Status: Lost Forever
County: Bergen
Additional Features:
UPDATES:
The Kleiser house was demolished in December 2007 by the owner who intends to construct 3 houses on the lot. Please visit http://www.edgewaterunited.com/kleiser.html for information.
DESCRIPTION:
Lorentz Kleiser, an internationally recognized painter, and designer was the founder of Edgewater Tapestry Looms, an important mill that, between 1911 and 1933, produced tapestries for state capitals, museums, hotels, and other venues. Kleiser also helped prepare and hang the famed Unicorn Tapestries at the Cloisters in New York City.
Kleiser’s home is a striking Arts and Crafts style building whose lower two floors consist entirely of rough stone. There have been some alterations to the original fabric, but the house retains much of its original integrity.
Stone houses such as this, built with local diabase stone from the Palisades scarp give this part of Edgewater its rugged architectural character: a town set into the cliffs. But development pressures are a threat. The current owner, a prominent builder who rents the house to tenants, has twice announced plans to tear this building down and put up something larger, though he has no active plans. There is no preservation ordinance or historic advisory committee to protect such properties in the town.
PNJ encourages the Town Council to consider establishing a preservation ordinance because safeguarding the Kleiser home and similar properties are vital to the preserving the character of Edgewater.
CONTACT:
Evan Johnson
evanviolin@earthlink.net
201-886-8741