Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

TOWN JEWEL WILL SHINE: Dating to the mid-19th century, the Cox House is in line for both an exterior and interior overhaul through the county, which took over the building from the township in 2019. (File Photo by Ryan Morrill)

At its next meeting, on Wednesday, April 20 at 4 p.m., the Ocean County Board of Commissioners plans to introduce an ordinance appropriating $2.25 million for restoration of the historic Cox House in Barnegat Township.

The county has owned the iconic structure since 2019, when it was acquired from the township. An ordinance adopted by the township committee read, in part, that “the township finds it prudent and in the best interests of the taxpayers and the residents of the township to re-convey the property to the county so that the county can make the Cox House part of its parks and recreation inventory.”

Located at the intersection of West Bay Avenue and Route 9, the landmark has served as a meeting place for the Barnegat Historical Society and the Barnegat Garden Club among other local organizations, and has been used for special events such as a spring tea and a holiday meet and greet with Santa Claus.

“The county will do the Cox House justice,” said Mayor Alfonso Cirulli at the time. “Fixing up these historic buildings takes specialized work because you have to maintain the houses’ historic character. The township did a few minor projects, but we couldn’t afford to do any large scale. Now we’re in good hands.”

Joseph Pirozek, county parks department chief of land acquisition and design and Cox House project manager, said the initial cost was approximately $3 million but was reduced due to a $750,000 state grant. He said the first phase will involved renovating the exterior, as well as walkways and gardens. It will also include converting a carriage house and barn located at the rear of the property into restrooms and a storage area for artifacts.

Pirozek said he hopes to go out to bid by late spring, and hopefully finish that phase by the end of the year.

He said the second phase will be devoted to repairing the interior. Pirozek said there is no cost estimate yet since proposed designs are still being worked on, although a $500,000 grant has been secured.

“If all goes well, we hope to begin bidding for Phase Two next year,” he said.

Since the county took over, some work has been completed, such as replacing the roof, repairing the porch and removing asbestos.

The Cox House is the second historic site under the parks and recreation department auspices. The other is the Cedar Bridge Tavern, also located in Barnegat.

A report released approximately 25 years ago by Margaret Westfield, an architect specializing in historic buildings, said the original portion of the Cox House, including the rear kitchen area and second floor bedrooms, was built around 1825. She said the house’s main feature, the large front rooms, was constructed by Capt. William Cox in 1859 and featured Victorian and Colonial Revival styles. It was later the home of Luther and Mary Ann Cox, longtime publishers of the Times-Beacon newspapers until 1978.

The township acquired the Cox House deed in 1985 from the county freeholders and had planned to use the house for cultural activities.

A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for the commissioners meeting on Wednesday, May 4 at 4 p.m.

— Eric Englund

[email protected]

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