Allaire Village facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Allaire Village
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 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3 mi. SE of Farmingdale on CR 524, Farmingdale, New Jersey |
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| Area | 330 acres (130 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001174 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 1974 |
Allaire Village is a cool living history museum in Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. It's part of Allaire State Park. This place used to be an important spot for Native Americans. Later, around 1750, a sawmill was built here.
The village became a busy place because of something called bog iron. It was first known as Williamsburg Forge, then Monmouth Furnace, and finally the Howell Works. In 1822, a kind man named James P. Allaire bought it. He wanted to create a whole community where people could live and work.
The business used wood to melt iron. But it closed down in 1846. At its busiest, about 500 people lived and worked here! After James Allaire passed away, the property was used by the Boy Scouts. They even started fixing up the old buildings.
Today, Allaire Village is run by a non-profit group. You can see historic interpreters showing how people used to work. They use old tools in the blacksmith, tinsmith, and carpentry shops. The old bakery sells yummy cookies, and the general store is now a gift shop. The church building is often used for weddings. The village also hosts fun events like concerts, antique sales, and square dance competitions.
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Discovering Allaire Village's Past
Allaire Village tells the story of a special place and a man who needed its resources. James P. Allaire built a busy community here. It was all about the bog iron industry. His company was called Howell Works.
Allaire had many businesses. He owned a big factory in New York City that made marine steam engines. It was called the Allaire Iron Works. He also owned steamships. This meant he could control his business from getting the raw materials to making the finished products. He even built the biggest iron furnace in the US at that time!
The village you see today shows what life was like in the early 1800s. This was a time when factories and machines were becoming very important. It was also a time when people started many reform movements. These included groups working for temperance (against alcohol) and ending slavery. People also pushed for free churches and free schools.
Allaire faced tough economic times. He always looked for ways to get money for his businesses. The Panic of 1837 was a big economic depression. It caused problems for many businesses, including his.
Why Bog Iron Was Important
During the War of 1812, it was hard to get iron from other countries. This made it difficult for American factories to get what they needed. Allaire needed a steady supply of iron for his factories. So, he looked for a good source of raw materials.
What interested Allaire most was the bog iron ore found here. Bog iron forms in marshes and swampy areas. It was a very important resource in America. This was before huge iron deposits were found in the mountains of Northern New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Unlike mountain ore, bog iron is easy to get. You don't need deep mines or strip mining to dig it out. Allaire also saw that the nearby forests had lots of wood. This wood was perfect for fueling the furnace to melt the bog iron.
Bog iron can even grow back if you use it carefully! It forms when rainwater mixes with acids from the soil. These acids react with carbon dioxide from tiny living things in the ground. This process brings iron particles to the surface. Over time, these particles harden into solid iron. This takes about 25 to 35 years. So, it could be a never-ending resource if managed well.
Bringing Allaire Village Back to Life
The village was left empty in 1846. A few houses were used sometimes. One cottage was even a small inn. But most buildings were empty and falling apart. The property stayed in the Allaire family until 1901. Then, a man named Arthur Brisbane bought it. He used some buildings as homes until the late 1920s.
Around 1900, the village was used as a setting for silent movies. One famous film was Lilac Time in 1928. In 1929, the Monmouth County Boy Scouts rented 800 acres of the area. They called it "Camp Burton at Allaire" and used it for summer camping.
When the Boy Scouts arrived, the abandoned buildings were in bad shape. The Scouts worked with other groups to fix them up. For example, the Asbury Park Kiwanis club helped restore the general store. St. James Church helped restore the Foreman's cottage. It became a first aid hut for the camp. The Belmar Kiwanis club even set up an athletic field. Other groups like the Girl Scouts and 4-H also used the camp.
During the Great Depression, the area was used as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps. After Arthur Brisbane died, the Boy Scouts lost their lease. 1940 was their last camping season there. You can find a plaque on the General Store that honors the Boy Scout program.
In 1941, Mrs. Phoebe C. Brisbane, Arthur Brisbane's wife, gave the property to the state. She wanted it to become a park to remember her husband. During World War II, the state even let the war department build a fake "German Town" there. This was used to train troops from Fort Monmouth.
Because there wasn't enough money for repairs, the state leased the property. In the mid-1950s, a non-profit group called "Deserted Village of Allaire" took over. They started the restoration work. One of the board members in 1957 was Edwin B. Allaire, a descendant of James Allaire!
Fundraising for restoration began around 1952. The buildings sat empty until 1957 when money became available. By then, plants had grown all over the property. The buildings were still in disrepair. The Blacksmith shop and the General Store were the first to be fixed. Then, the stables and bakery were restored. The stables were even planned to become a riding academy.
Allaire Village officially became a State Park in June 1957. Governor Robert B. Meyner reopened it on May 24, 1958. A museum was also created in 1958. It was thanks to the New Jersey State Federation of Woman's Clubs. The restoration of the village is still ongoing. But the buildings, programs, and even the landscape make Allaire Village a special place. Visitors can learn about New Jersey's industrial past in the early 1800s.
See also
