In the wake of the flooding and destruction in New Jersey caused by Hurricane Ida on Sept. 2, the clean-up of the Abraham Staats House is proceeding. As the pictures show, the grounds were flooded with water up to the doorsteps, front and back, of the house. Thankfully, although the basement was completely flooded, the first floors and above of the house largely escaped – although waters did come up a few inches into the “new” kitchen, the mudroom and the rear hall.
With the waters having largely receded in the following two days, members of the South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission and Friends of Abraham Staats House organization were able to remove wet, damaged items from the house and begin the airing out and cleanup of affected areas of the house, as we await further inspection to determine when we can expect to safely reopen. Until then, the house remains closed to the general public.
Our thoughts go out to our neighbors and friends, many of whom in South Bound Brook and neighboring communities suffered loss or damages as a result of the terrible flooding left behind by Ida. The recovery continues as we move forward.
Kathy Ormosi
President ~ Friends of Abraham Staats House
