Historic house needs fundraising group
BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer

The Crawford House

TINTON FALLS - Volunteers are needed to help with fundraising efforts for the historic Crawford House.

Councilmen Michael Skudera and Brendan Tobin are hoping that volunteers will step forward to help form a nonprofit entity to raise money for the refurbishing of one of Tinton Falls' oldest houses.

"If enough people are interested, a nonprofit entity could be formed to partner with the borough of Tinton Falls," Skudera said.

He explained that the borough cannot use tax dollars to help fund the creation of a nonprofit, nor should any elected Tinton Falls officials be trustees of the nonprofit.

"It has to be a separate entity from the borough," he said.

The historic Crawford House, located on Tinton Avenue (Route 537) at the Tinton Falls Bridge, is the southernmost remaining example of Dutch Colonial construction and dates back to at least the 18th century, possibly earlier.

Stacey Slowinski, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission of Tinton Falls, said last year that the house will be rehabilitated for use as a local history and culture center under the direction of Michael Califati, of Historic Building Architects, and Slowinski.

When work is completed, the house will interpret a 1920s Colonial Revival renovation, she said.

The Historic Preservation Commission of Tinton Falls held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in July 2005 to kick off the renovation of the house, which served as home to four generations of the Crawford family.

According to Slowinski, the borough acquired the two-story frame house that was built in the early 19th century in a land swap with Stavola Contracting Co. Inc., Tinton Falls, in 1999.

The downstairs consists of one large living area, a kitchen and bathroom, while upstairs there are four bedrooms and another bath.

Slowinski explained that many members of the Crawford family were active in the community. Allen E. Crawford was a butcher and had his shop at this location from 1924 until he retired in 1965. His wife, Ruth, served as the borough's tax collector in the 1950s.

The total project is slated for completion in four to five years, assuming the continued availability of funding.

"Its preservation has been and continues to be a labor of love for many people in Tinton Falls, but now we need even more help," Tobin said.

Skudera explained that if donations (both private and corporate) could be raised for the preservation and maintenance of the Crawford House, less tax money will be needed.

"By Tinton Falls partnering with a nonprofit, additional matching grants could also be applied for. Many towns are already doing this, including Manasquan, Sea Girt and Fair Haven. Tinton Falls should be among these towns listed," he said.

Anyone interested in helping to organize the fundraising entity can e-mail Skudera at MSkudera@Skudera.com.