Rehabilitation of the Manor: 1984 to present

According to the lease agreement between the State of New Jersey and the County of Warren, dated 9 Aug 1982, it states that

“Whereas, Landlord [State of New Jersey] has a dedicated interest in and responsibility for acquiring, preserving, restoring, maintaining, and developing properties which are of historic significance, and further for developing educational aspects and significance of said properties, and…

Whereas, Tenant [County of Warren] and proposed to Landlord [State of New Jersey] it is willing to undertake the restoration and preservation of Shippen Manor and surrounding curtilage and develop programs respecting its historic integrity including making Shippen Manor available to the public for interpretive purposes…”[1] 

Around that time, the kitchen, dining room, two bedrooms upstairs and the bathroom were going to be renovated and/or improved by the Bureau of Parks. In turn, the plan included:

• Install new electrical service and panel for entire structure

• Install wiring and circuit breakers for apartment (north wing)

• Renovate heating system, and have it in operation for apartment (north wing)

• Provide an adequate potable water source

• Have septic system operational

In a 1988 article in The Star-Ledger by Art Charlton, “Restoring History, Shippen Manor Renovation Uncovers Past”, the first phase of the renovation was nearly completed and workers “repointed the 2-foot-thick exterior fieldstone walls, reconstructed the two-story porches uses as much original wood as possible and installed a new roof of oak shake shingles.” The next phase would involve the repair or restoration of “doors, windows and internal structures of the building” which would include the “reinstallation of utilities, a 20^th century convenience needed to light, heat and provide security for the building.” At this time, the Manor had not been inhabited for nearly 14 years. [2]

The County of Warren created the Shippen Manor Committee of the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Committee to oversee the restoration of the Manor. In the early days, the Manor, which had fourteen rooms, was referred to as “The Castle” and was the scene of many decadent parties and balls. [3]  According to the article, Jeff Martinson (of the architectural firm hired to rehabilitate the Manor) noted that the building would be restored to around 1860, to show the “evolution of the home over time.”[4] Moreover, Martinson referenced leaving certain beams, walls and joints exposed to show the “evolution” of the structure.[5]

In July of 1996, “miscellaneous repairs and improvements at the Shippen Manor building and site, 8 Belvidere Avenue, Oxford, NJ.” This included the “reconstruction of stone retaining walls north of the North Addition and along Belvidere Ave. from the lower to upper drive, repairs to porch columns and wooden components along the north edge of the two-story east porch.” Further repairs or updates include the “application of fire retardant treatment to existing wood roofing shakes, inspection and repair of all sheet metal flashings, gutters, and leaders, and the site lighting to north parking lot”. [6]

In 1997, the repairs at Shippen included emergency repairs to the structure. It was in dire need of a new roof and supports as well as significant cracks in two of the four chimneys that required repointing and capped all four. [7]

In 2020 to 2021, rehabilitation of the exterior of the Manor is underway and includes repair and repainting of the porches (columns, railings and balusters) and shutters as well as replacing any broken or cracked windows and some slight masonry work.