The First Presbyterian Church, established in 1733, was the first established church in Morristown. The church had separated from the First Presbyterian Church at Hanover and its initial congregation of approximately 100 people drew from surrounding municipalities. The first building, situated on Morris Street, was constructed circa 1740 and was expanded upon in 1760. As the town and congregation grew, a second Church was constructed in 1795. This church building was expanded upon, then replaced by the current Church on the Green in 1893. The building was designed by prominent New York Architect J. Cleveland Cady in the Romanesque Revival style.

Today, The Presbyterian Church in Morristown consists of two complexes of buildings. The first is the Church on the Green with the adjoining Chapel along with the original manse, The Howard House, which are located on the Green in downtown Morristown. The second is the Parish House, which is a converted church building, originally constructed for the South Street Presbyterian Church, located on South Street.

In 2010, Connolly & Hickey prepared a Historic Site Master Plan that examined the evolution of the buildings, determined possible remedial actions, projected probable costs and made recommendations for action. Based on the recommendations of this report, Connolly & Hickey prepared contract documents and administered construction for partial exterior restoration work at all three buildings.

In 2013, Connolly & Hickey prepared a Feasibility Study for renovation of the Church and Parish House interiors. Based on the findings of this study, Connolly & Hickey designed and administered construction for renovation of the commercial kitchen at the Parish House, which was completed in April 2015.

The next phase of interior renovation at the Parish House focuses on installation of an elevator, renovations to existing spaces, renovation of the attic for useable space, installation of a fire suppression system and air conditioning, and installation of new restroom facilities, among other upgrades; this work was completed in 2016.

Lock 2 East was one of 24 traditional locks within the Morris Canal system, which spanned Northern New Jersey in a general east-west direction between Newark and Phillipsburg. The Morris Canal was constructed between 1825 and 1831 and substantially modified between 1845 and 1860. The Morris canal was a technological innovation for its time; in 109 miles it had cumulative rise and fall of 1,674 feet. Lock 2 East overcame an 8-foot elevation change and today the site hosts one of only a handful of sections of the canal prism that reflects its historic appearance.

The Historic Site Mast Plan prepared for the site by Connolly and Hickey evaluated the historical significance of the site, examined its existing features and conditions, and made recommendations for the future. The work included extensive archeological investigations of the buried features of the lock as well as the overall site, and an evaluation of the ruins of the lock tender’s house.

The Master Plan will serve as a guide in the implementation of the plan to transform this site from a park currently maintained by the Morris County Park Commission and the Borough of Wharton to a more active role as an outdoor museum. Wharton Borough plans to use the site as an outdoor interpretive exhibit on the use of locks along the Morris Canal, with the goal of restoring the Lock to working condition. The plan established design and planning criteria for the site and the need to phase the development over time.

Since preparation of the report, the Borough of Wharton restored the lock to 90% completion and is currently working with Connolly & Hickey in the restoration of the site and the lock tender’s house to its early-20th-century condition.

Charles Foster purchased Fosterfields, today a living historical farm in Morris County, in 1881 from Lt. Joseph Warren Revere, a retired naval officer. Foster transformed the site, particularly the Barnyard Complex, into a modern agricultural business employing some of the latest technologies including ensilage and steam power. The Barnyard was expanded during his tenure to include the Ensilage Building, Granary, Engine House, Creamery, and Sheep and Hog Shed. Foster appears to have also modified the Main Barn and Carriage House as part of his initial improvements to the site. After Foster’s stock of Jersey cows were sold at auction in 1925, his daughter Caroline Foster modified the Main Barn and removed a number of the farm structures. Caroline Foster continued to farm the property on a small scale after she inherited it in 1927; she lived at Fosterfields until her death in 1979 at the age of 102.

Although farmed continuously from the late-19th century until the mid-20th century, the period during Charles Foster’s tenure shows the significance of advances in technology brought about by the mechanization of agriculture in northern New Jersey in the late-19th century. Agriculture began to be more specialized and successful farmers had to employ scientific -based methodologies and new innovative technologies to produce the best products and yield the greatest quantities. Foster exemplified these two practices as seen in his use of ensilage for the feeding of his livestock and of steam power for undertaking many of the labor-intensive duties associated with farming.

Connolly & Hickey prepared a Historic Structure Report for the Barnyard Complex, which resulted in specific recommendations for both future study of the site including archeological investigations, as well as long and short-term recommendations for restoration and rehabilitation. The HSR reviewed the historical significance and development of the Barnyard Complex, developed a chronology of construction and substantiated the County’s already established Period ofSignificance. The document also assessed the existing conditions and made recommendations for repair and restoration including reconstruction and estimated probable costs.

Based on the findings of the Historic Structure Report, Connolly & Hickey prepared contract documents for the restoration of the existing buildings at the Barnyard Complex to their late-19th/early-20th-century appearance. The work included detailed documentation of existing conditions; the generation of design and contract documents for each building component as well as mechanical, electrical and life- safety upgrades; bidding the project to qualified general restoration contractors; and contract administration during construction. Phase III, which was completed in 2010, included restoration of the Granary, Engine House, and Hog and Sheep Shed including repairs to their roofs, siding, windows, doors and interior finishes. Phase IV, which is substantially complete, includes rebuilding the heavy-timber superstructures of the Main Barn and Ensilage Building including new roofing, siding, windows and doors as well as repairs to the interior finishes and features, upgrades to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and restoration of the stucco finishes, fences and site features.

The Historic Ford Faesch House was constructed by Colonel Jacob Ford, Jr. around 1772 and is a fine example of the popular Georgian style architecture of the time. The construction of this residence may have served as the prototype for Ford’s Mansion located in Morristown, which is currently interpreted as Washington’s Headquarters. The Ford-Faesch House is significant for its association with John Jacob Faesch who leased the residence in 1772. Faesch was an ironmaster who had extensive iron ore holdings, charcoal-producing woodlands, and waterpower-driven furnaces and forges in the Morris County region. Faesch controlled each of his large-scale financial and industrial ventures, making him instrumental in the development of eighteenth-century industry and transportation in the region. His iron products were critical in Washington’s efforts during the Revolution. The house is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.

Connolly & Hickey has assisted the Township and the Historical Society with multiple projects. The first phase included masonry repairs at the west wall of the main building and restoration of the roofline of the east kitchen wing. The second phase included the restoration of the exterior masonry, floor framing repair and restoration of the windows at the front elevation. Connolly & Hickey assisted with the third phase, which included restoration of the roofline to its eighteenth-century appearance, and restoration of the remaining windows and exterior doors and front entrance porch. This work provided a sound exterior building envelope. Connolly & hickey also worked with the Historical Society in the update of their Historic Structure Report, which was prepared in 1995 and details the research and work that has gone into the building since that time. The update was completed in 2014. The most recent phase, restoration of the West wing and the cooking fireplace in the East wing, was completed in 2018.