Newly Restored Bicentennial Hall to be Used for Re-org Meeting

This year’s Fair Haven Council re-organization meeting will take place at the newly restored Bicentennial Hall.

This meeting is extra special because it will kick off the yearlong list of events planned for the centennial celebration for the Borough of Fair Haven.

Bicentennial Hall is the oldest building in the borough, built in 1882 and is also associated with the area’s first African American community. The former chapel is the only place in Fair Haven recognized by the state and national historical registries. It was originally located at 38 Fisk St., but was relocated to its current address on Cedar Avenue in 1974 to avoid demolition.

This will be the first time the building is used since its restoration.

“The building was in really bad shape,” said Rich Gardella, borough engineer. “We have come a long way in a short period of time.”

Although interior work started only this summer, plans to restore the building have been in the works for over 5 years. In order to restore the building properly, the borough hired a historical architect to come out and assess the building and come up with a plan, explained Gardella.

The plan’s budget was over a million dollars and had three stages. First step was to repair the structural stability of the building including fixing the roof, foundation, etc. Second, to repair the functionality of the building including lighting and making sure the space is usable. Third, is making sure the building has “historical authenticity” or making sure the furniture and paint color is all the same from when it was a working chapel. 

According to Gardella, the borough started on this three stage plan over four years ago and completed all of the repairs they could do themselves using the Fair Haven Department of Public Works employees and . They then hired contractors to come in this fall and do work such as plumbing, electrical work, installation of hardwood floors and much more.

The work that was done to the building was supported by a matching grant from the Garden State Historical Preservation Trust Fund and the , who donated $80,000 towards the project. Click here to read more about this donation.

“I think in these times when we have so many problems with our economy it is nice to preserve our history and heritage,” said Chris Rumpf, a Fair Haven resident who stopped by the hall to see how things were coming.

Now that most of the work is done, all residents are invited to join the council for their re-organization meeting on Jan. 1, 2012 starting at 12pm at Bicentennial Hall to see the improvements.

Although the building will not be completely finished for the meeting according to Gardella, still needing some restoration of woodwork, renovation of the bathroom, addition of a kitchenette and finishing touches such as authentic light fixtures, this will be a very special occasion to celebrate the centennial of the borough so many love.