Plaque Dedicated at Historic Friends Meeting House in Randolph

Published on October 16, 2024

Preservation of New Jersey's Oldest Wood-Frame Meeting House Celebrated

Inside the fully restored Friends Meeting House in Randolph. (l-r) Randolph Mayor Christine Carey, Dr. Nicholas Steneck, Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, Commissioner Director Christine Myers and Margaret Steneck. Morris County Commissioners, Randolph municipal officials, and members of the Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association gathered this past weekend at the Historic Randolph Friends Meeting House for a Morris County Historic Preservation Trust plaque dedication ceremony.

Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers and Deputy Director Stephen Shaw presented the black-and-bronze Morris County Historic Preservation Trust plaque to Margaret Steneck, who served as president of the Randolph Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association from 1985 to 2008 and whose ancestors were part of the original Quaker community.

“The Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund has invested nearly $700,000 in preservation dollars into this building, and it’s been a phenomenal program, "said Deputy Director Shaw, liaison to the Historic Preservation Trust Fund Review Board. “It’s our honor to present this plaque to an original descendent.”

The 1758 Randolph Meeting House is the oldest wood-frame meeting house in New Jersey still in its original location and condition. For more than a century, it served as the center of religious and social life for the Randoph-area Quaker community. Dr. Nicholas Steneck, President of the Randolph Friends Meeting House and Cemetery Association, provided a presentation on the building’s construction and restoration.

The cemetery, which has been in continuous use since 1758, contains the burials of many early settlers of the northwest New Jersey Highlands, including anti-slavery organizer Jacob Lundy Brotherton and Randolph Township's namesake Hartshorn Fitz Randolph.

“History is core to who we are and our identity as Morris County, which is the Crossroads of the Revolution. What has enabled us to be here today is the sacrifice of those who fought for our freedom,” said Director Myers. “Commissioner Shaw and I are honored to be leading the effort from the commissioners’ perspective for the semi-quincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the country.”

View More Photos From the Friends Meeting House

Since 2004, a total of $690,745, in funding has been provided through the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund for preservation work on the building and cemetery. The funding includes the 2007 Annex project and a 2019 grant for a second round of improvements under a new Preservation Plan that covered:

  •  Asbestos removal, new roof, siding repair and overall exterior treatment
  •  Improved parking and access to both the Meeting House and Cemetery
  •  Interior preservation and changes designed to enhance visitor experience, including improved signage and lighting
  •  Survey and refurbish the cemetery, restoring its 18th century landscaping
  •  Expand the Annex to provide additional meeting, display, and storage space and updated, accessible facilities

 

Exterior view of the fully restored Friends Meeting House in Randolph. (l-r) Randolph Councilman Lou Nisivoccia, Mayor Christine Carey, Dr. Nicholas Steneck, Margaret Steneck, Director Christine Myers and Deputy Director Stephen Shaw. “Descendants have kept this building standing since the late 19th century when the last of the original Quakers died. They realized they needed an association to keep it going so they established it,” said Margaret Steneck. “If Morris County and the state of New Jersey had not stepped in in the 1980s, this building would have fallen down, and we are deeply indebted for that support.”

The taxpayer-funded Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund has preserved more than 120 structures, dedicating about $50 million since its inception 21 years ago.

“The dollars are coming from the taxpayers, but the taxpayers overwhelmingly support these efforts. Every time we go to them to get one of these projects approved, they pass by a three-to-one margin,” Shaw said.

“Thank you to the county and the taxpayers for contributing these funds and thank you for taking good care of this beautiful place and to preserve our history,” said Randolph Mayor Christine Carey, who was accompanied by fellow Randolph Councilmember Lou Nisivoccia.

To learn more about the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund, visit: https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Departments/Historic-Preservation

To learn more about the Randolph Friends Meeting House and Cemetery visit: https://randolphmeetinghouse.org/index.html

###

Photo 1: Inside the fully restored Friends Meeting House in Randolph. (l-r) Randolph Mayor Christine Carey, Dr. Nicholas Steneck, Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, Commissioner Director Christine Myers and Margaret Steneck.

Photo 2: Exterior view of the fully restored Friends Meeting House in Randolph. (l-r) Randolph Councilman Lou Nisivoccia, Mayor Christine Carey, Dr. Nicholas Steneck, Margaret Steneck, Director Christine Myers and Deputy Director Stephen Shaw.

 

Tagged as:
Back to top