Craftsman Farms Asks Town for $555K in Open Space Funds for Expansion

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Parsippany's only national historic landmark site, wants to expand—and the town-owned nonprofit is asking the Town Council to allow a little over half a million dollars in Open Space Trust Fund money to be spent for this purpose.

Representatives of the historic site made their annual presentation before the council at its regular meeting Tuesday night at Parsippany High School.

Trustee Davey Willans was the first to speak, and he showed the audience photographs depicting how the museum has evolved over time from unused buildings in disrepair to the authentically designed and appointed buildings whose exhibits and public programs entertain and educate thousands of visitors from across the nation each year.

"We get people coming from 28 states and 14 countries," Willans reported. "Most visitors are from California and New York."

Willans, Executive Director Heather Stivison and Trustee Barbara Weiskittel talked about the many reasons they say Craftsman Farms is a feather in Parsippany's cap, including the growing audience of repeat visitors; its success in fundraising; and eye-opening, educational and popular exhibits, including last year's groundbreaking showing of “Styling an American Family: The 1910s at Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Farms.”  

Willans said that in 1987, 26 acres and six buildings were paid for by the Open Space Historic Preservation Fund. Two years later, the Craftsman Farms Foundation was formed to manage the site.

"The township and the foundation established an effective partnership," he said. "The log house [the site's main building] was transformed from a rundown cabin to a national historic landmark house museum. The grounds are transformed—they were a fairly significant eyesore and now, they've been transferred into a beautiful park. People come from all over to enjoy picnic lunches on the site."

He said the partnership was strengthened six years ago, when Parsippany and the foundation negotiated a 25-year partnership agreement, "bringing professional pride and professional staff, guiding us toward continued growth [and working] to seek grant monies."

"This organization has raised from other granting sources about [$3 for every dollar] the township has put into this site," Willans said."We're awfully proud of that point and hope you will be too. You get a return on investment, bang for the buck…

"Come see us, because we'll turn [your investment] into gold," said Stivison. "We're emboldened, and we have a plan to move forward."

According to the executive director, the site continues its extensive restoration and refurbishment of buildings on the now-30-acre site and plans to introduce new programming for the community.

Stivison said that expansion is necessary to continue the 102-year-old Craftsman Farms' success into the future.

The requested open space funds would be spent as follows:

• $70,000 for remediation of the log cabin that serves as a main museum space
• $50,000 for basic vistitor-oriented improvements, including exterior lighting and cottage window upgrades
• $435,000 to turn the current administration building into additional exhibition and public program space and to restore the now-unused White Cottage to house staff offices and a public resource center.

Willans said that the $555,000 figure is only a partial one that does not cover all the work that needs to be done.

"It's probably closer to a million," he said. "But we are committed to raising the additional funds from the broad audiences we serve."

He reminded those present that Craftsman Farms is "more than just a historic house."

"It's a museum committed to be a resource for Parsippany," he said. "By having a space for these exhibitions we can provide a service to the community for a greater good."

Councilman Michael dePierro agreed.

"Back in 1986, when we tried to save Craftsman Farms from bulldozers, we did that," he said. "We had no idea how the township was going to operate at Craftsman Farms and restore all those buildings. Well, the best thing we ever did was to form the Craftsman Farms Foundation. They are absolutely impressive."

DePierro serves as the council's liaison to the museum and its nonprofit foundation.

"With a lot of groups, you hear that 10 percent do 90 percent of the work," he said. "One hundred percent do 100 percent with these trustees. They are a very impressive group of volunteers.

"We are really, really fortunate in Parsippany."

No item was on the Tuesday agenda regarding an Open Space Trust Fund expenditure for Craftsman Farms, however the council approved a resolution reaffirming its support for sustainable state funding for preservation and stewardship of open space, parks, farmland and historic sites in New Jersey.

A measure specifically addressing Craftsman Farms' request is expected to appear before the governing body in the near future.