ABOUT THE HOWE FARMSTEAD PROJECT

The Somerset County Historical Society (SCHS), in partnership with Somerset County, is proud to announce the extensive restoration and preservation of the Howe Farmstead in Franklin Township. This important project will return the historic farmhouse and surrounding landscape to their former beauty while reimagining the site as an interdisciplinary engagement space. Once completed, the farmstead will host local history programs, educational events, and leisure activities that connect the community with Somerset County’s past.

These efforts honor the farmstead’s longest residents, Dr. Eugene Howe and Lois Howe, who lived in the farmhouse from 1947 until 2008. Their dedication to historic preservation and community enrichment continues to shape the site’s future.

The Howe Farmstead is a historic group of buildings and land located within Colonial Park. The original farmhouse, dating to approximately 1732, is believed to have been built by a member of a family that owned property in the area and represents the Dutch and English farmhouse traditions common throughout eighteenth‑century Somerset County. The original structure now serves as the kitchen wing, with a larger two‑story farmhouse addition constructed later in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Historically, the farmstead included a carriage house, hay barn, corn crib, chicken house, hired man’s house, outhouse, and well. While some of these outbuildings were lost over time—most notably the barn and carriage house due to structural failure—Somerset County is currently rebuilding the carriage house as part of its preservation efforts.

This restoration project represents a new approach to historic preservation at the county level. Rather than focusing solely on architecture, the project embraces the concept of “socio‑history,” which places equal emphasis on the people who built, lived in, preserved, and shaped the property, as well as the cultural and social contexts of each era. As SCHS trustee Rikki Lyn Hauss‑McCarthy explains, socio‑history broadens interpretation beyond buildings to include human stories and lived experience.

The Somerset County Historical Society actively seeks support from individuals, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to assist with both funding and hands‑on preservation work. Through collaborative partnerships, SCHS aims to ensure that the Howe Farmstead remains a vibrant and meaningful community resource for generations to come.

The surrounding parkland, athletic complex, and nature trails bear the Howe family name in recognition of their generosity. The Howes donated land and financial resources to benefit the community and were founding members of The Meadows Foundation. In 1992, they donated the farmstead to Somerset County with the understanding that they could continue to live there for the remainder of their lives, and with the hope that the property would be preserved for the future. Lois Howe passed away in 1995, followed by Dr. Howe in 2008.