By David Vilacoba

Most Fair Haven residents don’t realize that the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission, an advisory board to the governing body designed to protect and promote all things historical, meets and shares discoveries and stamps of approval regularly.

The most recent meeting yielded some interesting tidbits.

Call it a sign of the times. The Fair Haven Historic Preservation Commission approved two new signs on 775 River Road at its monthly meeting on July 22. 

Two businesses submitted applications for the approval of those signs by the borough advisory committee: LSK Interior Design and Bloombar Café et Fleurs, a flower shop with a small cafe in it that also sells specialty coffee.

The committee approved both requests with little hassle, the only condition being that the original signpost will not be altered.

The building at 775 River Road used to be an old residence, according to Arthur Pavluk, the Commission chair. The residence was then turned into a business in the borough’s historic business district, and has been renovated and restored to make the building look, “more period correct,” Pavluk said.

In other news, the committee plans to go ahead with work to renovate Fisk Chapel, which is more commonly known as Bicentennial Hall. External work is planned for the chapel, however many committee members brought up concerns about the acoustics of the building as well.

Fisk Chapel was built in 1882 on Fisk Street by an African-American Methodist congregation made up primarily of freed slaves coming north after the end of the civil war. The chapel was moved to its current location in 1975, and when saved and put on the National Registry of Historic Places, was renamed Bicentennial Hall.

The Historic Preservation Commission has used the structure for a while, but plans to move back to Borough Hall soon for its meetings. The chapel will be continue to be used for other functions.

Also during the meeting, Borough Councilwoman Tracy Cole, liaison to the Commission, announced plans to create an online archive for historical sites across the borough.

“Not everything can fit on a plaque,” Cole said. 

The Historic Association of Fair Haven, under the umbrella of the official borough Commission is in the process of creating a website, as announced by Commission member and Association President Elise Casey on social media.

The Association’s annual garden party is being held on Sept. 6.

In other news, an old capstan was found at the Department of Public Works and Commission members are trying to figure out its origins and history along with what to do with it.

And the transom (upper window) of the old Youth Center, which was Fair Haven Police Department until recently, has been saved as a piece of borough history. It is the original window above the door to the building, which was a very historic place that was a segregated school house. In later years, after segregation ended, there were a few years when kindergarten was held in the upstairs of the main building.

Members are coordinating where the transom should be placed in the new building.

— Featured photo/David Vilacoba

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