SOMERSET, NJ- Located in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, several historic Properties are seeking help in cleaning up from the water damage caused by recent rains and D&R Canal flooding. Volunteer Board members and resident caretakers are continuing efforts from yesterday to keep the damage at a minimum as basements and the bookstore are flooded. The Van Wickle House, built in 1722, faces the D&R Canal along Easton Avenue at DeMott lane. Dr. Bruce Hamilton and his wife Ellen were joined by Gary Randolph and Joe Pellicane to clean up water in the basement and Vergano Center.

The Blackwells Mills Canal House, circa 1835, and Franklin Inn, circa 1752, a Used Bookstore, are also in need of volunteers to assist in removing water and soaked items from the basements.

Photo of Franklin Inn & Used Bookstore by Jan ten Broeke in East Millstone 4-17-07 at 2:00 pm.

On South Middlebush Road, the Hageman Farmhouse has water in the basement where Mark Else, Gary Randolph, Bob Hosh and others are working to prepare it for a special event: "Matthew Brady, Cameraman of the Civil War" on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free. Volunteers for the Hageman please contact Bob Hosh at (732) 873-1406. Event reservations and information, please call (732) 560-1977.

For more information about the Meadows Foundation, the properties and events please visit www.themeadowsfoundation.org.





Below is a follow-up to the clean-up effort
4-19-07

Hello Everyone,

I wish to give special thanks to John Lovel, Mark Else and Steve Zahorbenski for helping out with getting the flooded basement under control at Hageman House yesterday. Setting up three sump pumps
certainly got the basement emptied of water in record time. We were able to keep the water level from damaging the furnace motor which was a major concern. The sump pump motor is burned out and a new one will have to be purchased. Temporarily John installed an old pump on which the float does not work so it must be turned on and off manually. I turned it off last night at 10:00 p.m. and by morning we had about 2 inches of water in the basement again, but this will become less and less of a problem as the water table returns to normal. It takes only a few minutes to pump out the 2 inches of water. There is still a little cleaning up to do such as removing some damaged card board boxes.

Thanks again to all who helped.

Bob Hosh
Resident caretaker
Hageman House