center, 9:30 a.m.

Attendees: See below

Minutes

Pete Peterson introduced the H.O.P.E. Officers and acknowledged the past and present contributions of the many wonderful members and friends of H.O.P.E., who have worked on grants, research, financing, video presentations, a website, banners, gift cards, etc., or have supported our mission via monetary donations and in so many other ways.

Pete provided a bit of history regarding the Moravians and the uniqueness of Hope’s Moravian structures and geographical layout, compared to the other four Moravian communities in the U.S.

Bob May discussed how the organization purchased the Cooper-Crusen properties, rather than obtaining a long-term lease from First Hope Bank.  Bob mentioned First Hope’s extremely generous terms and donations, which will allow us to purchase the properties at almost no cost.  He also touched on how to pay for the upkeep of the three properties (Cooper, Crusen and Long House).  The Long House currently has tenants and is self-supporting.  The Crusen property could possibly serve as a house museum and overnight lodging experience, while the Cooper property could have a retail or commercial space on the first floor and offices for H.O.P.E. on the second floor. 

Bob discussed four grants:  two grants have been filed with the New Jersey Historic Trust ($100,000 each), which will pay for preservation plans and phase one archeological surveys on each of the homes; one grant will be filed this week with Warren County (the Warren County Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund) in the amount of $325,000 to be used to fund the acquisition; and an additional $5,000 grant was filed with the Highlands Coalition.  If awarded, the $5,000 will be used towards the stabilization of the Cooper and Crusen properties.  Pete thanked Tom Bodolsky for bringing the Highlands grant to H.O.P.E.’s attention.  

Bob talked about the steps in restoring the properties, starting with a preservation plan.  A Request for Proposal (RFP) was developed and sent out about a month ago and we will be reviewing two proposals: one from Eclectic Architecture, LLC (Michael Margulies), who has been involved with aspects of the restoration of Hope’s Community Center, and the other from Artefact, Inc., an architectural firm in  Bethlehem, PA, which has done quite a bit of restoration work on Moravian structures in Bethlehem and Nazareth, PA.

Bob distributed and reviewed the 2025 budget for H.O.P.E. (see attached).  He discussed repairs that the Long House needed, insurance for three properties, real estate taxes, etc.  He mentioned that we are going to be filing for a property tax exemption on the Crusen and Cooper Houses as a 501(c)(3) organization.  Questions from Tom Bodolsky regarding the well situation and taxes, which Bob addressed.  Pete mentioned that we have two vacant rental units in the Long House which are nicely restored, if anyone is interested or knows of someone who would be interested.  John Kruk made a motion to approve the budget.  Maria McDonough seconded the motion.  No members opposed and the motion was passed.

Bob further discussed the budget and the cost of the restoration work needed on the Crusen and Cooper houses, which could easily be $1.5 to 2 million dollars and, if the grant applications are approved, H.O.P.E.’s share would be roughly one-quarter of the amount.

Fundraisers were discussed.  Lisa Iulo suggested a spaghetti dinner.  John Kruk proposed another “Taste of the Town - Hope” (similar to the one held in conjunction with Hope’s 250th anniversary celebration) to bring in younger people who might not want to participate in H.O.P.E. meetings.  Some discussion followed about coordinating such events and brainstorming about other similar types of fundraising activities.

Pete discussed the need for volunteers for various projects, such as membership recruitment, video or PowerPoint presentations and the need for a presence on social media, keeping up the Post Office garden, partnering with schools, etc.  Maria McDonough volunteered to take care of the Post Office garden.

Pete thanked everyone for attending the meeting and issued an invitation for a tour of the Crusen house following the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jacqueline Wilkens

Secretary

Help Our Preservation Effort (H.O.P.E.) Membership Meeting Attendees are taken from the sign in sheet and listed below in no particular order:

Margo Biblin, Ellen Benoit, Monica Sobon, Jutta Jansen, Ann Rhinesmith, John Kruk, Tom Bodolsky, Maria & Tim McDonough, Audrey Planer, Elsie Donohue, Elise Hoffman, Phyllis Strohmeyer, Ed Danckwerth, Jodi Keggan, Lisa Iulo, Amy & John Hovell,   Elsha Yiu and Jaroslaw Czarnecki, Tom Gabel, Kim Start, Luke Peterson, Betsy Peterson, Douglas Tighe, Sherry Shaw, Robert May, Pete Peterson, Jacqueline Wilkens

H.O.P.E. Help Our Preservation Effort 2025 Budget

Income

Rental Income – Long House Tenants:  $ 41,844.

Interest Income – Checking Account: $ 2,034.              

Membership Dues  —  $ 1,000.

Contributions  — $ 95,000.

Total Income:    $  139,878.                                                                                                

Expenses

Long House Expenses

Electricity  —  $ 360.

Water  — $ 2,400.                                       

Insurance — $ 8,400.

Exterior Repairs & Painting — $ 12,150.

Snow removal/plowing — $ 2,400.

Lawn care — $ 2,700.

Propane — $ 5,700.

Mortgage Payments — $ 14,040.

Total Expenses – Long House: $ 48,150.

Crusen/Cooper Houses Expenses

Insurance  — $ 8,600.

Appraisal  — $ 500.

Legal fees and closing costs — $ 16,000.

Down payment to purchase  — $ 81,250.

Mortgage Payments — $ 13,910.

Real Estate Taxes (2025 – only) — $ 1,900.

Total Expenses – Crusen/Cooper: $ 122,160.

General Expenses

Accounting — $ 1,200.

Miscellaneous — $ 1,000.

Total General Expenses: $ 2,200.

Total Expenses:  $172,510.

                                                                                                                              

Surplus/Deficit – Income over/under expenses  ($ 32,632.)

Click HERE to read the full article.

Currently, Margo Biblin and Ellen Benoit are helping H.O.P.E. finalize two applications for Historic Site Management grants through Preservation New Jersey.  The deadline for submitting the applications and numerous attachments is April 24, 2025, at 4 pm.  With a little luck, everything will be finalized and submitted well in advance of the deadline.  Mio French has graciously agreed to read through both applications and offer her editorial assistance.  Mio’s efforts in grant writing for the restoration of the Long House resulted in funding seven out of eight grant applications submitted—almost a 90% “win” rate!

In addition to State funding, H.O.P.E. will be submitting an application to the Warren County Municipal Charitable & Conservancy Trust for a grant to help with the costs of acquiring the two properties.

We’re a long way from seeing actual work begin to restore the Crusen and Cooper Houses, but we wanted to make you aware of the major step that was accomplished this morning when H.O.P.E. acquired ownership of the properties.

Click HERE to view and download H.O.P.E.’s formal press release.

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