Historic Structure Investigation: The Collins House, Bloomfield, New Jersey

Abstract

The Collins House in the Township of Bloomfield, New Jersey, is in the process of being rehabilitated with the intent for the building to become one of the visitor centers along the state-wide Morris Canal Greenway. Despite the building’s National Register Nomination form and a cultural resources survey carried out in 1982, there is a lack of detailed documentation of the Collins House to guide future interpretation of the site and ensure that character defining features are preserved and retained. Therefore, an investigation was conducted as part of this report to document the current condition of the Collins House, examine the evolution of interior spaces and layouts over time, and identify character defining features. This analysis concludes by offering recommendations that will guide the township in future rehabilitation efforts and will ensure the retention of the building’s integrity so that visitors will experience a historically accurate interpretation of the Collins House.