Believe it or not – Ridgewood’s rich history is about to shine again, as the town is set to restore the famous Zabriskie-Schedler House; the announcement may feel like déjà vu – however, circumstances are now different, henceforth making the restoration the community’s main priority. Phil Dolce, a Ridgewood local, stated, “The restoration holds paramount importance for the village, the state, and the local folks.”Ridgewood’s esteemed structure remains close to their hearts which is why everyone is so adamant about this restoration project.
Preserving Heritage and Community Values
The Zabriskie-Schedler House is a cherished landmark in Ridgewood. According to a local news source, the property was initially built in 1825 and was the residence of a farmer John A. L. Zabriskie. It is one of the rare remaining buildings that represent the Dutch Farming Tradition. It features a gambrel roof and a gable roof — a signature of the Dutch-American building traditions. The property was left in shambles over decades until the village finally decided to purchase the property in 2009. Rehabilitating the property for public parks and recreation facilities was always on the cards — but city residents and officials were often met with hurdles and failed to reach an agreement over the final fate of this historic landmark. The project finally got the green light to go ahead in April this year —a 3-2 vote to install a multipurpose sports facility.
Preserving the Surrounding Beauty and The Importance of Professional Tree Removal and Trimming
Amidst the grand endeavor of restoring a historical landmark, the city needs to understand the significance of proper tree removal and trimming. The Ridgewood Blog reported, “The property has a long history of missteps.” Before 2017, the property was surrounded by dead trees, branches, and trees leaning dangerously, posing a serious safety hazard. As the restoration process begins, the village officials will need to strike a balance between preserving the natural beauty and revitalizing the old building.
Think about it — how dangerous can overgrown or damaged trees be? The risk of falling uprooted trees and falling branches amplifies in storms and extreme weather conditions. According to a study published by Springer Science, around 407 fatalities were reported because of wind-related tree failures in the United States, and the village is planning to cut down trees on this lot. This a worrying figure that could have been avoided if proper precautions, including tree trimmings, were taken. Removing them completely will harm the local water supplies and increase noise pollution!
Officials will have to take care of the natural ecosystem of the surrounding area for this project to succeed. Trees can provide shade and drastically improve the ambiance of the block. Professional tree removal and trimming services can help create a safe environment for residents. It will also ensure the restoration project harmoniously blends with the historical splendor of the Zabriskie-Schedler House.
Officials say, it’s gonna be absolutely fantastic – everyone in the community, young and old, all the clubs, the great officials, they’re all joining forces on this huge renovation project. The community is keeping history alive, and it’s just tremendous.
There is nothing cherished about this house.
“everyone is so adamant about this restoration project”
No we are not. This has been a total waste of time and our money.
Chris the Village Engineer has said that in addition to the house, every rock and every blade of grass is historic according to the State. Downes was told to come in and just cut down many trees when they built the berm, no consideration given to what anyone was doing, just get it done. They brought in tons of dirt and supposedly did testing to ensure it wasn’t toxic. Can we see this report. So now, careful consideration will have to be under a giant microscope. There are many people watching everything that is going on now.
We should be rejoicing that we have this historic gem instead of trying to put up a ballfield, which most of the Village does not want. With the US Semiquincentennial, also called Sestercentennial or Quarter Millennial, we will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence (formally “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united states of America”). Festivities all over the US will be set to mark various events leading up to the anniversary on July 4, 2026, so let’s just use this as a great opportunity to enjoy our rich history and use it for purposes that are better suited for the property instead of trying to create another Habernickel.
Given:
“Ridgewood’s rich history is about to shine again, as the town is set to restore the famous Zabriskie-Schedler House; …
…henceforth making the restoration the community’s main priority.
…“The restoration holds paramount importance for the village, the state, and the local folks.”Ridgewood’s esteemed structure remains close to their hearts which is why everyone is so adamant about this restoration project.”
SO, to honor this CHERISHED LANDMARK OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, Ridgewood decided:
“The project finally got the green light to go ahead in April this year —a 3-2 vote to install a multipurpose sports facility.”
I smell lots of manure at this farmhouse…
“rich history” LOL – yes Dutch and English settled in the Bergen County area, that does not make a place where a the army bivouacked on a field that included where rt17 is, a rich history.
Sell it
Whose idea was it to plant arborvitae’s on top of that berm next to Route 17. Between the overgrowth of weeds and no one watering them, if you noticed some are dying. Not too smart.