Allendale Historical Society
Founded 1974
Incorporated 1975
The Allendale Historical Society is a non-profit organization.
Our search for treasures of bygone years continues and we are fascinated by our findings. As we record and preserve them, it is our hope that future generations will appreciate and enjoy these tokens of their heritage. … A. Marian Strangfeld
Our goal since 1997 has been to organize our collection of photos, maps and documents and develop an online database where our material can be searched and cross referenced.
With recent help from volunteers and the improvement of technologies for scanning and digitizing documents and photos and with the advancement of website design tools we are happy to be able to present the Allendale Historical Society website!
The following are services that have been provided and activities that the Historical Society has been involved with from the 1990’s through today:
– Annual presentation to the 3rd grade class at Hillside school. Slideshow “Allendale Now and Then” originally prepared by Pat Wardell and a presentation by Sheri VanHouten of the history of Crestwood Lake with a layout of her family pictures.
– Assistance with the annual 3rd grade field trip to the historic John Fell House 475 Franklin Turnpike, Allendale.
– We have a Historical Society board member sit on the board of the John Fell House and help with the coordination of historic events at the John Fell House ie: The annual Antique Appraisal nights.
– Research for the presentations at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
– Assistance with the designation of the red barn at Crestwood Lake as the VanHouten Pavilion.
– 2018 Bergen County Coalition – created displays for the John Fell House. Displays included the history of transportation in Allendale and the history of Allendale’s early thriving strawberry farming industry.
– Participation with various local civic organizations including a presentation at the Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner and assistance with the creation of a program for the Allendale Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary.
– Help residents with research: family history, information on the history of their homes
– Worked with the borough in drafting a proclamation for Pat Wardell as Allendale’s historian.
– Coordination of the project performed by Ellie Hart for her Girl Scout Gold Award and the services provided with a local printing company Digital Lizard (formerly Global Soft Digital Solutions) to reproduce Pat Wardell’s book “Allendale: Background of a Borough” and make it available for purchase once again.
– Created storage space in the John Fell House dedicated to the Allendale Historical Society collection. This included adding the collection of Town Journal news papers that the Allendale Library need to relocate during their renovation of the 2nd floor of the library.
Past Historical Society events.