PARIS L. GRAY/Courier-Post A historic preservation group has named Pine Hill's oldest structure, the Isaac Tomlinson House on Blackwood-Clementon Road, as one of New Jersey's 10 most endangered historic sites.

A historic preservation group has named Pine Hill's oldest structure as one of New Jersey's 10 most endangered historic sites.

Preservation New Jersey tapped the Isaac Tomlinson House, on Blackwood-Clementon Road, for the annual list. The home is believed to be the only existing Pine Hill structure built before the Civil War. Architect Margaret Westfield dates it back to 1809 or earlier, saying the construction methodology suggests it was built in the 18th century.

"It's a great house," said Joan Schneebele, president of the Pine Hill Historical Society and the town's municipal clerk.

Unfortunately, the home has become quite dilapidated due to years of neglect. The roof leaked so bad that the whole structure needs to be replaced. Termites attacked the home from the bottom and worked their way up.

Borough officials took notice of the home several years ago and used a $66,400 county grant to buy it in 2000 for $56,400. They obtained another county grant worth $25,000 to repair the roof, but the low bid for the work last year came in at $81,000, more than they could afford.

Two other grants totaling about $14,412 provided some money for a restoration plan, but prospects weren't looking too good when Westfield attracted the attention of Preservation New Jersey.

"The problem is that the building is in such bad shape from previous years of neglect that I wasn't sure if the borough would be able to save it," said Westfield, the Haddon Heights architect who wrote the restoration plan.

Preservation New Jersey's listing of the site as endangered gives Westfield hope that awareness of the home can be raised enough that more funding comes in.

After all, it worked for the 177-year-old Berlin Hotel in Berlin Borough, which was ready for demolition when Preservation New Jersey tapped it as one of its most endangered historic sites in 1998. Two years later, Berlin residents rallied to save it, and borough officials acquired a $537,000 state grant that funded renovation and transportation of the hotel to a new site.

"Our primary role is to create awareness," said Swathy Keshavamurthy, Preservation New Jersey's program coordinator.

Early indications are that the same could happen with the Tomlinson House. A $102,282 state grant came in last week to pay for structural repairs and roof replacement.

Westfield set a total restoration budget of $779,420, which includes 20 percent contingency fund. Schneebele said the goal is to restore the home and open it to the public.