Monmouth County Historical Association facts for kids
The Monmouth County Historical Association (MCHA) is a group that helps us learn about the past of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It was started way back in 1898 by people who lived in the county, led by a teacher named Caroline Gallup Reed. Their goal was to find, keep, and share everything about Monmouth County's history.
In 1931, the MCHA built its main Museum and Library. This building is in Freehold, which is the main town of Monmouth County. It's a beautiful brick building designed in the Georgian style. When people heard about the new building, they donated many old items like furniture, art, special papers, and books to help fill it.
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Exploring Historic Homes
The MCHA doesn't just have a museum; it also helps save old houses! In 1936, they started protecting historic properties.
Marlpit Hall
The first historic house they received was Marlpit Hall. It was built around 1756 in Middletown. A kind person named Mrs. J. Amory Haskell bought it, fixed it up, and filled it with old furniture. Then, she gave it to the MCHA to take care of.
Holmes-Hendrickson House
Later, in 1959, the Holmes-Hendrickson House was given to the MCHA. This house was built around 1754. It was moved about two miles to its current spot in Holmdel.
Covenhoven House and Allen House
During the 1960s, the MCHA got two more very important historic buildings.
- In 1966, they acquired the Covenhoven House in Freehold. This house, built around 1752, was even used by a British general, Sir Henry Clinton, before the Battle of Monmouth during the American Revolutionary War!
- In 1968, the Allen House in Shrewsbury became an MCHA property. This house, built around 1705, was once a tavern (like an old inn or restaurant) in the late 1700s.
These four historic houses are filled with old furniture and art from the MCHA's collections. They show what life was like in the 1700s. You can visit them seasonally as historic house museums!
Taylor-Butler House
In 1999, the MCHA also acquired the Taylor-Butler House. This house, built around 1853, is a great example of the Victorian style. It's right next to Marlpit Hall and was built by later generations of the same family.
Learning and Education
The Monmouth County Historical Association is known as one of the best local history groups in the country. They want everyone to be able to see and learn from their collections.
They do this in many ways:
- They publish books and articles.
- They offer educational programs.
- They do outreach activities, bringing history to schools.
- They have changing and permanent exhibits at their museum.
The main Museum and Library in Freehold is open all year. The historic houses are open from May through September. Each year, almost 8,000 school children take part in their programs, learning about history at the museum, the old houses, or even in their own classrooms!
Amazing Collections
The MCHA has many cool things in its collections. These items are shown in different exhibits at the museum and are used to furnish the historic homes.
Museum Collections
The museum collections include:
- Furniture and other decorative arts (like fancy dishes or lamps)
- Old clothes and fabrics
- Ceramics (pottery and dishes)
- Portraits and paintings
- Folk art (art made by ordinary people)
- Military objects (things from wars)
Library and Archives
The Library and Archives are like a giant treasure chest of information! They hold over 200,000 documents about the area and its residents. They also have many family histories, reference books, old photographs, and local newspapers.
Some of the important collections include:
- Papers from Peter Vredenburgh Jr. (1856-1868)
- Records from the North American Phalanx (1841-1972)
- The John C. Mills Maritime Collection (1870s-1970s), which is about ships and the sea
- The A & M Karagheusian, Inc. Collection (1940-1962)
- The Battle of Monmouth Collection
- The Pach Brothers Photographers Glass Plate Negatives Collection, which has old photos on glass plates
In October 2022, it was reported that the MCHA was thinking about selling a famous painting called “Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth” by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze.
See also
- Parker Homestead
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Monmouth County, New Jersey
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
- List of historical societies in New Jersey
- List of museums in New Jersey
- Freehold Public Library
