The Declaration of Independence was brought here but so was a Crèche.

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The later period walnut and oak wooden interior paneling and decorative carvings have been described by the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office as the best existing examples of the Art Nouveau Style (1880-1914) in the State of New Jersey.

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Hendrick Fisher House is the oldest structure in Somerset County with the original construction dating back to 1688.  Dennis Kowal Architects provided preservation documents for this fine house that is decorated for Christmas each year.  As the New Jersey representative to the Continental Congress, Fisher brought back a signed copy of the Declaration of Independence to this very house (near Bound Brook) the day after the famous signing.

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Hendrick Fisher was one of four men so hated by the British, that he was excluded from an offer of pardon to patriots who surrendered.  The British ransacked this farmstead during the Revolutionary War.   Hendrick went on to be the first President of Rutgers College (Queens College).

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		The Fisher House is owned by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and is open by appointment for Christmas viewing.

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Why would the largest Presbyterian Church in New England hire Dennis Kowal Architects?

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The DKA expansion and “prayer tower” above bridges the two existing church buildings to the left and right and creates an organic link with the beautiful New England site and distant shores beyond.

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Church Architects from five states were invited to show their best projects but it was the work and approach of Dennis Kowal Architects that caught the attention of the Noroton Presbyterian Church.  Nestled in one of the wealthiest communities in the United States, this modern church with very historic roots needed to update and expand to support their bursting ministries.   Pastor Sam Schreiner is often heard saying “we are an over performing church in an under-performing building”.    The Kowal Design team transformed and expanded the existing facility to include a new Teen Center, Fellowship Hall, Bookstore, Worship Space, Practice Space, Daycare, Offices and Prayer Tower.

The fifteen million dollar project still requires final approvals and fundraising, but congregational reaction has been very promising so far.  Why was this New Jersey firm brought into the project?    “The DKA team has demonstrated that they listen to their clients, use creativity to solve complicated problems, definitely understand how ministry works, and create beautiful spaces with a watchful eye on the budget.”

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