110-Year-Old Slate Roof Replacement Completes Phase One of Restoration Project
On behalf of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, Deputy Director Stephen Shaw today presented a county historic preservation plaque to Morris Museum President and CEO Tom Loughman, recognizing the completion of the first of a three-phase preservation project on the nearly 112-year-old building housing the museum since 1964.
Originally known as the Twin Oaks mansion, the building was designed in 1913 by McKim, Mead & White as a residence for Peter and Adaline Frelinghuysen. Since 2003, Morris County has provided more than $530,000 in grants through the Historic Preservation Trust Fund to support the museum’s multi-phase restoration plan. Phase 1, which included replacing the slate roof — untouched for 110 years — is now complete
“The Morris Museum brings visitors from all over to experience its art exhibitions and performances. It’s incredible that we have a Smithsonian Affiliate museum with a collection of more than 45,000 pieces from around the world right here in Morris County,” said Deputy Director Shaw. “I’m honored to celebrate this restoration, made possible by so many dedicated people working to preserve an important part of our county’s history.”
The museum building, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Normandy Park Historic District, is notable for its early use of cast-in-place concrete in high-end residential construction and its ties to early 20th-century agricultural and suburban trends.
View Photos from the March 18, 2025 Ceremony
The first phase of the Twin Oaks Mansion Historic Preservation Plan included replacing the original slate roof, repairing the chimneys and dormers, and restoring the wood cornice and other exterior features. The work, completed using historically accurate materials and methods, preserved the fireproof 1913 neo-Georgian Revival, brick-clad home. The project was made possible through nearly $1 million in state funding from the New Jersey Historic Trust and the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund, as well as county funding approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Historic Preservation Trust Fund grants totaling $485,443, awarded in 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2022, supported the preservation plan, construction documents and roof renovation.
“Today, we recognize completion of the first phase of preparing for the century ahead,” said Loughman. “Our multiyear approach aims to ensure a high-performing cultural site, well-equipped to meet the coming generation of public expectations in this sophisticated and savvy yet also strikingly accessible community.”
To showcase the project, Loughman enlisted student artists from the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, New Jersey, to create a comic interpretation of the first phase of restoration. The comic strip was featured on pages 14–15 of the Morris Museum’s 2024 annual report.
Attendees of the ceremony at the Morris Museum included Morris Township Mayor Donna Guariglia, Morris County Planning & Preservation Director Joseph Barilla, Morris County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Curry, Morris Museum Director of External Affairs Paul Muir, Morris Museum Board of Trustees Chair Edward von der Linde, as well as members of the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board and the Morris Township Historic Preservation Commission.
In 2024, the Board of County Commissioners allocated $3.6 million from the Historic Preservation Trust Fund to restore, preserve and protect 21 historic sites in 16 towns. Since the program’s inception in 2003, more than $54 million in grants have been awarded to preserve and renovate 129 historic buildings and structures across the county.
To mark the fund’s 20th anniversary, Morris County launched a Historic Preservation Story Map in 2022, an interactive online resource showcasing all grant-funded sites with photos, background information and multimedia content. Many of the 129 funded historic sites will be featured during Morris County’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of independence in 2026.
This spring, the county’s Office of Planning & Preservation will also debut an Open Space Preservation Story Map, featuring preserved lands, parks and trails. The map will provide detailed information and visuals on the program, which has protected more than 18,300 acres of county land since its inception in 1994.
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Image 1: (l-r) A group shot of attendees in front of Morris Museum. Morris Twp. On the left side, front row is Mayor Donna Guariglia (2nd from left), Paul Muir, Morris Museum Director of External Affairs (back); Deputy Director Stephen Shaw and Tom Loughman (right). On the right side, back row: Morris County Planning & Preservation Director Joe Barilla (left), Morris Museum Board of Trustees Chair Edward von der Linde (middle) and Morris County HP Program Coordinator Ray Chang (far right).
Image 2: (l-r) Morris County Historic Preservation Program Coordinator Ray Chang, Morris County Office of Planning & Preservation Director Joseph Barilla, Morris Museum President & CEO Tom Loughman and Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw.
