Barbara Littman House

New Housing!

We are so excited to share our first expansion project! The Barbara Littman House recently became the home for a survivor of domestic violence and her children. Town Clock CDC is so grateful to be able to create more permanent, affordable, supportive housing for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

About the House

The Barbara Littman House, previously the sexton’s house owned by the First Reformed Church of New Brunswick, was built around 1880. (A sexton is a person who maintains the church property.) There are three bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, small living room, and 1.5 baths. Town Clock signed a lease agreement with First Reformed Church in 2019 with the intention of renovating the house, and that work is now complete! See the photos of the progress on this page.

Who Was Barbara Littman?

Barbara Kagan Littman was the beloved wife of Leonard Littman. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, design pioneer, teacher, professor and a passionate philanthropist.

In 1964, Barbara started her career as a teacher in what was the first Headstart Program in New Jersey. At the age of 53, Barbara received a Masters of Architecture from NJIT. Barbara spent most of her life engaged in her love of modern design. She was instrumental in the growth of Littman Jewelers by modernizing store design and displays. An accomplished interior designer, Barbara taught as a professor various classes at NJIT and Kean University in their departments of architecture. She was also a Docent at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City.

In 2016, Barbara met with Town Clock staff to revamp their fundraising efforts. She hosted an introductory afternoon wine and cheese event, inviting her family and friends to learn about our mission. During the final few months her life, she continued to advise our team about our next fundraising event, which we dedicated to her: The Barbara Littman Art Auction.

Her untimely death in 2017 ended a philanthropic life, which she devoted to a number of charities. Barbara tried to make the lives of everyone better around her both emotionally and spiritually. She was able to connect with anyone on any level; a rare skill. She was an icon of style and elegance.

This historic house shares many characteristics with Barbara; it is strong, bold, and colorful. The house has survived the enormous changes of the City of New Brunswick since 1880. Town Clock CDC is grateful for Mr. Littman’s generous gift which provides a new name for this historic home: The Barbara Littman House.

PHASE 1

The Renovation

Every part of the house needed renovation, from the water/sewer connection to a new roof and everything in between. The house now has a new kitchen, flooring, bathroom, and added powder room. A washer and dryer have been added to the basement, as well as a completely new HVAC system. All the windows, except for two historic ones, were exchanged. An alarm system with four cameras was installed to ensure the residents’ safety.

Available Naming Opportunities

If you are interested in leaving a legacy for your family or yourself through a naming sponsorship, please contact Town Clock. As a reminder, our property is included with the First Reformed Church on the National Registry of Historic Places.

PHASE 2

Our Donors

Thank you to Three L & Co. for donating beautiful 3 1/4" raw oak flooring for the Barbara Littman House! A certified woman-owned business since 1997, Three L & Co. is definitely a company worth supporting. You can see some photos of their donated flooring in the Phase 4 photos on this page!

Thank you also to our major supporters who have donated funds, time, and talents to advance our work on the Barbara Littman House: