City
of Newburgh - October 1, 2003
Foundation Stabilization & Drainage
Reconstruction at the Dutch Reformed Church, 2003
It's taken a while, but the restoration of Newburgh's landmark Dutch Reformed
Church finally rests on a firm foundation. The only change visible today
is a fresh new lawn in front of the temple-like facade, but the heavy
earth-moving equipment seen digging all around the building this summer
made critical repairs that had to be completed before any further restoration
work could begin.
In 1999, the National Park Service (NPS) began a scope of work to stabilize
Newburgh's historic Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) as per an agreement with
the City. This work was funded by a combination of sources:
| • |
Save America's Treasures (SAT) Millennium 2000 grant
applied for by Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservancy on behalf
of the DRC |
| • |
1999 City of Newburgh Bond encumbered funds |
| • |
1996 EQBA grant from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic
Preservation |
| • |
Promised SAT match of City in-kind services |
| • |
CDBG 1997 encumbered funds |
$50,000 into the overall stabilization, the NPS let the City know that
the west foundation wall had suffered severe damage from drainage erosion,
and NPS would not proceed with its scope of work until the wall was separately
stabilized. That stabilization had to be simultaneous with reconstruction
of the drainage in order to eliminate future damage.
Part of the same combination of funding was used for a separate contract
to stabilize the west foundation wall and reconstruct the drainage to
divert it from the building. Geodetic/soil tests were done, and specifications
prepared for the work. Once the specifications were reviewed and found
acceptable by numerous agencies, the contract was bid and awarded to R.
O. Excavating, who commenced work in Spring 2003. The contract included
the removal of the concrete pad in front of the building to restore the
lawn, the discreet reinforcing of the west foundation wall with concrete,
and the installation of manholes and piping to take roof and areaway water
away from the building.
With the completion of this contract work in Summer 2003, the National
Park Service will resume its scope of stabilization work in Fall 2003,
using the remaining combination of funding.
Designed in 1835 by Alexander Jackson Davis, the building is considered
an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture. Now owned by the
City of Newburgh, it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2001.
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