Historic Village at Allaire closes for three weeks to save money, seeks donations

WALL - The leadership of The Historic Village at Allaire have decided to close for three weeks due to a shortage of operating funds.

The closure, which began Monday, includes all historic buildings, the Visitor Center and educational programs. The closure does not affect the state park, consisting of walking trails and camp grounds and the Pine Creek Railroad, which is run by the New Jersey Museum of Transportation. Both the park and the railroad remain open to the public.

Through an unrelated coincidence, the family campsites at Allaire are currently closed due to the construction of a new bathroom and shower facility. The group campgrounds are open.

The village consists of the early 19th-century buildings and iron furnace built by James P. Allaire, founder of Howell Works, which produced casting and pig iron for his Allaire Iron Works in New York for his steam engines.

The village is funded by state grants but also relies heavily on donations and money received from events, such as flea markets, vintage baseball games and weddings.

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Several reasons contributed to the leadership, consisting of an executive director and board of trustees, to shut the village down temporarily. The village stated the current economy, rising inflation, poor weather and lack of grants led them to make the decision.

The closure is expected to help the village save funds by cutting out a few weeks of operational costs. The village said it will reopen the management office on Aug. 7 and resume normal operation on Aug. 9. In the meantime, people are still permitted to walk the through the village, which is looking for donations to help right the ship.

"Our hearts are heavy but we are determined to keep going. Now more than ever, we need your help," the village said it a post to its social media pages and website.

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Howell Works was open from 1822 to 1848, declining after the 1837 depression. At its peak the works developed into a self-sustained community or 400 people. The site remains as a memorial to the social thought, experience and planning of Industrial-era America. There are thirteen of the original buildings at the site.

How to help

Send donations by mail to: Allaire Village Inc., 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, 07727 or go online to The Historic Village at Allaire.

When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Historic Village at Allaire closes for three weeks to save money, seeks donations