The newly-rebuilt Centenary University President’s House was the site of a recent reception to honor the first responders who battled a 2015 fire that destroyed the original President’s House on campus. More than 100 first responders, neighbors and friends were welcomed by University President David P. Haney and Lisa Baldwin, presidential spouse and university ambassador, at the event.

Local first responders braved bitter temperatures on Jan. 7, 2015 to attempt to save the stately Victorian. Today, the President’s House has been rebuilt, faithfully capturing the spirit of the original structure. The reception featured tours of the elegant home, which incorporates the original mantel that survived the fire, as well as other design elements that have been recreated to echo the style of the original home. Several downstairs parlors and a dining room on the first floor host University receptions, while the second floor features living quarters for Haney and Baldwin. The insurance settlement from the 2015 fire funded the reconstruction and decoration of the home.

The first responders reception is one in a series of events planned at the President’s House to enhance Centenary University’s engagement with the local community. Assemblyman John DiMaio, who attended the gathering, noted the importance of the President’s House to the Hackettstown community.

“I was here the night the house burned, watching across the street, the flames coming out the windows. It was incredibly sad.” DiMaio said. “This was and is the centerpiece of our community. My family has been in this town for four generations. And now, seeing it being rebuilt, it’s just fabulous. Looking around at the renovations and restoration work, it is authentic. Couple this with some modern necessities, including a new sprinkler system, and we should never lose this house again.”