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County's 'crown jewel' reopens to public
Often referred to as the "crown jewel" of the Monmouth County Park System, the original mansion was the former home of Geraldine Thompson, whose 215-acre land donation in 1968 helped establish Thompson Park. Originally built in the 1890s and renovated in the early 2000s, the mansion was completely destroyed by a fire in February 2006. Reconstructed with funds from an insurance settlement, the new Visitor Center was built on the mansion's original footprint and the design of the reconstructed center retains the same general appearance as the original with its yellow and dark green color scheme and monumental Doric porch columns. Many of the new exterior and interior details match the building's original historic features and finishes. Visitors familiar with the old building are encouraged to try to spot the differences as they tour the newly constructed space, according to a press release from the park system. Staff will be available to answer questions. The original grounds remain mostly intact as well and visitors can enjoy the collection of specimen trees and shrubs, some more than 100 years old, on the front lawn and in the surrounding landscape. The Visitor Center will house the visitor services staff, which includes the Marketing and Communications Department, coordinator of volunteers, public information officer, superintendent of recreation, an assistant superintendent of parks, and the Thompson Park manager. The Board of Recreation Commissioners awarded a $7.1 million contract Nov. 5, 2007, to M&M Construction covered by a November 2006 insurance settlement between the Hartford Fire Insurance Co. and the Board of Chosen Freeholders. On Feb. 6, 2006, the 110-yearold Geraldine Thompson mansion was set ablaze in a fire that destroyed the entire Visitor Center. A $3 million renovation was nearing completion at the time. By the time the blaze was extinguished, the building was a complete loss. Lost in the fire were all the park system's historical files and an about-to-be-unveiled exhibit on the history of Thompson Park. According to a spokesperson for the park system, subcontractors using a torch to install gutter downspouts were responsible for starting the fire. The blaze spread rapidly due to wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph and due to the "balloon" frame of the 110- year-old structure, which left hollow spaces inside the walls and allowed flames to travel quickly. No injuries were reported by park employees or the more than 120 firefighters on the scene. Thompson Park was donated to the Monmouth County Park System in 1967 by Geraldine Thompson, a political activist who made significant political achievements years before the suffrage movement recognized the right of women to vote. The 40-room Colonial Revival mansion was built in 1896 and was the centerpiece of the Brookdale farm property that would eventually become Brookdale Community College, the Lincroft School and Thompson Park. The Visitor Center had reopened to the public only 11 months prior to the fire and had previously been closed for renovations since October 2000. A recovery plan for the mansion began later that year through which pieces inside and outside the mansion, including a chimney and objects from the porch, were salvaged. The exterior of the reconstructed Visitor Center features replicas of the windows and doors on the old building and chimneys and porch elements that were salvaged from the fire. Operating hours for the Visitor Center will be Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the park system website at www.monmouthcountyparks. com or call 732-842-4000. |
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