Historic Preservation Portfolio:  
Allamuchy  •  Ayres/Knuth   •  Van Horne  •  Church of the Presidents

THE VAN HORNE HOUSE, BRIDGEWATER, NJ

Click the thumbnail photo on the left to view the enlarged photo on the right.

Owner:  Heritage Trail Association

Architect:  Michael Calafati, Historic Building Architects

Built in the mid-18th century and listed on the state and national registers, this 14-room home served as headquarters for Continental generals during the Revolutionary War and later as offices of the former American Cyanamid Corporation.

At the time of its renovation in 2002, the building had been vacant for about two decades.

Scope of project:
• Structural reinforcement of sagging walls, floors and ceilings throughout the building.
• Installation of new heating and cooling systems.
• Removing wallpaper, rebuilding walls.
• Fabricating custom doors.
• Adding handicap accessible bathrooms, smoke detectors, emergency lighting
   and a wheelchair ramp.
• Painting the interior.

Challenge:  The building needed to be restored in time for the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Bound Brook, which was about six weeks away. Precision Building & Construction’s major challenge was to stay within the constraints of craftsmanship for historic renovation while meeting an extremely tight deadline and budget.

Result:  More than 7,000 people marched through the structure during the Bound Brook celebration and the building became a museum shortly after reopening. Precision Building & Construction’s offices are now on the second floor, providing ongoing revenue for other historic preservation projects.