# Trashy New Homeowners Desecrate Houses – Freehold NJ

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/trashy-new-homeowners/
- Published: 2020-12-13T12:03:10-05:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

I really hate writing negative articles like this. Most people would never notice
the changes made or even care what someone does to their house. However, I was contacted
by several people in town that a historic house was in danger and being vandalized
by a new homeowner.

In a way it’s funny that so many people were saddened by what this homeowner did
and came to tell me as if I could stop them. I only wish I could.

This house proudly stood out as being a shining Victorian gem of the historic homes
on Main Street but new homeowners rushed to change that immediately.

 * These new homeowners covered up the wood siding with vinyl.
 * Removed the wood window casings on the side of the house.
 * Removed the original wood shutters and replaced them with cheap plastic shutters.

[⌊west main street freehold nj⌉⌊west main street freehold nj⌉[

Trashy new homeowners ruin historic circa 1860 house in Freehold NJ.

 * Removed the entire historic balustrade including the porch posts and added tacky
   plastic ornamentation.
 * Replaced an intricate pattern of decorative gable shingles with simple plastic
   round shingles and replaced 1860 gable decoration with new plastic one.

Upon hearing this I paid the homeowners a visit. I first noticed that the historic
2 over 2 windows were replaced. I was really upset. The windows however were replaced
by the previous owner.  The evil new homeowners said they will be replacing the 
balustrade since the wood is rotting in some areas and they this was not a concern
since the house is not in a historic district (and evidently had no moral obligation).
This allowed these people to have a field day. **These rabid homeowners could not
be stopped from removing all the original features and replacing everything they
could with plastic in a style very different from what was there**.

The town of Freehold does not have a historic district. There is a [Historic Preservation Commission ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/freehold-history/)
that proudly demolishes the key historic buildings in town and has never done anything
to protect them. While a historic district with strong regulations would protect
this historic home the blame is still on the homeowner. The conversation ended with
me telling them that they are “trashy evil people to do this to a historic house”.
What they have done was an absolute disgrace.

Be sure to click on the following images to enlarge them.

[⌊Main st freehold before⌉⌊Main st freehold before⌉[

This is the house as everyone knows it. The previous homeowner replaced the windows
and added the fence. The current rabid homeowners did everything else.

[⌊w main street freehold⌉⌊w main street freehold⌉[

This is how the house looks today.

[⌊historic porch frieze⌉⌊historic porch frieze⌉[

Historic porch posts, porch frieze, and corner brackets all in perfect condition.

[⌊plastic porch frieze⌉⌊plastic porch frieze⌉[

Plastic porch posts and frieze and corner brackets right out of a catalog. So tacky
just like the homeowners.

[⌊historic balustrade⌉⌊historic balustrade⌉[

Historically designed balustrade and architecturally correct railing height.

[⌊plastic balustrade⌉⌊plastic balustrade⌉[

Plastic balustrade is too high. Perfectly good original porch posts were trashed
in favor of plastic.

[⌊historic gable⌉⌊historic gable⌉[

Historic gable. Notice the patterned design of the shingles in the gable. Historic
gable ornamentation at the peak. Real wood shutters and wood two over two windows
and real wood siding.

[⌊plastic gable treatment⌉⌊plastic gable treatment⌉[

Cheap plastic shutters, windows, and cheap plastic gable ornamentation. Uniquely
patterned decorative gable shingles replaced with stock plastic round shingles.

I do not take pleasure in writing articles like this and seeing what happened really
saddened me but I need to make a point. This is just criminal. Why would someone
move to a historic area and do something like this. They must really have a hatred
for historic architecture. They come to our town and desecrate it. I was told that
the homeowners have a renovation business so they will be doing this to other houses
and taking advantage of unknowing homeowners with historic homes. I also found out
that they are also part of the local Historic Preservation Commission where they
can do further damage to the other homes in town. This house survived mostly intact
for 150 years only to be stripped of its character by two new simple-minded homeowners.
This is a sad fate for this house and I can only hope the same fate comes to these
current homeowners.

Shhhhhh – there is one thing they forgot. They forgot to remove the Yankee gutters.
They will eventually notice them and surely remove them I’m sure.

This is a shock to those of us who know this house. I really don’t know if it is
better to have a house stripped of its integrity or a complete demolition to allow
the house to die with dignity. **Simple-minded people may say that they paid for
their house and pay their taxes and they can do what they please. Well it is a matter
of morals and simple-minded statements like this really says a lot about the type
of person that says it.** This thinking is also probably evident in the appearance
of that person’s house and neighborhood.

Towns with historic homes attract home-buyers in general. [Historic neighborhoods have much higher real estate values ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/historic-districts-property-value/).
Yet many of these people upon moving try to [change historic neighborhoods ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/cottage-additions/)
into what they believe a historic house should be. These people do not want to pay
the higher cost of maintaining these homes. If a town is so lucky to have a preservation
commission, the[ homeowner will plead poverty ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/financial-hardship-historic-house/)
and a weak commission will usually allow the homeowner to do as they please. Tough
luck for the neighbors who really care. Watch out for these people – they are dangerous
and must be called out.

My feelings are if you can’t do it right then don’t do it at all. If you can’t afford
a historic house then stay away from them. Don’t buy a historic house and plead 
poverty that you can’t maintain it in its original style then spend lots of money
on cheap plastic features. Go build a new house somewhere else – you’re not wanted
here. Others will agree with me but most people would never admit to feeling the
same way.

[See the listing for this house here. ](https://www.movoto.com/freehold-nj/111-w-main-st-freehold-nj-07728-452_21617364/)

# 3-Doors Away, Another Historic House Gets Vandalized!

![111 w main street freehold nj](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2020/12/111-w-main-freehold-600x450.jpg)

Restored house before demolition.

![111 w main freehold ruined house](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2020/12/117-w-main-after-600x450.jpg)

After demolition. A new house.

Just when you think it is over, another historic home gets demolished on the interior
and vandalized on the exterior.  I first saw this house when I first moved into 
Freehold and went on a house tour. The owner had meticulously restored the interior
and exterior of this house. They later downsized into a smaller house around the
corner that they also restored beautifully. The mayor of the town purchased this
house and also later downsized. Unfortunately when it was sold, there was no [historic preservation easement ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/homeowners-undo-historic-restoration/)
on the house, and unknowingly it was sold to a rabid homeowner.

This new rabid homeowner from what I hear, also had a home renovation business and
proceeded to gut the entire house. The floor plan was changed for the 2nd floor 
and I am not sure about the first floor but the entire interior was removed. Additionally
the entire exterior was removed and all features remade. The only historical feature
that remains are the porch posts and attic window – at least for now.

![historic window replacement](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/
12/window-replacement-600x450.jpg)

Here the original windows are replaced with disposable Anderson windows. Additionally
the historic window casings were removed and replaced.

![original historic windows](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/
12/original-windows-600x255.jpg)

Here are the original arched casing windows with shutters.

![New windows, new window casings, redesign of center window.](https://www.oldhouseguy.
com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/windows-after-600x270.jpg)

New windows – new window casing design – redesign of center window. Notice the tacky
recessed lighting in the soffit.

Also the heart-grown wood siding was removed. Clapboard should be about 4.5-5 inches
reveal. Now the hardiboard siding has a much wider reveal typical of siding from
the 1950-60s. In other words looking close at the picture, where there were originally
5 clapboards there are now 3.

![historic features gone](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/
covering-up-600x412.jpg)

Historic trim removed.

![historic destruction on side](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/
12/side-view-600x397.jpg)

One window removed. The correct way to remove a window would be to have the appearance
of closed shutters to maintain balance and symmetry. Window casing style changed.

![historic destruction on side](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/
12/side-view-600x397.jpg)

One window removed. The correct way to remove a window would be to have the appearance
of closed shutters. Window casing style changed.

![missing and modified windows.](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2020/12/new-side-600x492.jpg)

So sad.

I know the house was haunted although not in a bad way. One can only hope the spirits
will revenge the crime committed to their home,

[See the listing for this house here. ](https://www.movoto.com/freehold-nj/117-w-main-st-freehold-nj-07728-452_22016322/)

**The only thing that could protect these homes would be a** [historic preservation easement. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/homeowners-undo-historic-restoration/)

## And Sadly Another 1920 Bugalow is Lost.

[⌊100 1/2 South Street Freehold NJ Craftsman Bungalow Renovation⌉⌊100 1/2 South 
Street Freehold NJ Craftsman Bungalow Renovation⌉[

The loss of a Craftsman Bungalow.

This Bungalow was built in 1920. At one time one unfortunate alteration occurred
by [enclosing the porch ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-boxes-for-curb-appeal/).
This enclosure however still allowed the structure to remain visible. Take notice
of the arrow at the far right showing the square tapered porch columns which were
permitted to remain. They have since been removed with the recent remodeling creating
a flat appearance without a base.

In the before image, the [historic windows ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/windows/)
enclosing the porch are true divided light, 3/1 double hung windows. This window
style shows that the porch was enclosed at an early date since this was a popular
style before the 1930s. The upstairs dormer windows would have originally been the
same but you can see they were replaced with a cheaper window of the wrong style,
6/1. The [window screen darkens the window ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-screens/)
and hides the window pattern.

In the after image, you can see that this renovation removed the historic windows
on the first floor and replaced them with plastic casement windows creating the 
appearance of an empty blank stare.

The arrow at the top points to the rafter tails. Rafter tails are a character defining
feature used on Craftsman homes. The new owners had them removed and the once open
eaves boxed in. For a [better understanding of open versus closed eaves refer to this article ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/roof-eaves/).

Notice the spacing between the dormer windows and the roof in the before image. 
Now the window casing extends right up to the eaves. A cheap way of building to 
please homeowners with uncultivated taste.

The second arrow from the top points to the shingle siding. The shingles display
a double pattern. A large shingle is above a smaller shingle etc. This is a typical
1920s style now erased from history at this address with the use of [Hardi siding ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/hardi-board/).

The bottom arrow shows ornate brackets supporting an overhang in a Craftsman style.
The new owners demolished this replacing it with a plain overhang and an infill 
of glue shingles creating a void. The new square columns now appear to be supporting
air instead of the overhang.

While gutters should match the trim color of white in this case, the [black gutters ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/historic-gutters/)
appear to extend the roof downward creating the appearance of a top-heavy roof.

Every day the character of homes like this are lost to homeowners lack of respect
for history and carpenters who only know how to remove and replace. Unless a house
is in a protected historic district our only hope is education and showing the faults
of bad design.

By understanding and recognizing these changes the reader will improve their eye
for good and bad architecture. Think of this more as a class although I always throw
in a rant!

[Here is the listing.  ](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/100-1-2-South-St-Freehold-NJ-07728/39240113_zpid/)