Category Archives: History

FRC Leaves Impact

On the day of President Obama’s second inauguration, Lolly, Gary and I hosted a table for our church at the Bush Campus Visitors’ Center of Rutgers University. We were one of 14 stations inviting Rutgers students to volunteer in the … Continue reading

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Project Update from the Town Clock CDC

By Susan Kramer-Mills, Executive Director Small steps seems to be the course we are taking with the plans for the re-design project of the sanctuary. The State Historic Preservation Office performed a site visit and reviewed with the Town Clock … Continue reading

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Celebration Dinner – November 10, 2012

Dear Members of First Reformed Church: This is just another invitation to the splendid Anniversary Dinner that we have planned at the Elks Lodge on November 10 here in New Brunswick. We are so fortunate to have this famous location … Continue reading

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200th Anniversary of Sanctuary Celebrated Worship at the Replica Three Mile Run Church

About 50 people, members and guests, attended our worship service of celebration out at the Three Mile Run Church, the replica which is a part of the East Jersey Olde Towne Village. Employing his voice as our guide, Benjamin T. … Continue reading

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The Rose Window – Help Us Repair It!

First Reformed Church’s sanctuary once was adorned by colorful stained glass windows. Parts of these treasures remain. Some are displayed in the breezeway which connects the sanctuary to the education building. Others are still intact; they were undamaged from the … Continue reading

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Restoring the Sexton’s House

The Sexton’s House is an important feature on the property of First Reformed Church. Built in 1885, it was always meant to house the sextons of our church. For this unique reason, it was included, together with our Education Building and the church itself, on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

The house was built in the style of Queen Anne. According to Architect Margaret Westfield’s 2007 Preservation Plan, this style includes in our case “asymmetry, the use of integrated porches, the use of different materials on the exterior (clapboard and shingles) to create texture, the decorative string course and bargeboards, the sash door at the front entrance with the unusual panel pattern and the large pane of glass surrounded by small panes, and the use of multi-light double-hung sash windows.” Continue reading

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Knowing our History

Our great heritage became quite a bit more accessible to the residents of New Brunswick when on April 20 the brothers Paul and Pat from Paul’s Custom Awards and Trophies installed our outdoor sign in front of the church. The aluminum-etched sign has a sturdy steel frame and includes pictures as well as text. The text provides pivotal dates of our history, and explains our relation with the denomination, with Rutgers University and with the city of New Brunswick. It also includes detail of our church’s architectural features. Finally, the sign was the last piece of construction required under the current capital grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust. A photograph will be included in our final report to the State. Continue reading

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