Jim Greener, chair of the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission, presents the 2024 Flag Award to Joe and Barbara Powers as Chatham Borough Mayor Carolyn Dempsey looks on
Joe and Barbara Powers with the 2024 Jan Westfall Flag Award they received from the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation CommissionPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
101 Watchung Ave. in Chatham when it was being renovated Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
The alleyway at the home was turned into a half bath and a laundry room during the renovationPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
The completed renovation of the house built in 1888 at 101 Watchung Avenue in ChathamPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
The original house at 101 Watchung Ave in Chatham in 1888Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
Jim Greener, chair of the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission, presents the 2024 Flag Award to Joe and Barbara Powers as Chatham Borough Mayor Carolyn Dempsey looks onPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
Joe and Barbara Powers with the 2024 Jan Westfall Flag Award they received from the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation CommissionPhoto Credit: Courtesy of Joe and Barbara Powers
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By Joanna Yu
Published June 26, 2024 at 10:33 PM
CHATHAM, NJ — The annual Flag Award acknowledges the dedication of local citizens to preserving historical properties for the betterment of the town. Joe and Barbara Powers are the 2024 recipients of the “Jan Westfall Flag Award” from the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission for renovating the 1888 vintage home at 101 Watchung Ave.
The Jan Westfall Flag Award is named in remembrance of the late 43-year Chatham resident who initiated the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission. This tradition, which began in the 1980s, is a tribute to residents or business owners who have made significant contributions to the restoration of notable historical properties.
This year, the Powers were honored with this prestigious award, a recognition of their extensive work on their home, a residence steeped in history and memories that they continue to live in today.
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“My sister was born in 1963…and we’ve been in this house since then. ” Mrs.Powers shares, reflecting on her earliest memories with the house. “ There are traditions from back then, and now we’re trying to do the same things with the children.”
Having the home originally being a farmhouse, Mrs. Powers would recall digging out old bottles and farm materials in the backyard as a child.
Built in the late 1880s, the location was a farmhouse owned by four families and has twice been passed on to the owners' children. One of the previous owners was William Pieper, who also constructed the Hartley Dodge Memorial/Town Hall in Madison and the previous Chatham Middle School (now the ECLC).
The house holds a special place in the hearts of the Powers family, as Barbara Powers’ parents purchased it in 1962 from William and Louise Pieper and sold it to their daughter and son-in-law in 2008.
Over the years, the house has gone through many changes. The Powers have pictures of the house when the main entrance was on the right side, which is now on the left. The picture also shows the house without indoor plumbing and the garage.
The renovation journey began in 2021 and was a labor of love for the Powers. They had long harbored the idea of restoring the house and finally set their plan in motion when they noticed the small inconveniences of the house, such as the fragile cabinet door and the old chimney in the dining room.
Before the process began, the Powers decided that it was important to make the house more livable and not lose its charm and character. They focused on expanding spaces into the “alleyway”, an area between the house and the garage. The expansion was achieved by constructing a half bath and laundry room to replace the open space.
Mrs. Powers described the process as transforming “five little rooms” into individual rooms. The couple also took care to use new moldings that matched the old, ensuring that the house retained its traditional charm despite the renovations. In the dining room area, a door was added as a new exit to the backyard, which also led to a newly furnished deck.
“The doors were tricky because most were custom (made), and we were lucky enough to repurpose many of them.” Mr. Powers credits the contractors, who did much of the intricate work, such as matching the moldings and replacing plaster walls with drywall.
However, the renovation went beyond the inside. A new roof and windows were added, and the outside of the house was painted sage green. Mrs. Powers noted that the house was white when built, but sage green was also a common color for houses in the late 1800s.
The Powers felt honored to receive the reward and recognition from the community. “I’ve seen the (Flag Award) over the years growing up, and it’s very exciting that we get to keep this Flag today,” said Mrs. Powers.
Editor's note: Joanna Yu is a Newark Academy student working for TAPinto Chatham as a summer intern.
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