OHG

Atlantic Highlands Historical Society

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Older Homes Group

Sponsored by the Atlantic Highlands Historic Society, this group focuses on maintaining a dialogue between owners of older houses in the town, interested in repair and restoration of their homes. Members share information on contractors and supplies and pose restoration questions or issues to the group via email.

WHAT IS THE OLDER HOMES GROUP?

The Older Homes Group (OHG) was formed for local homeowners to exchange practical information (and war stories) on restoring or renovating older homes—or just surviving living in them (basic maintenance).

Since its inception, the group has held some structured meetings, presenting topics such as renovation versus restoration, wood refinishing, and an interesting slide show presentation of a total renovation of a Freehold Bed & Breakfast.

The group is sufficiently diverse in opinion to accommodate people ranging from those who seek to achieve precise restoration of original characteristics and features to those who just want to improve the appearance of their house in the spirit of history. Everyone is welcome! The group needs people to bring ideas and knowledge and a willingness to share them.

JOIN THE OLDER HOMES GROUP EMAIL EXCHANGE

One of the primary benefits of the Older Homes Group is the ability to contact other owners of older Atlantic Highlands homes with your questions. Information exchanged ranges from things like looking for a referral for a contractor, asking about advice on completing a home project and sharing useful information you have found.

To send a message or question to the members of the Older Homes Group please send your message or question to OlderHomesGroup@yahoogroups.com. In order to view receive any responses to your message you must be part of the Older Homes Group distribution list.

To be added to the Older Homes Group distribution list please send your name and Atlantic Highlands address to OHG Distribution.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR OLDER HOME

To learn more about your older home take a look at the research materials and publications available at the Strauss Mansion or browse through the links to useful research sites.

CENTURY PLAQUE APPLICATION AND INFORMATION

The Atlantic Highlands Historical Society (AHHS) invites you to apply for your house to become part of our Century House program, which honors buildings in our town that are over 100 years old.

Available records indicate that about 240 existing buildings in town have reached the century mark, though some have lost part or all of their original appearance. So far, twenty (??) houses have received an attractive Century House plaque from the Society that records the construction date. Attached is a black-and-white photograph of a plaque. A building is eligible if its date of construction can be documented and its exterior as seen from the street is recognizable as original to the structure.

As the owner, you are responsible for authenticating the age of the structure. Documents acceptable as proof are listed on the attached sheet. To aid in your research, you may want to consult our two free guides, “Researching Older Houses and Properties in the Monmouth County Archives” and “Sources for Researching Older Houses in Atlantic Highlands.” If you lack information or are having difficulty, members of the AHHS Century House committee will try to provide assistance. For further information, you can phone Bette VanDeventer at (732) 291-4313.

You then present the results of research on your house by completing the enclosed Application sheet. Submit the application together with a registration fee of $50 in a check payable to Atlantic Highlands Historical Society. The fee is returnable if the structure appears too altered from its original design as to be unrecognizable.

Application for this program and actual plaquing of the structure reflect your personal wish to maintain as far as possible the historically appropriate external appearance of the building, at least for the portions that are visible from the street. However, the program and the plaque place no official or legal restrictions on the sale or disposition of the building, or on interior and exterior structural and decorative work. The plaque simply identifies your house as being one of the oldest historical structures in our Borough.

If the application is approved, you will be notified and a Century House plaque that includes the date of construction will be awarded to you. Your home will then be recognized as one of a select group – a Century Site of our town.