Clinton Red Mill Museum Tenant House

Preserving the home and history of Clinton’s quarry workers.

At Red Mill Museum Village, Coppola Brothers restored an 1860 two-family tenant house originally built for quarry workers. The project called for returning the 162-year-old structure to its original specifications while preserving a rare record of the people who helped sustain the region.

Qualified through the New Jersey Public Works Contractor program for historic renovations, the team coordinated closely with Executive Director Paul Muir, Curator of Collections Elizabeth Cole, the museum’s board, local officials, and historic architect Michael Margulies of Eclectic Architecture. The New Jersey Historic Trust supported the work through a capital grant, with oversight from planner Haley McAlpine.

The completed restoration preserves both the building’s historic character and the everyday stories it holds, earning Metro’s Award of Excellence for Best Historic Renovation.

The scope

Historic tenant house restoration
Original building specifications
Museum and preservation coordination

Location: Clinton, New Jersey
Recognition: 2022 Award of Excellence
Award category: Best Historic Renovation

Meaning in the details

A place, thoughtfully made.

Look closer at the choices
that shaped the finished space.

Preservation

An everyday history, preserved.

Built in 1860 as a two-family home for quarry workers, the tenant house was restored to its original specifications as part of Red Mill Museum Village.

Craft beyond the surface

Behind the
finished space.

The completed restoration preserves the tenant house’s historic character and the stories of the workers who helped sustain the region.

A shared preservation effort

The project involved Executive Director Paul Muir, Curator of Collections Elizabeth Cole, the museum’s board, local officials, and historic architect Michael Margulies of Eclectic Architecture.

Historic Trust support

A capital grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust supported the restoration, with oversight from planner Haley McAlpine.

The completed project