Monmouth County Historical Association facts for kids
The Monmouth County Historical Association (MCHA) is a group dedicated to preserving the history of Monmouth County, New Jersey. It was started in 1898 by local people, led by a teacher named Caroline Gallup Reed. Their goal was to find, collect, and keep everything important about the county's past. In 1931, they built their main Museum and Library in Freehold. This beautiful brick building was designed in the Georgian style. Many people were excited about the new building. They donated lots of old furniture, cool artifacts, paintings, and rare books.
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Historic Homes and Buildings
In 1936, the MCHA decided to also save old buildings. The first historic home they received was Marlpit Hall, built around 1756 in Middletown. Mrs. J. Amory Haskell bought, fixed up, and furnished this house, then gave it to the MCHA.
In 1959, the Holmes-Hendrickson House (built around 1754) was given to the MCHA. It was moved two miles to its current spot in Holmdel.
More Historic Houses Acquired
During the 1960s, the MCHA got and restored two more very important buildings in Monmouth County.
- In 1966, they acquired the Covenhoven House in Freehold. This house, built around 1752, was used by British General Sir Henry Clinton as his headquarters before the Battle of Monmouth.
- In 1968, the Allen House in Shrewsbury became an MCHA property. Built around 1705, this house is set up to show what it was like when it was a tavern in the late 1700s.
These four historic homes are filled with the MCHA's collections. They show what life was like in the 1700s. You can visit them seasonally as historic house museums. 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.
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 their museum and research collections. They do this through books, educational programs, and special events. They also have changing and permanent exhibits.
The MCHA's main Museum and Library in Freehold, New Jersey is open all year. Their historic sites are open from May through September. Each year, nearly 8,000 school children take part in programs. These programs happen at the museum, the historic houses, and even in classrooms around the area.
Amazing Collections
The museum's collections are shown in different exhibits at the main museum. They also furnish the historic homes. These collections include:
- Furniture and other decorative arts
- Old costumes and textiles
- Ceramics (like pottery and dishes)
- Portraits and paintings
- Folk art
- Military objects
Library and Archives
The Library and Archives hold over 200,000 documents about the area and its residents. They also have many family histories, reference books, photographs, and local newspapers. Some popular collections include:
- The Peter Vredenburgh Papers (1856-1868)
- The North American Phalanx Records (1841-1972)
- The John C. Mills Maritime Collection (1870s-1970s)
- The A & M Karagheusian, Inc. Collection (1940-1962)
- The Battle of Monmouth Collection
- The Pach Brothers Photographers Glass Plate Negatives Collection
In October 2022, it was reported that the MCHA's Board of Trustees was thinking about selling a famous painting. The painting is 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 museums in New Jersey
- Freehold Public Library
