Map by Fowler & Basham of Flemington, N.J. 1911. Source: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division

A big driving force was to not see this building fall.

Lawrence Calfee: My mom tells me ever since I was five years old I’d point at that building and say I’m going to own it one day. I had sold a house locally and needed a workshop, so I went to look at who owned the…