Help Our Preservation Effort (H.O.P.E.), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the architecture and Moravian heritage of the village of Hope, NJ, has received two Historic Site Management grants from the New Jersey Historic Trust to support restoration of the Crusen & Cooper houses, two Moravian structures in Hope Village. The funds are designated for conducting Phase I Archeological Surveys and preparing Preservation Plans for each of the structures.
In April 2025, H.O.P.E. purchased the Crusen house, a limestone building constructed by the Moravians c. 1780 and the Cooper house, a post and beam clapboard sided building (also with Moravian origins) from First Hope Bank. According to H.O.P.E.’s President, Bob May, “An 1811 deed and a hand-drawn map, dated 1808, confirm that at least the rear section of the Cooper house is of Moravian origin and probably pre-dates the construction of the adjacent (limestone) stone Moravian home known as the Crusen house.”
H.O.P.E. was founded in 1982 and restored the Long House in Hope with financial support from the NJ Historic Trust, the Warren County Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust, the Kirby Foundation, and the New Jersey Cultural Trust.
H.O.P.E. and its growing membership have been busy with fundraising projects to help with restoration expenses of the Crusen and Cooper houses. The Fall (2025) pasta dinner and recent St. Patty’s dinner netted the organization over $13,000. Both dinners were completely sold out and over 20 H.O.P.E. volunteers assisted with them. H.O.P.E.’s Vice President & Treasurer, Pete Peterson, commented, “The level of support by the village of Hope and surrounding communities to see the Crusen and Cooper houses restored has been overwhelming.”
Anyone interested in financially supporting H.O.P.E. and the restoring of the Crusen and Cooper Houses can make a donation to: H.O.P.E., P.O. Box 181, Hope, NJ 07844. Membership applications can also be obtained online at https://www.hopepreservation.org or by emailing: info@hopepreservation.org.
