Organization of the Week: The Friends of Long Pond Ironworks

Every Monday, I highlight a non-profit related to history or the arts, a historical society, preservation group or friends group whose main objective is to promote the historical and artistic history of New Jersey.

This week, I am featuring the Friends of Long Pond Ironworks. The Friends of Long Pond Ironworks (FOLPI) is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and interpreting the remaining structures and the history behind them. FOLPI is an "Officially Recognized Friends Organization" of Long Pond Ironworks State Park in Hewitt, New Jersey. Working in conjunction with the State of New Jersey, the Friends have been able to open the visitor center/museum in 1998, coordinate the stabilization and restoration of certain buildings and ruins on the site, and install interpretive signage along the Hasenclever Iron Trail. Two other major projects performed by the volunteers was the relocation of a barn to the historic village and the stabilization and installation of a new roof on the Hewitt Church located across the street from the visitors center.

The FOLPI conduct walking tours of the historic district once a month and staff the visitor center/museum each weekend April through November. They also sponsor candle lantern tours, hiking tours, and living history weekends.

The Friends of Long Pond Ironworks rely on memberships, fundraising, and countless volunteers to continue its mission. For more information on programs, special events, and exhibits hosted by the Friends of Long Pond Ironworks or to become a member or volunteer, please call 973-657-1688 or visit www.longpondironworks.org.

If you are a member of a non-profit organization or know of one that you would like to see featured on this site, please let us know in the comments or send an e-mail to kelly@thehistorygirl.com.