Mission Statement
The Parker Homestead - 1665, Inc. is a 501c3 organization that was established in 2012.
In collaboration with the Borough of Little Silver, The Parker Homestead – 1665 Inc.'s mission is to preserve the unique 330 year history of the Parker Family through the restoration and maintenance of the Homestead lands and buildings and promote their use for educational, historical and cultural exhibits and events dedicated to enriching and increasing our knowledge and appreciation of local heritage.
In collaboration with the Borough of Little Silver, The Parker Homestead – 1665 Inc.'s mission is to preserve the unique 330 year history of the Parker Family through the restoration and maintenance of the Homestead lands and buildings and promote their use for educational, historical and cultural exhibits and events dedicated to enriching and increasing our knowledge and appreciation of local heritage.
About Us
.Julia Parker, eighth generation descendant of Parker homesteaders and last to live on the property, died without an heir in 1995. She had gifted the original house, out buildings, and remaining land from the Monmouth Patent grant to Little Silver and then willed all of the contents of the buildings to the town of Little Silver with the stipulation that the property only be used as a historic site known as The Parker Homestead - 1665. Conditions of the gift require that the town "never allow the subject property to be used, either actively or passively, in any manner or fashion other than as a historic site ... never remove or change the character of any of the buildings and/or structures situated on the property ... improvements which must be made to restore or maintain the integrity of the buildings, must be made in accordance with the standards established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation." historic site.
Since that time, the borough has stabilized the farmhouse, painting the exterior and rebuilding the porch and barns. The contents of the house have been removed and ADA and HVAC improvements made. Historic studies have been made allowing the property to be placed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey State Registry. historic site
A community committee worked with the borough on obtaining grants for interior work on the house and rebuilding of the barns. This restoration work in the main house uncovered the original cooking fireplace in the original section of the home and removed plaster from ceiling beams in the parlor in the first addition to the homestead.
That committee grew into The Parker Homestead -1665, Inc. and is run by a volunteer Board of Trustees. This volunteer committee and a part-time site manager, take care of the Homestead, barns and 4.5 acres of land, which is leased from the Borough of Little Silver.
Since that time, the borough has stabilized the farmhouse, painting the exterior and rebuilding the porch and barns. The contents of the house have been removed and ADA and HVAC improvements made. Historic studies have been made allowing the property to be placed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey State Registry. historic site
A community committee worked with the borough on obtaining grants for interior work on the house and rebuilding of the barns. This restoration work in the main house uncovered the original cooking fireplace in the original section of the home and removed plaster from ceiling beams in the parlor in the first addition to the homestead.
That committee grew into The Parker Homestead -1665, Inc. and is run by a volunteer Board of Trustees. This volunteer committee and a part-time site manager, take care of the Homestead, barns and 4.5 acres of land, which is leased from the Borough of Little Silver.
Public Meetings
January 10, 2019 Annual Ayres Room Borough Hall 7:00pm
Regular updates on progress and activities given throughout the year at borough council meetings. If you would like to attend one of our bi-weekly meetings, please fill out the form here
January 10, 2019 Annual Ayres Room Borough Hall 7:00pm
Regular updates on progress and activities given throughout the year at borough council meetings. If you would like to attend one of our bi-weekly meetings, please fill out the form here