250-year-old Emerson home will be demolished, owner says – NorthJersey.com

Video: Bergen County's pivotal places in the American Revolution

Bergen County has two historic sites that recall a time in November 1776 when the fate of the American Revolution hung in the balance, Fort Lee Historic Park and New Bridge Landing.

John C. Ensslin

Emerson's historic DeBaun House, which dates to the 1770s, is being torn down after restoration attempts fellshort.

The Dutch-style home and the land on which it sits are leased by its owner, American Legion Post 269, to the county's Housing Development Corp. for $1 a year, under the terms of a 99-year contract that began in 2014. As part of the agreement, the county built 14 affordable-housing units for disabled veterans behind the structure.

John Hogan, commander of the American Legionpost, said the DeBaun House will be demolished in early November, although no date has been set.

In its place, the American Legion plans tobuild a Colonial-style building that will have four one-bedroom apartments, adding to the 14 units for veterans already on the site.

Hogan said every effort was made to save the building, especially by Councilwoman Jill McGuire. Dry roton the exterior, which was hidden by siding installed a couple of years ago, was just "too severe," he said. And a frozen pipe caused a large water leak and extensive interior damage upstairs.

The spot had been used as a meeting place for veterans since World War I, Hogan said. It was also used as a community space over the years, hostingweddings, parties and even dance lessons for the younger kids in town.

"This house saw the development of our nation," Hogan said. "It witnessed American soldiers representing 13 colonies, fighting for a dream of a free nation, who visited the DeBaun House for provisions to sustain their struggle. American soldiers came from what is now known as Soldier Hill."

McGuire said she had been hopefulthe Housing Authority of Bergen County would fulfill its original intention to restore the structure for the American Legion, but the restoration will not occur. She said she greatly respects the members of the American Legion and their desire to have their own meeting space after not having a proper space for years.

"I understand that the decision they have been forced to make in this matter has been made with great difficulty," McGuire said. "With that being said, I will be very saddened when the DeBaun House is demolished, as its another piece of our rich history that will disappear forever."

Last year, officialsbrainstormed ways to save at least part of the dilapidated building. When the Emerson post entered into the agreement with the county in 2014, the Dutch-style DeBaun House was to be restored, but a further look at the building changed those plans.

The borough received a letter in 2019 from the county Housing Authority that said rehabilitation of the building was "not feasible." Architectural firm Connolly & Hickey, of Cranford, assessed the building in 2015, concluding that renovations would cost around $985,000.

The county agreed to maintain the site until the organization proposed an alternative use acceptable to the borough.

The DeBaun House is not eligible for the New Jersey or National Register of Historic Places due to many alternations made over the years. It was, however, listed on the Bergen County Historic Sites Survey for the borough in 1981-1982 and the 2019 Historic Sites List Update conducted by the Emerson Historic Preservation Committee

Stephanie Nodais a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community,please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email:noda@northjersey.com

Twitter:@snoda11

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250-year-old Emerson home will be demolished, owner says - NorthJersey.com