The Hanson House
38 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey 07016
Submitted by: Margaret Gerlach, President, Cranford Historical Society
The Hanson House, a Queen Anne Victorian single family residence, was originally constructed in the 1870’s. The builder and owners prior to 1900 are still unknown, but in 1900 the owners were two prominent Cranford citizens, Daniel H. Hopkins and Herbert C. Hopkins, and later Arthur C. Hopkins, son of Daniel Hopkins. The Hopkins family occupied and owned the home well into the 1920’s. In 1909, Gertrude Hopkins & Blanche Sloat relocated their Interior Design Studio from lower Manhattan to 38 Springfield Ave. In 1910, the Cranford Field and River Club was organized and built a Clubhouse at 38 Springfield Ave. “at the foot of” the Hopkins residence. The club existed for some years into the 1920’s. The 1930 census shows the family of Charles C. Goodfellow renting and residing at 38 Springfield Ave and in 1931, the family of Edward C. McConahay resided at the address. On June 11, 1936, it was reported to be the residence of Dr. Walter Fasnacht. In 1937, Dr. Carl Hanson bought the home at 38 Springfield Avenue and moved his practice there. Dr. Hanson had resided, in 1934, at 111 North Ave. West with his office at 116 Eastman Street. Dr. Carl Hanson was a nationally recognized researcher in the field of Strep Throat and a Pediatrician who provided care for hundreds of Cranford’s children over the decades he lived in Cranford. The family lived at 38 Springfield Avenue for more than forty years.
The front parlor, dining room, kitchen area, sun room, his office and once his waiting room, the main upstairs bedrooms and staircase are intact. It also houses a locally crafted residential Leet Pipe Organ built in place for the homeowners in the 1920’s. The Cranford Historical Society and the Township Committee have honored the legacy of Dr. Carl Hanson by restoring and upgrading his Victorian home on Springfield Ave. The Cranford Historical Society has spent thousands of dollars on the restoration of the house. By having the Hanson House we’ve been able to expand our facilities and increase access for the Community to its own history and a true community asset.
In 1980, the Hanson House was scheduled for imminent demolition. The Township of Cranford had acquired the property through Green Acres funding in 1978. Initially, there was a great discussion over the structure’s future. According to an August 1992 Cranford Chronicle article, “A Hanson House Committee was formed to study possible uses of the property. The Committee, which was made up of Civic Leaders, Residents and Government Officials considered moving the building, selling or renting it, tearing it down or relocating municipal offices there. By a 17-5 vote, the Committee chose to preserve the house for municipal offices. But the governing body, by a 3-2 vote in August 1990, rejected a bond ordinance allocating $165,000 for the renovation of the house.” At this time, the Hansons were given a ten-year Lease to continue living at the house. After Dr. Hanson and his wife died, a relative lived in the house until the Lease expired in 1988.
In 1990, the Cranford Historical Society appealed to the Township for approval to use the house, using their own funds to maintain, upgrade and preserve the interior of the house. The Society would use the house as their new headquarters and to store material of historic nature and their growing Costume and Military collection. In addition, the house would also be available for use as a civic meeting hall for Township organizations. The Cranford Historical Society then entered into a long-term Lease with the Township. The Hanson house is the home of the Cranford Historical Society office, Archives, Research library, Artifacts collection and Costume Collection. It is also the home to the Union County Historical Society and Library, and the Hanson Park Conservancy office. In addition, it provides a meeting place for Township organizations.
In the 1990’s, the Hanson House began to show structural wear and tear. The Cranford Historical Society had maintained the interior cleanliness of the building and supervised its use for civic meetings and events. But significant structural stabilization needed to be done. With the Preserve Union County Grant and matching Funds, and guided by a historic architect’s plan, the Historical Society has continued to preserve the Hanson House as it stands today with its home like character intact. Now, more repairs on the outside are needed and the Township is looking into fixing them.
The Historical Society consulted with Historic Architect Jennifer Stark about the exterior color paint for the Hanson House. Ms. Stark suggested that the Hanson House should be painted to blend with its natural surroundings. This is compatible with the teachings of Victorian Architect, Andrew Jackson Downing, whose color scheme was used for the Crane -Phillips House Museum. Downing taught that house colors should blend with nature not contrast with them. In his book, Romantic Victorian Cottages and Suburban Homes, Downing suggests “soft greens with accents of bright colors like the flowers in the fields.” The colors Jennifer Stark chose for the Hanson House complement existing historic Victorian structures in the area. If anyone has information on the builder of the Hanson House or owners from 1870 to 1899, it would be appreciated and added to our Archives. It should be listed on the Deed, which we cannot get.
The Cranford Historical Society was founded on February 11, 1927 by a small group of Cranford citizens interested in preserving the unique history of this special town. Since its founding, the Society has been dedicated to the perpetuation of Cranford’s history by continuing to collect and document the town’s past as we enter the 21st century. The collection today includes photographs, scrapbooks, glass negatives, furniture, tools, kitchen and farm implements, Native American artifacts, books, letters and numerous other items related to Cranford and its citizens. Its Costume & Military collection continues to grow and flourish and is considered by many experts to be one of the finest collections in New Jersey. The Society is also the caretaker of the Crane-Phillips House Museum where museum tours are given by a Trustee and our Docent on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month from 2pm to 4pm, September through May. This museum offers a rare glimpse of the life of a modest family in the Victorian Era of 1870’s opulence without plumbing and electricity. Permanent and changing exhibits, featuring items from the Society’s costume, tool and local history collections, are displayed.
To join the Cranford Historical Society our membership forms are on our website at cranfordhistoricalsociety.org, and flyers are at the Cranford Library. Contact us at cranfordhistoricalsociety@verizon.net or (908) 276-0082. We welcome all new members in learning the history of this fantastic town of Cranford and preserving and perpetuating it for future generations. A special thank you for information provided to Lt. Col. Steven Glazer, longtime member of the society, and the Cranford Historical Society Archives.
