- November 23, 2025
- Kelly C. Ruffel
TRENTON, N.J. — Preservation New Jersey celebrated excellence in historic preservation at its 2025 Historic Preservation Awards, held November 6th at the historic Trenton Masonic Temple. The event drew preservation professionals, community leaders, educators, and advocates from across the state to recognize individuals and projects that demonstrated extraordinary commitment to protecting New Jersey’s historic and cultural resources.
The night began with PNJ acknowledging the critical role of its members and sponsors in its ongoing missions of statewide advocacy, education, and recognition of the NJ preservation community. Sponsors included the Historic Trenton Masonic Temple, Clarke Caton Hintz, HMR Architects, John O’Hara Company, Architectural Heritage Consultants, Hall Construction, Fairlawn Main Street, Inc., the Oak Grove Cemetery Association, Ken Roginski (Old House Guy), Olivia Carpenter Glenn & Family, and Paul and Dawn Muir.
PNJ was delighted to report a record number of nominations in 2025, reflecting growing public interest in preservation efforts across New Jersey. Five submissions were selected for Honorable Mention and received Preservation Stewardship Awards:
- Walter C. Quint – Retired educator Dr. Walter C. Quint was honored for more than five decades of leadership in historic preservation in Paulsboro, including the restoration of the Samuel P. Paul House and the establishment of the Paulsboro Historic Preservation Commission.
- Leslie Frucht – Fair Lawn preservation advocate Leslie Frucht was recognized for her leadership on the Naugle House restoration, Radburn District pedestrian tunnel project, and public education initiatives that expanded awareness of Fair Lawn’s history.
- Oak Grove Cemetery Association – The Oak Grove Cemetery Association of Hammonton was honored for revitalizing one of the region’s oldest cemeteries through expanded community outreach, bilingual audio tours, heritage plantings, and veterans’ programming.
- Runyon Farmstead Development Project – The Runyon Farmstead project received recognition for sensitively integrating new housing with the preservation of historic farm structures, including restoration of the Runyon Homestead and outbuildings.
- Middlesex College Public History Program – The Public History Program at Middlesex College, led by Dr. Cristobal Espinoza-Wulach, was cited for its hands-on approach to teaching preservation and for creating the Middlesex County Oral History Archive.
Next, Preservation New Jersey presented its highest awards to individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation. The awardees were:
- Constance Greiff Writing Award – Author Jennifer Boyd was recognized for A Home Renovator’s Guide for Historic Ocean Grove with Memories of a Preservationist, the 1980s, which documents the 1980s preservation movement in Ocean Grove through narrative, photography, and practical guidance.
- David Knights New Preservation Initiatives Award – The Trenton Historical Society received the award for its Restore Trenton! grant program, which since 2007 has provided more than $200,000 to homeowners for exterior rehabilitation projects in historic districts.
- Historic Preservation Commission Award – The Maplewood Historic Preservation Commission was honored for innovative outreach including mailing historic “birthday cards” to homeowners as well as advancing the township’s preservation planning efforts and securing increased municipal support.
- Young Preservationist Award – Thomas Sheridan of HMR Architects received the Young Preservationist Award for his technical expertise, including pioneering the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in preservation projects, and for his work on major restoration efforts statewide.
- Doris C. Carpenter Excellence Award – Guy Weston, founder of the Timbuctoo Historical Society, was recognized for extensive research and advocacy that has elevated the history of Timbuctoo, a free Black community founded in 1826, to statewide and national prominence.
- Sarah P. Fiske Legacy & Leadership Award – Longtime preservation leader Nancy Zerbe earned the organization’s lifetime achievement award for more than four decades of service, including major reforms at the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and ongoing local advocacy in Metuchen.
- Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms – The Museum was honored for restoring the Annex and the Log House Kitchen following severe storm damage in 2020. The project improved museum interpretation, restored historic sightlines, and enhanced public access.
- Monmouth County Park System – Historic Racing Stable – The Monmouth County Park System was recognized for its $2.6 million restoration of the Historic Racing Stable at Thompson Park, returning the 1870s structure to its historic appearance and opening it to the public for the first time.
The event concluded with a call by PNJ President Paul Muir to continue the work of protecting the places and stories that define New Jersey’s unique identity. He praised this year’s award recipients for their creativity, dedication, and public service, noting that the rising number of nominations signals a bright future for preservation across the state.
For more information about Preservation New Jersey and its programs, visit their website or follow upcoming announcements about next year’s awards.
