Allaire Village | |
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| Location | 3 mi. SE of Farmingdale on CR 524, Farmingdale, New Jersey |
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| Coordinates | 40°9′31″N 74°7′44″W / 40.15861°N 74.12889°W |
| Area | 330 acres (130 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001174[1] |
| NJRHP No. | [2] |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1974 |
Allaire Village is a living history museum located within New Jersey's Allaire State Park in Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. The property was initially an Indian ceremonial ground prior to 1650, by 1750 a sawmill had been established on the property[3] by Issac Palmer.[4] The village was later established as a bog iron furnace originally known as Williamsburg Forge[5] 'Monmouth Furnace'[6] was then renamed the Howell Works by Benjamin B. Howell. In 1822,[7] it was then purchased by philanthropist James P. Allaire, who endeavoured to turn into a self-contained community.[8] The wood burning furnace business collapsed in 1846 and the village closed. During its height, the town supported about 500 people.[9] Following his death, the property passed through a number of family members before being used by the Boy Scouts who started to restore the buildings for use as a summer camp. Losing the lease, the property then passed to the State of New Jersey. Allaire Village and its existing buildings are now operated by a non-profit organization - Allaire Village, Inc. Historic interpreters work using period tools and equipment in the blacksmith, tinsmith, and carpentry shops, while the old bakery sells cookies, and general store serves as a museum gift-shop styled store. The church building is frequently used for weddings. The village relies heavily on volunteers to provide historical interpretation and to model historic crafts for the visitors. The site is also host to community events such as community band concerts,[10] antique sales, weekly flea markets and square dance competitions.[11]
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Monmouth County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. October 25, 2010. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
- ^ Honig, Milton; 1958, Ghost Town Opens at a Jersey Park, May 25, 1958, Page 68
- ^ Deserted Village at Allaire Recreates 19th Century Industrial Community, Joe King, The Independent, March 7, 1973, Page 8
- ^ Freudenheim, Betty, 1990, "Crafts - A Fair that's Full of Style", New York Times, July 8, 1980
- ^ Agar, Ruth, March 17, 1960, "Silent Streets of a Deserted Village Return to Life", Freehold Transcript, Page 21
- ^ "Old Monmouth County Village Returning to Life", The New York Times, June 4, 1966, Page 25
- ^ James Peter Allaire Archived August 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine - official Allaire Village website.
- ^ Demonstrations Slated at Allaire, Amy Spiezio, The Independent, July 20, 1994, page 13
- ^ Concert Sunday, The Matawan Journal, August 10, 1972, Page 3
- ^ Square Dance Set for Sunday, Matawan Journal, September 14, 1972, Page 7