WESTFIELD — On Monday, the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted to memorialize its recommendations that two historic homes — one on Elizabeth Avenue and the other on Rahway Avenue — not be torn down.
The owners of both properties, Commission Chair Jennifer Jaruzelski said, have submitted demolition applications to the town. In accordance with a local ordinance, all tear-down applications for homes that were built before 1930 must be presented to the HPC for review to determine potential significance before they can proceed.
Both of the properties in question, Ms. Jaruzelski explained, meet at least one of the town’s established criteria for potential inclusion on the community’s list of locally-designated historic homes.
The first home, located at 231 Elizabeth Avenue, is a five-bedroom, fourbathroom Dutch Colonial that was built in about 1744.
“This property was previously identified during the 2002 Historic Element of the town’s Master Plan,” Ms. Jaruzelski said, adding that town records indicate that the property may have been one of many in Westfield to house enslaved people during the 1800s. The home was likely constructed by John Ross, an early Westfield settler whose grandson, Gideon Ross, would go on to become a prominent local attorney who resided on the family estate for many years. The home, Ms. Jaruzelski said, was first identified on a map created by George Washington’s personal cartographer during the American Revolution.
The second home, an East Jersey Cottage-style residence located at 1011 Rahway Avenue, also was built in the late 1700s and was identified as a potential local landmark in 2002.
“Although the home has undergone many changes over the years, it still retains its 18th-century simplicity and charm,” Commission Vice Chair Maria Boyes said.
Both homes were discussed at length during a previous meeting of the HPC last month. Monday night’s vote, Ms. Jaruzelski said, served to codify the commission’s determinations.
The commission also announced Monday that a new photo exhibit, “Westfield: Then & Now,” has debuted in the street front windows of the Center for Creativity at the Rialto, on East Broad Street, in honor of National Preservation Month.
The exhibit, held in partnership with the Westfield Public Arts Commission, features vintage photos sourced from the archives of the Westfield Historical Society alongside present-day recreations.
“The resulting images are a vivid portrait of Westfield’s timeless architectural heritage and enduring community spirit,” the HPC states on its website.
The exhibit features images of municipal, commercial and residential sites from around the community like Arcanum Hall, Elm Street and Mindowaskin Park, and also includes shots of historic neighborhoods like Boulevard, Stoneleigh Park and Kimball Avenue.
The public is invited to submit their own “Then & Now” photographs for an online display by emailing them to hpc@westfieldnj.gov.
