There are a variety of membership levels for both residents and friends of the Seven
Oaks Park Historic Association. For information, please see our membership
page on this website.
Are there any tax incentives for owners of historic properties?
Visit Preservation New Jersey's "Take Action" webpage for more details,
http://www.preservationnj.org
How do I research the history of my house?
a. A good place to start is at the Orange City Hall, 29 N. Day Street at the corner of
Main Street You can check to see if the Tax Office and the Planning Board have any
documents on file pertaining to your property. Any changes to your property which
would have required a building permit or variance would be on file with the Planning
Board. Permits and variances were not required until the mid to late 1900's to
present; therefore any additions or changes early than that would probably not be on
file at City Hall. Unfortunately, many of the older records for South Orange no longer
exist, victims of a past fire.
b. The Orange Public Library, Main Street, www.opl.org maintains an informal
archive of maps, tax maps, local atlases, and old phone directories dating back to
the late 1800's. The old phone directories are a great source of information. Most
provide a list of phone numbers not only by name of property owner, but also by
address (reverse listing). You can look up your address and then turn to the page
with the former owner's name and phone number. The older directories often list the
owner's profession.
c. A Title search of your property, searching back from current deed to previous
deed, and so forth, can provide you with a list of the names of all previous owners to
your property. You can complete this title search on your own, or pay a Title
Company to complete it for you. All of Essex County's titles are recorded at the
Essex County Hall of Records in Newark. For information, call 973 621 - 4960 or
visit their website at www.essexregister.com/info.html. The Hall of Records also has
a map archive.
d. Seton Hall University maintains historic archives including old maps, atlases,
vintage postcards, and photographs. It was popular, years ago, to photograph
homes to be used as postcards.
e. There are also archives available at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark
(http://www.jerseyhistory.org/), and the New Jersey State archives are located in
Trenton. Contact the NJ State Historic Preservation office to find out the location of
the state archives in Trenton (http://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/). The State Historic
Preservation office publishes a booklet
(http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sustain/houseresearch.pdf) with further
information which pertains to researching the history of your property.
What is the definition of an Historic District?
Historic District - An Historic District is one or more historic sites and intervening or
surrounding property significantly affecting or affected by the quality and character of
the historic site or sites. This area shall have a significant concentration, linkage, or
continuity of sites, buildings, structures and/or objects which, viewed collectively:
Represent a significant period(s) in the development of the town
Or have a distinctive character resulting from their architectural style.
Resources within an historic district shall be classified as "key", "contributing", or
"non-contributing".
What is an Historic Site?
The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office defines an historic site as: houses,
structures or objects which possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials,
workmanship, and association and which have been determined, pursuant to the
terms of the ordinance to be any of the following:
Of particular historic significance to the City of Orange by reflecting or exemplifying
the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state or
community; Associated with the historic personages important in national, state or
local history; The site of an historic event which had a significant effect on the
development of the nation, state or community; An embodiment of the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or method of architecture or engineering;
Representative of the work or works of a locally, regionally or nationally important or
recognized builder, designer, artist or architect; Significant for containing elements
of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation;
Able or likely to yield information important in prehistory or history.
A site is defined as real property, whether public or private, with or without
improvements, which is the location of a significant event or series of events, a
prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building, structure, or object, or any
configuration, portion, or group of the foregoing which has been designated by the
Commission as having historical, archeological, cultural, scenic, or architectural
significance.
Is my house within the Seven Oaks Park Historic District of Orange?
A map of the historic district with a description of the general boundaries is located
here. The shaded area indicates the areas of Seven Oaks Park Orange which are
considered to be within the Historic District. Within this shaded area, there are
properties which are considered to be "contributing" to the district (the majority of
properties), and some which are considered to be "noncontributing". Some
properties are considered to be "key" properties.
What is a "contributing" versus a "noncontributing" property to the Historic
District?
Contributing is defined as any building/s, structure/s, site/s, or object/s that are
integral components of the historic district either because they date from a time
period for which the district is significant, or because they represent an architectural
type, period, or method for which the defined historic district is significant.
Non-Contributing is defined as any building/s, structure/s, site/s, or object/s that are
not integral components of a defined historic district because they neither date from
a time period for which the district is significant nor represent an architectural type,
period, or method of construction for which the district is significant.
(An object is defined as a material thing of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historic,
scenic, or scientific value.)
What is the definition of a "key" property in the Historic District?
Key is defined as any buildings, structures, sites, or objects which, due to their
significance, would individually qualify for landmark status.
How do I determine whether my home is a "contributing",
"noncontributing", or "key" property to the Seven Oaks Park Historic
District?
An Architectural Survey of properties within the Seven Oaks Park Historic District
was completed as a part of the District's application and nomination for historic
status. A copy of this application including the survey and inventory of properties
within the historic district is located at the Orange Public Library and at the Orange
City Administrator's office located at City Hall. You can also read the individual
paragraph districtions for each property in the district inventory via the SOHA
website "District Inventory" webpage.
What is an Architectural Survey?
According to the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, an architectural survey is
defined as the process of gathering information about historic architectural
resources, including all visible aspects of the built environment that combine to form
our historic fabric, including houses, churches, schools, municipal buildings,
commercial structures, bridges, canals, farm structures, parks, gardens, street
furniture, etc. The Architectural Survey of homes within the Seven Oaks Park
Historic District was completed as a part of the District's application and nomination
for historic status. A copy of this application including the survey and inventory of
properties is located at the Orange Public Library and at the City Clerk's
Administrator's office located at Orange City Hall. In the future, we hope to have the
descriptions of properties within the application available on-line.
There are various types of surveys including 'Windshield Level', 'Reconnaissance
Level', and 'Intensive Level'. The survey noted above is considered to be an
intensive level survey.
Windshield Level Survey - also known as a Reconnaissance Level Survey, includes
initial information on local properties including buildings, structures, objects, sites,
and districts, etc., as well as a preliminary report containing an historic overview of
the survey area, survey methodology, and recommendations for further research.
Intensive Level Survey - In depth documentation of buildings, structures, objects,
sites, and districts already identified in a Reconnaissance or Windshield level
survey.
What is an Architectural Inventory?
An inventory is a list of historic properties determined to meet specified criteria of
significance.
What is a designated property?
A Designated Property is defined as any individual building, structure, site, object,
or district, which has been designated as having historical, architectural, cultural,
aesthetic, or other significance.
What is a designated district or landmark district?
A District (also often referred to as "Landmark District") - is defined as a
geographic area with distinctly definable boundaries composed of several buildings
or sites which
a) has acquired a unity of character through the interrelationships of the component
buildings and sites; and
b) has been designated as having historical, archeological, cultural, scenic,
architectural, or other significance.
Landmark - a building, structure, site, or object which has a special character or
special historical or aesthetic interest as part of the development, heritage or
cultural characteristics of the township, state or nation, and which has been
designated as a landmark pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance.
What is the difference between "historic preservation" and "restoration"?
Historic Preservation is the act or process of applying measures to sustain the
existing form, integrity and material of a building or structure, and the existing form
and vegetative cover of a site. It may include initial stabilization work, where
necessary, as well as ongoing maintenance of the historic building materials.
Restoration is considered to be the historically accurate repair or replacement of
architectural features.
Oaks Park Historic Association. For information, please see our membership
page on this website.
Are there any tax incentives for owners of historic properties?
Visit Preservation New Jersey's "Take Action" webpage for more details,
http://www.preservationnj.org
How do I research the history of my house?
a. A good place to start is at the Orange City Hall, 29 N. Day Street at the corner of
Main Street You can check to see if the Tax Office and the Planning Board have any
documents on file pertaining to your property. Any changes to your property which
would have required a building permit or variance would be on file with the Planning
Board. Permits and variances were not required until the mid to late 1900's to
present; therefore any additions or changes early than that would probably not be on
file at City Hall. Unfortunately, many of the older records for South Orange no longer
exist, victims of a past fire.
b. The Orange Public Library, Main Street, www.opl.org maintains an informal
archive of maps, tax maps, local atlases, and old phone directories dating back to
the late 1800's. The old phone directories are a great source of information. Most
provide a list of phone numbers not only by name of property owner, but also by
address (reverse listing). You can look up your address and then turn to the page
with the former owner's name and phone number. The older directories often list the
owner's profession.
c. A Title search of your property, searching back from current deed to previous
deed, and so forth, can provide you with a list of the names of all previous owners to
your property. You can complete this title search on your own, or pay a Title
Company to complete it for you. All of Essex County's titles are recorded at the
Essex County Hall of Records in Newark. For information, call 973 621 - 4960 or
visit their website at www.essexregister.com/info.html. The Hall of Records also has
a map archive.
d. Seton Hall University maintains historic archives including old maps, atlases,
vintage postcards, and photographs. It was popular, years ago, to photograph
homes to be used as postcards.
e. There are also archives available at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark
(http://www.jerseyhistory.org/), and the New Jersey State archives are located in
Trenton. Contact the NJ State Historic Preservation office to find out the location of
the state archives in Trenton (http://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/). The State Historic
Preservation office publishes a booklet
(http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sustain/houseresearch.pdf) with further
information which pertains to researching the history of your property.
What is the definition of an Historic District?
Historic District - An Historic District is one or more historic sites and intervening or
surrounding property significantly affecting or affected by the quality and character of
the historic site or sites. This area shall have a significant concentration, linkage, or
continuity of sites, buildings, structures and/or objects which, viewed collectively:
Represent a significant period(s) in the development of the town
Or have a distinctive character resulting from their architectural style.
Resources within an historic district shall be classified as "key", "contributing", or
"non-contributing".
What is an Historic Site?
The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office defines an historic site as: houses,
structures or objects which possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials,
workmanship, and association and which have been determined, pursuant to the
terms of the ordinance to be any of the following:
Of particular historic significance to the City of Orange by reflecting or exemplifying
the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state or
community; Associated with the historic personages important in national, state or
local history; The site of an historic event which had a significant effect on the
development of the nation, state or community; An embodiment of the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or method of architecture or engineering;
Representative of the work or works of a locally, regionally or nationally important or
recognized builder, designer, artist or architect; Significant for containing elements
of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation;
Able or likely to yield information important in prehistory or history.
A site is defined as real property, whether public or private, with or without
improvements, which is the location of a significant event or series of events, a
prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building, structure, or object, or any
configuration, portion, or group of the foregoing which has been designated by the
Commission as having historical, archeological, cultural, scenic, or architectural
significance.
Is my house within the Seven Oaks Park Historic District of Orange?
A map of the historic district with a description of the general boundaries is located
here. The shaded area indicates the areas of Seven Oaks Park Orange which are
considered to be within the Historic District. Within this shaded area, there are
properties which are considered to be "contributing" to the district (the majority of
properties), and some which are considered to be "noncontributing". Some
properties are considered to be "key" properties.
What is a "contributing" versus a "noncontributing" property to the Historic
District?
Contributing is defined as any building/s, structure/s, site/s, or object/s that are
integral components of the historic district either because they date from a time
period for which the district is significant, or because they represent an architectural
type, period, or method for which the defined historic district is significant.
Non-Contributing is defined as any building/s, structure/s, site/s, or object/s that are
not integral components of a defined historic district because they neither date from
a time period for which the district is significant nor represent an architectural type,
period, or method of construction for which the district is significant.
(An object is defined as a material thing of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historic,
scenic, or scientific value.)
What is the definition of a "key" property in the Historic District?
Key is defined as any buildings, structures, sites, or objects which, due to their
significance, would individually qualify for landmark status.
How do I determine whether my home is a "contributing",
"noncontributing", or "key" property to the Seven Oaks Park Historic
District?
An Architectural Survey of properties within the Seven Oaks Park Historic District
was completed as a part of the District's application and nomination for historic
status. A copy of this application including the survey and inventory of properties
within the historic district is located at the Orange Public Library and at the Orange
City Administrator's office located at City Hall. You can also read the individual
paragraph districtions for each property in the district inventory via the SOHA
website "District Inventory" webpage.
What is an Architectural Survey?
According to the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, an architectural survey is
defined as the process of gathering information about historic architectural
resources, including all visible aspects of the built environment that combine to form
our historic fabric, including houses, churches, schools, municipal buildings,
commercial structures, bridges, canals, farm structures, parks, gardens, street
furniture, etc. The Architectural Survey of homes within the Seven Oaks Park
Historic District was completed as a part of the District's application and nomination
for historic status. A copy of this application including the survey and inventory of
properties is located at the Orange Public Library and at the City Clerk's
Administrator's office located at Orange City Hall. In the future, we hope to have the
descriptions of properties within the application available on-line.
There are various types of surveys including 'Windshield Level', 'Reconnaissance
Level', and 'Intensive Level'. The survey noted above is considered to be an
intensive level survey.
Windshield Level Survey - also known as a Reconnaissance Level Survey, includes
initial information on local properties including buildings, structures, objects, sites,
and districts, etc., as well as a preliminary report containing an historic overview of
the survey area, survey methodology, and recommendations for further research.
Intensive Level Survey - In depth documentation of buildings, structures, objects,
sites, and districts already identified in a Reconnaissance or Windshield level
survey.
What is an Architectural Inventory?
An inventory is a list of historic properties determined to meet specified criteria of
significance.
What is a designated property?
A Designated Property is defined as any individual building, structure, site, object,
or district, which has been designated as having historical, architectural, cultural,
aesthetic, or other significance.
What is a designated district or landmark district?
A District (also often referred to as "Landmark District") - is defined as a
geographic area with distinctly definable boundaries composed of several buildings
or sites which
a) has acquired a unity of character through the interrelationships of the component
buildings and sites; and
b) has been designated as having historical, archeological, cultural, scenic,
architectural, or other significance.
Landmark - a building, structure, site, or object which has a special character or
special historical or aesthetic interest as part of the development, heritage or
cultural characteristics of the township, state or nation, and which has been
designated as a landmark pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance.
What is the difference between "historic preservation" and "restoration"?
Historic Preservation is the act or process of applying measures to sustain the
existing form, integrity and material of a building or structure, and the existing form
and vegetative cover of a site. It may include initial stabilization work, where
necessary, as well as ongoing maintenance of the historic building materials.
Restoration is considered to be the historically accurate repair or replacement of
architectural features.
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