PLAINFIELD- As the first phase of a $1.2 million restoration project of the Drake House Museum nears completion, the museum's organizers are planning for a September reopening of the historic structure.

       Eloise Bryant Tinley, President of the Historic Society of Plainfield, said the first major event in the refurbished landmark buildingon West Front Street will be participation in Union County's   

"Four Centuries in a Weekend" tour of historic sites in October.

       The city owns the historic building that figured in the Revolutionary War when Gen. Georege Washington met with his officers there during the 1777 Battle of Short Hills.  It was saved from demolition in 1921 by the West End Civic Association and the establishment of the society, which administers the museum and its programs.

       The first phase of the restoration, begun with $377,927 in city, county and state funds, includes structural upgrades, roof repairs, a drainage system, an accessible entrance to the first floor and exterior restoration and painting.

       The museum closed last fall for the restoration, and as the work progressed, some surprises emerged, Tinley said.

       The small kitchen, dominated by a hugh fireplace,had three layers of flooring and decisions had to be made about how best to reconstruct the floor.  Similarily, a section of the wrap-around porch needed better underpinnings, and the main room upstairs required structural upgrading.

       "They found the floor wasn't level," said Eloise Tinley's husband, who is lending his engineering expertise to the project.  "You get these little surprises."

       The Tinley's attributed some of the surprises to the many additions the house had received.  The original farmhouse of Nathaniel Drake was built in 1746.  After New York City banker John Harberger bought it in the late 1800's changes were made that gave the house its striking Victorian appearance, with sloping slate roofs and intricate wood details.

        The harberger phase reflected the city's link to New York with the advent of rail access, Eloise Tinley said.

       The discoveries slowed the schedule that had anticipated a spring reopening.

       Now, the Tinley's and others in the Historical Society are preparing to seek grants for the rest of the work.  HJGA Consulting of Montclair developed the three phase Historic Preservation Plan for the museum in 2004.

       The Drake House Museum is a unique asset for history education, especially for the students in the plainfield schools.

       "It's very important that you know ypur past,"  Eloise Tinley said.  "The richness of history in New Jersey should not be lost."