Franklin Historical Society: Edison Schoolhouse-Hungarian Church

Photo by Betty Allen, past president and founding trustee of the Franklin Historical SocietyFranklin Borough, Sussex County, NJ

Owner: Franklin Historical Society

Barry Isett & Associates' Forensic Engineering Department worked with the Franklin Historical Society in Sussex County, New Jersey to move the Edison Schoolhouse-Hungarian Church - a historical wooden building - an eighth of a mile.

The Franklin Historical Society hopes to reuse the building as a research/education center for immigrant records and as a community center. The wooden structure - originally built by Thomas Alvan Edison as a schoolhouse to serve the families of his ore milling business, operated from 1890 to 1900.  The one-room schoolhouse stood idle until 1909.  From 1909 to 1973 it served as the center of Hungarian life and culture for all Hungarians living in Franklin and the surrounding communities as a church.  

Services: 

• Forensic Engineering
• Structural engineering and design
• Construction observation

BIA's Forensic Engineering Department was the structural engineering consultant to the Society for the project.  BIA's engineers conducted a structural evaluation of the building at its former site, designed bracing to support the structure and provided construction observation during the move.

Assisting with historical restorations is only one of the services offered by BIA’s Forensic Department, which began operating as an independent entity from BIA’s Structural Department in late 2005. The department also provides structural design services in the renovation of existing buildings as well as emergency response services.