# Freeman’s Funeral Home & Town Council Destroy Historic Building

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/freemans-funeral/
- Published: 2019-05-13T19:42:57-04:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

Freeman’s Funeral Home in Freehold NJ, owns the property next door to them.

On that property is the historic Christopher House at 49 E Main Street.

The Christopher House is a Greek Revival building that was built between 1830 and
1840 and the last of this type on Main Street.

Although covered in plastic siding, the building was leased out to some local business’
and was a nice addition to Main Street Freehold.

It is surprising most of the historic character has been maintained by the owner
of Freeman’s Funeral Home because the funeral parlor is also in a historic building.

[⌊greek revival christopher house freehold nj⌉⌊greek revival christopher house freehold
nj⌉[

The historic Christopher House was built between 1830-1840.

As you can see in the photo, the architecture of the current funeral home was remuddled
and covered with cheap looking plastic siding, plastic windows, shutters, and fake
stone.

Unfortunately there was an oil tank under the Christopher House that was leaking.

The oil tank was apparently located under the house which seems odd, yet the leak
could have been remediated.

One option stated in the local newspaper was to elevate the house and do the remediation
before the oil leak became worse. The cost could have gone as high as $90K.

[⌊freemans funeral home⌉⌊freemans funeral home⌉[

Freeman’s Funeral Home covered in plastic.

If the cost was to be this high one would think the borough could assist with the
clean-up costs for such an important Main Street building. **However this was enough
for the Land Use Committee and the Council to approve demolition.**

The Freehold Historic Preservation Commission, known for allowing demolition to 
historic buildings surprisingly opposed the demolition. They **opposed the demolition
because there was no solid evidence of a leak**. The Historic Preservation Commission
argued that this must be referred to the Planning Board **but the Council ignored
this request**. (Thanks for trying HPC)  **One wonders why the Council would ignore
the HPC in favor of demolition**. Something here seems very fishy. Of course we 
will never know if anything was discussed behind closed doors?

> Here is a newspaper article stating the lack or evidence and speculative information
> presented on behalf of Freeman’s Funeral Home. [Click here. ](https://web.archive.org/web/20220516222557/https://centraljersey.com/2018/03/06/historic-panel-wants-planning-board-to-review-pending-demolition/)
> Here is a later newspaper article stating that the Council has authority to demolish
> the historic building without looking into it further. [Click here. ](https://web.archive.org/web/20210921181122/https://centraljersey.com/2018/05/01/freehold-council-members-reaffirm-plan-to-demolish-christopher-house/)

The historic building was demolished very soon after. The **oil leak turned out 
to be very minor** and was cleaned up in less than a day. Sod was laid down immediately
after, so quickly that no one hardly saw anything.

[⌊historic christopher house main street freehold⌉⌊historic christopher house main
street freehold⌉[

Street view before demolition.

 

[⌊historic christopher house freehold nj destroyed⌉⌊historic christopher house freehold
nj destroyed⌉[

An empty lot remains after the unnecessary demolition of a pre Civil War building.

 

A landmark building on a downtown Main Street was allowed to be demolished with 
hardly a blink of an eye. This is proof that the Freehold council does not care 
about the few historic buildings remaining, but they do care about catering to a
business that has a big name in town and didn’t want them to pay the high price 
of remediation. This is how Freeman’s Funeral Home and the government of Freehold
operate.

[⌊freemans funeral home demolishes historic building⌉⌊freemans funeral home demolishes
historic building⌉[

The Christopher House survived over 180 years only to be destroyed by Freeman’s 
Funeral Home and the town council. Now only a flag remains.

I just wonder what is next to be added to a long list of historic demolitions in
town. Demolitions that should never have been allowed but were. Money is more important
than history. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. There are a few trees planted there
now and a flag.

In a few years I am sure we will see that piece of property being used for funeral
parlor parking.  If not that, a new building in a Disneyland historic style will
be built like there is up the street. It will be all plastic and everyone will say
how nice it looks. Simple-mindedness has effected the masses, including architects
when it comes to architecture.

[⌊Freehold NJ 1940's⌉⌊Freehold NJ 1940's⌉[

[⌊greek revival christopher house freehold nj⌉⌊greek revival christopher house freehold
nj⌉[

Good bye Freehold history.

Another Greek Revival building directly across the street was also lost a few years
ago. Read about the historic Richmond House and how [Freehold demolishes history. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/freehold-history/)

Sadly there is more. A homeowner gets awarded for [remuddling their home ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/old-house-restoration-or-remuddling/).

What’s next Freehold?