Morris County History: Mt. Tabor Historic Designation Ceremony on Sunday
Published on March 15, 2017
Mount Tabor Historic District Unveils National Register Marker on Sunday (March 19)
(JPG, 16KB) J. Richardson Smith History House in Mt. Tabor
The Mount Tabor Historical Society has announced that a ceremony to unveil the National Register Marker commemorating the listing of the Mount Tabor Historic District in Parsippany on the National Register of Historic Places will be held on Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m.
Founded in 1869, the Mount Tabor Historic District embodies the distinctive characteristics of a permanent Methodist Camp Meeting Ground that evolved into a summer resort community and therefore possesses significance in community planning and development.
Another area of significance is its architecture. Particularly of note are the early camp meeting Stick-Style and Gothic Revival influenced cottages with their prominent steep gables, open porches and elaborate gingerbread embellishments.
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The listing marks a major milestone for the community and those involved in the nomination process, which started in January of 2011 with the assistance of grants from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust to help fund the creation of a Mount Tabor Historic Preservation Master Plan and a National Register Nomination.
The freeholder board congratulates Mt. Tabor on this special historic designation,'' said Morris County Freeholder Christine Myers. Preserving our historic buildings is critical as they provide visible evidence of the hard work and character and vision of those who formed our great county. We thank the Mt. Tabor Historic Society for their efforts.''
This nomination required extensive research and documentation over several years utilizing a team of historic preservation specialists and historic architects overseen by HMR Architects. Educational outreach was provided through a series of meetings, programs and speakers presented to the public by the Mount Tabor Historical Society.
(JPG, 16KB) (l/r) Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, Morris County Historic Preservation Program Coordinator Ray Chang, Michelle Munn and Freeholder Christine Myers at a 2016 historic marker presentation for Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor Historic District's official designation on the National Register of Historic Places is, first and foremost, honorary, and it is a great privilege to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, said Michelle LaConto Munn, president of the Historical Society. I am so honored to have had a part in getting Mount Tabor its due recognition as being historically significant to our state and nation. "I hope it will increase awareness and appreciation of our lovely historic community.
The Mount Tabor Historic District was officially listed on the New Jersey Register on Jan. 8, 2015, and approved for listing on the National Register for Historic Places on March 3, 2015.
The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, and is the country's official list of United States historic sites considered worthy of preservation. The Register honors the district by recognizing the historical significance to its community, state and nation.
The Mount Tabor Historic District consists of 130 acres of a wooded hill in the western part of Parsippany-Troy Hills Township on the border with Denville Township and has a total of 229 buildings.
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There are benefits associated with listing on the National Register, including eligibility of non-profits to qualify for historic preservation grants, and the ability to take advanatage of the New Jersey Rehabilitation Subcode which incorporates certain code allowances outside the traditional building code to encourage the preservation of historic buildings.
Additionally, a review process ensures that state and federally funded projects in the district comply with federal and state laws by exploring ways to avoid, minimize and offset any negative effects to properties or districts listed on the National Register.
It is important to point out that Mount Tabor's listing on the National Register does not place any restrictions whatsoever on homeowners' use or maintenance of their property. This is a common misconception about being on the National Register.
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About the National Register: The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of cultural resources significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture. For more information, visit the National Park Service web site at www.NPS.gov/nr.
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About the Mount Tabor Historical Society: For more information on this district and the wealth of historic resources reflecting the heritage of Mount Tabor, visit the Mount Tabor Historical Society web site at http://www.MountTaborNJ.org.
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About the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust: The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders created the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund (Fund) to help support the preservation of the county's exceptional abundance of historic resources. For more information: http://planning.morriscountynj.gov/divisions/prestrust/historic/