Cranford Historical Society reviews achievements
Submitted by Margaret Gerlach, President
It has been an honor for me to be president of this fantastic, non-profit educational organization for the past twelve years. We have a wonderful Board of Trustees, Barbara Klaus (Vice President), Charles Goodfellow (Treasurer), John Dreyer (Chairman of the Board of Trustees), Maureen Wakeman (Recording Secretary), Gail Alterman (Costume Curator), Victor Bary (Archives Curator and Mill Wheel Editor), Lori Ricco, Debra Nicholls, Jean Pascarella, Patricia Pavlak, Cassie Roty, Don Sweeney (Cranford 86), and Irene Weiss. Together with our part time office administrator, BJ Canedo, we work to preserve and perpetuate the history of Cranford.
2022 marked the 95th Anniversary of the founding of the Cranford Historical Society on Feb. 11th 1927 by a group of Cranford citizens hoping to preserve the history of this fantastic town. The citizens worked endlessly researching the history, finding old maps, collecting documents and photographs, etc. They formed a Board of Trustees and would have their meetings in each other’s homes or at the Union County Junior College. To raise money, they needed the support of the community like we do today, and started a membership drive for only $2.50 per year. In 1929, the Township of Cranford acquired “The Little House” on North Union Ave. In 1932, The Township gave the Cranford Historical Society the front room to display their archival possessions. Mrs. Fanny Crane Hopfensach gave tours of this house 4 days each 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 previous owners of the house.
In 1964, the Cranford Historical Society placed a plaque commemorating the Pepperidge Tree, “Old Peppy”, which was 200 years old at that time. Also, Trustee Homer Hall wrote a book called “300 Years at Cranes Ford.” This book shows the area’s background in the days when Native Americans were its only inhabitants. Also that year, the Cranford Historical Society discovered that during the Revolutionary War, the militia assembled and crossed the Rahway River to join troops and fight in the “Battle of Springfield.” The Cranford Historical Society also discovered the first school house of Cranford, located at the corner of South Union Ave. and Lincoln Ave. West.
In 1995 and 1996, the late Trustee and Curator, Robert Freidlington 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 Vol II. Larry Fuhro also drew a map of Cranford in the early years. These maps and books, among other items, are sold at our Hanson House office, 38 Springfield Ave. Cranford.
More achievement of the Cranford Historical Society are:
- Recordings of the Oral History of Cranford are collected and put on CDs.
- Annual history tours and visits by 3rdgraders and Scouts of Cranford are given at the Museum to show what life was like in the 1870’s without plumbing and electricity in Cranford.
- A newsletter, titled “The Mill Wheel “containing Society news and interesting articles is mailed to members five times each year.
- Free programs, both for children and adults, are held each year at the Hanson House and the Crane-Phillips House Museum.
- The Civil War commemorated by presenting programs during the Sesquicentennial.
- The Cranford Historical Society participates in the Memorial Day Parade every year.
- In 2022, the participation in Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend” on October 16 and 17 had the theme of Celebrating Cranford’s Bravest (135th Anniversary) and Cranford’s Finest (125th Anniversary). The Society also celebrated its 95th Anniversary at the Crane-Phillips House Museum where it all started.
In 1990, the township of Cranford leased the Hanson House, located at 38 Springfield Ave. to the Cranford Historical Society for their headquarters. The Society maintains the historic Hanson House and Crane-Phillips House Museum, under the leadership of the President and the Board of Trustees, through grants, donations and membership dues. Our dues now have risen from $2.50 to $15, $25, $50, $75, or $100 member’s choice. We are always looking for new members. If you are not a member, we cordially invite you to join us.
The Cranford Historical Society has had a longstanding relationship with Scouts. At the Crane-Phillips House, Scouts have earned their Eagle Awards; one for building us an “outhouse” and one for building us a picket fence and arbor. This fence separates the Victorian flower garden from the historic tool garden which years before were done by another eagle scout to showcase them and also our stone garden. Recently, the Society built a stone wall in which historic monument stones of Cranford are placed. Another Scout built a kiosk, located at Grey’s Funeral Home, depicting historic sites in town. A Girl Scout Troop built a vegetable garden bin so we could plant vegetables 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 in the Museum so that visitors unable to climb the steep steps to the second floor can view the two bedrooms.
The Cranford Historical Society also awards a High School History Scholarship to a graduating senior every year. We also train students in High School to become docents at our Museum to help our Trustees give tours.
The Cranford Historical Society also serves the community by helping Cranford residents research their homes, some historic and some not. The Hanson House office is open M-Th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm for those who want to research their homes or have questions about the history of Cranford.
The Cranford Historical Society has achieved so much through the years, all possible through our fundraisers, grants from Union County and the NJ Historic Preservation Commission, donations from the community and membership dues. There is still more to do to continue to preserve and perpetuate the history of Cranford for future generations. Please join us! If you would like to become a member, please go to our website, cranfordhistoricalsociety.org, for a 2023 membership form. Forms can also be found at the Cranford Library.
