Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • August 22, 2012 Waldwick Dogged determination and perseverance have paid off once again for the Waldwick Community Alliance in its quest to restore the 1800’s train station on Hewson Avenue to its former glory. The group was informed recently that it has received a $15,000 grant from an unexpected source: the 1772 Foundation. “I found it simply by searching the Internet,” explained WCA Vice President Doug Cowie of the organization’s newest benefactor. “I came across a website which listed grant opportunities by both public and private entities. The 1772 Foundation’s criteria seemed to fit what we were doing, so we contacted them. They asked us to submit a brief summary about the project and why we could use the funding. After receiving all of the requests, the board narrowed the list down and invited what they deemed the most worthy applicants to complete a full grant application, which we did. And a few months later, we received the email notifying us of the award.” The only catch is that the award must be matched 50/50, which Cowie said the WCA will do. The money, the largest amount the foundation gives out for such projects, will be utilized towards the replacement of the station’s roof, Cowie said. Structural damage to the roof supports uncovered during roof replacement resulted in a $29,000 change order, which this grant will help underwrite. The 1772 Foundation provides financial support for endangered properties, including African American History, historic preservation in NJ, CT, and RI and agriculture and sustainable food systems. The station project was recommended to the foundation by the New Jersey Historic Trust Board of Trustees. “While the WCA based the restoration on the knowledge that we would receive the majority of our funding through Bergen County, receiving a grant such as this, through a private foundation, is really quite rewarding and a pleasant influx of cash into a very expensive project,” Cowie commented. Private grant to pay for station’s roof repair overrun Above and right: Photographs of the Waldwick Train Station by Joanne DiStasi. The WCA was awarded a $293,862 Bergen County Historic Preservation grant in 2010 and $195,000 in 2011. “The WCA is grateful that this project has received so much support and funding to date. I believe that we are the largest grant recipient of any local non-profit group in New Jersey in the past several decades,” Cowie said. The WCA has raised additional funds for the restoration project through private donations and community fundraisers. Cowie said that the organization is continuing to pursue similar funding opportunities, not only for the station’s restoration, but also for the development of the Waldwick Historic Museum. The Waldwick Train Station is listed on Preservation New Jersey’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey. The first phase of the restoration project, which has been ongoing since the WCA signed the lease with the railroad in July, 2009 after three years of negotiations, included the construction of the Yankee gutters and roof replacement. The next phase will likely consist of the repair of all original windows, replacement of all doors to match the originals, paint the exterior, and begin work on the interior. Interior work will include the installation of all new electrical components, heating and cooling, flooring and interior painting.