Submitted by: Margaret Gerlach, President
This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Cranford Historical Society (CHS) on February 11, 1927 by a group of Cranford citizens in preserving and perpetuating the history of our fantastic town. These citizens worked endlessly researching the history of Cranford finding old maps, collecting documents and photographs, etc. They formed a Board of Trustees and would have their meetings in each others’ homes or at the Union Junior College. To raise money, they needed the support of the community, and started a membership drive for only $2.50 a year. In 1929, the Township of Cranford acquired the “Little House” on North Union Avenue. In 1932, the Township gave the CHS the front room to display their archival possessions. Mrs. Fannie Crane Hopfensach gave tours of this house four days a week until 1962.
In 1962, the Trustees started to make repairs to the “Little House” which was renovated with a half bathroom and kitchen facilities. Support beams were placed in the basement. The archival wing was added through the generosity of the Cranford Junior Service League and the “Little House” became a museum called the Crane- Phillips House Museum named after the two previous owners of the house.
In 1964, the CHS placed a plaque commemorating the Pepperidge Tree called “Old Peppy” dated 200 years at that time
In 1964, in celebration of New Jersey’s 300th anniversary, Trustee Homer Hall wrote a book called “300 Years at Crane’s Ford.” This book shows the areas background in the days whenAmerican Indians were its only inhabitants. Also in 1964, the CHS discovered during the Revolutionary War, the militia assembled and crossed the Rahway River to join troops to fight the “Battle of Springfield.” The CHS also discovered the first school house in Cranford was located at the corner of South Union Avenue and Lincoln Avenue West.
In 1995 and 1996, the late Trustee and Curator Robert Fridlington and the late Past President and Trustee Larry Fuhro wrote two books for the Images of America series; Images of Cranford, and Images of Cranford Volume II. Larry Fuhro also drew a map of Cranford in the early years. Maps and books are sold at the Hanson House office or at the Crane-Phillips House Museum.
• Recordings of the Oral History of Cranford were recently put on CD’s.
• Annual historic tours and visits by third graders and scouts of Cranford are given at the Crane- Phillips House Museum to show what life was like in the 1870’s without plumbing and electricity in Cranford.
• The Cranford Historical Society has a newsletter called “The Mill Wheel” which is mailed to members five times a year.
• All our free programs both for children and adults are held twice a month at the Crane- Phillips House Museum or the Hanson House.
In 1990, the Township of Cranford leased the Hanson House located at 38 Springfield Avenue to the CHS for their headquarters. The CHS maintains the Hanson House and Crane-Phillips House museum under the leadership of the President and Board of Trustees through grants, donations and membership dues. Our dues now have risen (from $2.50) to currently your choice of $15, $25, $50 or $100. We are always looking for new members. If have not joined, we cordially invite you to do so.
For many years, the CHS has restored the Hanson House and the Crane-Phillips House Museum.
At the Crane-Phillips House Museum, Boy Scouts earned their Eagle Scout Award; one for building us an “Outhouse” and one for building a picket fence and arbor. This fence separates the Victorian flower garden from the historic tool garden which years before were done by an Eagle Scout to showcase them and also our stone garden. Another Boy Scout built a kiosk depicting historic sites in town located at Grey’s Funeral Home. A Girl Scout Troop built a vegetable garden bin so we could plant vegetable for our annual “Four Centuries in a Weekend” program for visitors to see. A Girl Scout working on her gold award set up a monitor downstairs so that visitors unable to climb the steep steps to the second floor can view the two bedrooms. The CHS also honored the Civil War by presenting programs to honor the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War. In addition, the CHS participates in the Cranford Memorial Day Parade every year.
The CHS has achieved so much through the years. We had a food drive last year for Cranford Family Care at our Ice Cream Social which was a success. The CHS also has the Cranford High School History Award Scholarship fund which is given to a Senior High School student every year. We also train high school students to become docents at the museum to help our Trustees give tours.
The Hanson House office is opened Monday and Tuesday from 9:30am to 11:30am and Monday through Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:30pm for the community to research their homes or have questions about the history of Cranford.
On Saturday, September 16th, 2017 the Cranford Historical Society will be celebrating our 90th Anniversary at the “Moonlight Gala” from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. at Dreyer Farms on Springfield Avenue in Cranford.
This celebration is opened to the community at a price of $35.00 per person. R.S.V.P. by August 31st, 2017.
If you would like to attend please mail a check payable to the Cranford Historical Society, 38 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016. Proceeds benefit the Cranford Historical Society’s History Award Scholarship fund, maintenance of the Hanson House and Crane- Phillips House Museum and grounds. If you have any questions, please call our office at 908-276-0082 or email cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net.
