The efforts of Giangeruso to make both of those possibilities come true has now garnered some attention. Last week, Bergen County announced he and his 1910 Huntrest House at 50 West Gouverneur would be receiving a 2008 Historic Preservation Commendation Award for preservation or restoration projects.

Recognizing history

Rutherford resident Bill Neumann and members of the Historic Preservation Advisory Board, which ultimately chooses the annual commendation winners, nominated Giangeruso and the historic borough bungalow.

The home was built in 1910 for $6,600 by Frank and Emma Beasley. Frank, an assistant postmaster in town, sold the home seven years later to Cyprian and Uster Hunt who gave it its title: Huntrest.

"The home is a really important style for the borough, it somewhat reflects the idea that Rutherford was a summer resort area near the turn of the century," said Neumann. "It’s indicative of people having a smaller home than what people have now, but being satisfied in it and making a nice home for their needs."

Outside the home, it’s immediately apparent that the structure is deserving of the award. Two pillars, constructed of stone on each side of the property, act as the proverbial gateway to the past. At first glance, the most striking nook of the home is an oversized turret. Then the eclectic architectural facets jump out at you: A rough stucco exterior with applied timber frame elements, a gabled dormer on the side and a doorway treatment that has an elliptical arched hood surmounted by a pediment glass-enclosed front porch giving off a Japanese effect.

According to Neumann, after Giangeruso had bought the house, he soon employed what he calls "proper" techniques for preservation projects. Bower and Company Roofing in Kearny restored the roof with slate cut and scalloped to the original Arts and Crafts pattern. The company then restored the copper downspouts, gutters and leaders along with bronze snow guards. Professional Home Builders Painters then came in and refreshed the wood with colors from the historic Sherwin Williams Arts and Crafts palette. The windows in the turret were replicated from photos from the 1920s and are made out of solid mahogany with hand-blown Austrian glass with casement window openings.

"The house isn’t one of our most historic, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed there or anything, but it speaks to what Rutherford was doing at the time it was built," said Neumann. "He [Giangeruso] did a significant amount of work on the house. His efforts ensure its future and enjoyment for everyone."

A changing landscape

Rutherford historian Rod Leith said he commends the county on choosing the Huntrest Home, but wished it would have consulted with the borough’s home-based preservation commission first so the word could have gotten out about the efforts of this preservation project and possibly struck interest in other residents.

Leith, just as Neumann acknowledges, said there has been a shift in Rutherford from the more architecturally distinct smaller homes of the late 1800s and early 1900s to the larger and now symbolic Victorians of the mid-century. That they say has transpired to what today are the larger, modern McMansions, townhouses and condo developments that are replacing them.

"This structure [the Huntrest] represents a valuable example of a smaller, yet expressive style of residence that is truly missed today," said Neumann. "More and more people are trying to exploit the size of their home on the lots they have. There’s less and less green space on the property."

Leith said that more education is needed on the value of preservation and what it means for the history of the borough as a whole, but said in recent years, residents have made significant strides in moving toward the right direction.

"You know, there’s been a movement more recently I believe among residents to become more and more concerned about losing the architecture and aesthetics along the community’s streets, which is rapidly depleting," said Leith.

According to Rutherford’s construction official John Uhl, 2006 saw a total of 10 home razings to make way for new construction, but that rapidly declined last year with only three. This year, two full and one partial razing have been approved. He said it may be a sign of the economic situation the nation faces, but he attributed more stringent ordinances recently passed that are helping to preserve the Rutherford facade of years past.

"A year or so ago, we changed the zoning ordinance, addressing setbacks, reducing mass...it was quite an undertaking," said Uhl. "It wasn’t meant to be a deterrent to knock down and build new, but keep conformity with the surrounding structures."

Earlier this year, the borough looked to a Montclair ordinance which is currently before the borough attorney for inspection that would require a recommendation from the historic preservation commission if someone desired a demolition permit. Leith is confident that an ordinance such as the one being reviewed would add one more layer of protection against negligent razing without considering the history of what’s actually being knocked down. He hopes more homebuyers, however, before they choose to build new, realize how beautiful a home can become when it’s simply preserved.

"Well, I think it’s a combination of the want for space, interior space and the combination of what modern homes look like and people apt to go for that space and style," said Leith. "It boils down to that taste and then there are those who have come in and instead of knocking down, have done a considerable amount of restoration."