Carteret, NJ – Mayor Reiman and Councilman Vinnie Bellino have announced that interior construction of Carteret’s Historic and Cultural Center, located at 63 Carteret Avenue, resumed in early January. The former town library building will serve as a museum and historic center, housing pictures, documents, and artifacts relating to Carteret’s local history, and providing a resource for the creative arts and cultural learning.
The historic structure was originally built in 1898 as a YMCA. It was purchased by six local industries and donated to the Borough in 1930 to be used as a library or educational facility. It served as the Borough’s library until 2001 when it was abandoned.
All of the building’s architectural highlights have been preserved throughout its restoration.
Once completed the building will function as an educational resource for residents and visitors, serving as a museum, reference center, meeting place, and arts facility. Aesthetic improvements have included exterior restoration and structural improvements including new siding, windows, entrances, sidewalks, signage, and ADA accessibility.
Additional construction began in December 2012 that once completed will include remediation, upgrades to the heating system, installation of a new air conditioning system, new flooring on the main level, replication of existing panels and moldings, new paint and interior finishes, the creation of an ADA compliant restroom, and upgrades to lighting and ceilings. Additional exterior improvements, including new roofing and siding, have been provided at no cost to the Borough through donations of time and services by local businesses, according to Carteret’s Department of Engineering.
“Carteret has a very rich history,” Mayor Reiman commented. “We’re pleased to finally provide suitable location to house Carteret’s Historic Society, and the evidence of our past that has been preserved by our residents over the course of our history. With its state-of-the-art rehabilitation, this facility will also serve as a resource for the creative arts, and provide the community with a comfortable place for learning, sharing, and congregation.”
“This is a great example of our efforts to diversify of Carteret’s recreational and educational resources,” Councilman Vinnie Bellino added. “We’re establishing that Carteret is not only a great place for leisure, but also education and enrichment. Whether you’re a student or a senior like myself, you won’t find a shortage of culture in Carteret.”
