Somerset County Presents 2024 Historic Preservation and History Awards

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County honored the winners of the Somerset County Historic Preservation and History Awards for their excellence in preserving local history. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that support the preservation of Somerset County’s history and historic resources through preservation or restoration projects, publications, leadership efforts, or education.

“The extensive history of Somerset County is not just a list of names, places, and events,” said Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson. “We must remember that those names have legacies, these places tell stories, and those events offer insights. That’s why we honor and celebrate these great people and organizations that work to preserve Somerset County’s history.”

The awards are sponsored by the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners and Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

The program is administered by an awards committee appointed by the County’s Cultural & Heritage Commission including Cultural & Heritage Commission board members and Advisory Committee members.

2024 Historic Preservation and History Awards:

History Education Award Winners – Friends of The Abraham Staats House & Robert Morris School (South Bound Brook School District), Witness Stones Project.

From L-R: Rory Britt, President, Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC), Davie-Lyn Jones-Evans, Award Winner, Marge Sullivan, Commissioner, Cultural & Heritage Commission, Kaitlin Bundy, Manager, SCC&HC.

• Project Name – “We Were Here ~ The Enslaved People of Colonial America: An Inclusive History Partnership Program”.
• Project Info – The Friends of the Abraham Staats House, the Witness Stones Project, and 8th graders from Robert Morris School all collaborated to learn the stories of the enslaved people that lived and worked on the Staats farmstead.

This category recognizes specific programs, educational institutions, groups, or individuals, displaying excellence in increasing public awareness and knowledge of Somerset County history.

History Publication Award Winner – Davie-Lyn Jones-Evans.

From L-R: Rory Britt, President, Cultural & Heritage Commission (SCC&HC), Davie-Lyn Jones-Evans, Award Winner, Marge Sullivan, Commissioner, Cultural & Heritage Commission, Kaitlin Bundy, Manager, SCC&HC.

• Project Name – “At Home with History.”
• Project Info – This project focused on the history of Somerville’s African American community. Jones-Evans used her collection of published work to educate readers, along with her 5th grade students at Somerville’s Van Derveer Elementary School, about Somerville’s historic black community.

This category recognizes publications that can include books, journals, articles, brochures, or pamphlets which increase public awareness and knowledge of Somerset County history.

For more information, contact the Cultural & Heritage Commission at 908-231-7021 or email CulturalHeritage@co.somerset.nj.us.

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