The Oakland Historical Society will have a booth at this year’s Valley Middle School Holiday Craft Boutique!
In addition to select handmade items from our gift shop, vintage Oakland postcards, maps, and more, we will have a small pop-up exhibit of select items from our museum and collections. Stop by to say “hi” and see what we're planning for 2026 and how you can get involved! Saturday, 6 December, 10am – 3pm Valley Middle School Auditorium, 71 Oak Street, Oakland, NJ |
250 years ago Oakland (then known as The Ponds) was home to farmers and hunters. Cast and wrought iron tools and weapons were necessary for sustaining life in this area. Come view the collections of iron artisans as they display their artifacts of early American life from 250 years ago.
Northwest Bergen County, including Oakland's Van Allen House at 3 Franklin Ave., was at the Crossroads of the Revolution. The 250th anniversary of the Revolution will start July 4th, 2026. You'll enjoy hearing how vital our area was to the process which gave birth to the Unites States of America. During the year we offer opportunities for people to visit the Van Allen House and experience local life as it was in the 18th & 19th Centuries on a farm settlement in northern New Jersey. The Lenni-Lenape Indians are known to have used the path which followed the Ramapo River Valley north and south, and has now become an interstate roadway, Route 202, which goes from Maine south into Maryland and beyond. Copies of letters George Washington wrote at the House are available there during open-houses. (Please check our events page to see when the house will be open next.) The site also has a building from 1902, built by Edward Page, one of the industrialists who settled along Rt. 202 to develop agriculture for the growing cities of Northern New Jersey, such as Paterson or Newark. The building has been reduced to its foundation, but will hopefully be restored soon. Watch for open-house signs in front of the Van Allen House, usually the 3rd or 4th Sunday of the month. Oakland History: The Years Between 1964 Books for Sale!
Do you remember the 1964 book on the latest history of Oakland? The Years Between had a maroon cover on either a hard-cover copy or a soft-cover one. Well, new ones have become available as unbound copies of the original pages were discovered in the Van Allen House during renovation. They are being bound and for a donation, a fresh copy can become a family keepsake of yours. You can also make a donation of time spent restoring the museum room for display. Contact us for details. 
The Ramapo Mountain Lakes Civic Association
Did you know that the original plaque from the Ramapo Mtn. Lakes Assoc. — on display at the Van Allen House — reads “The Ramapo Mountain Lakes Civic Ass'n was organized for the Physical and Moral Welfare of every resident of RML and extend our cooperation to the Borough of Oakland to mutual advantage of all.” Learn about the 1902 Stream House
For all of you who are unfamiliar with the history of the Stream House at 3 Franklin Avenue, you can finally learn why Oakland would not be the great town it is today if it weren't for the efforts of the man who left us the Stream House to take care of. Please see our “Tribute to Edward” on the About page. |
New Resource in Development:
Oakland Local History Library and Archives The Borough of Oakland recently renovated the Van Allen House from top to bottom — providing the Oakland Historical Society (OHS) with new spaces to plan for the future and expand its resources. Learn more about how you can help build our new library and archive! New 2027 Project: Neighborhoods of Oakland
Join us in creating a “Neighborhoods of Oakland” book to be published by Arcadia Press for the 125th anniversary of Oakland's incorporation in 2027! WE NEED YOUR STORIES OF YOUR OAKLAND, NJ. Message us on Facebook or email us to let us know if you join in our effort to create a great book for your friends, your family and Yourself! Volunteers Needed!
The Oakland Historical Society is always in need of volunteers! Help us work on the indexing and scanning of manuscripts, photos, and maps; volunteer at an open house; green your thumbs by helping out with weeding and sprucing up the property in general. Call Jerri or Klaus at 201-337-9652 or e-mail [email protected] for more info on any of these opportunities and to confirm volunteer shifts. 
George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait), 1796, by Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828); Natonal Portrait Gallery
George Washington Slept Here (REALLY!)
George Washington and officers stayed at the Van Allen House on July 14, 1777, on their way north to join more of their forces near West Point, when the troops and supply wagons got bogged down on the muddy trail that was the Ramapo Valley Road of those days. The troops camped down along the Valley Road. Washington wrote two letters addressed from the Van Allen House, of which we have copies at the House. History has recorded that General Washington led his troops up and down the 'Valley Road' on other occasions also, and stayed at other old Dutch Houses in Mahwah, Wayne and Ho-Ho-Kus as well as Morristown. In honor of General Washington's visit in Oakland (The Ponds aka Yawpough), we make a point of celebrating his birthday here each year, conditions permitting. 2027 will be the 250th anniversary of Washington's visit. A handmade miniature diorama of George Washington and his troops visit to the Van Allen's in July of 1777 is available to visitors on the upper floor of the Van Allen House. Visit us at our next Open House to see it! Van Allen House Tours and Resources The Van Allen House hosts a free Open House at least once a month — please see our Events page for more information. We also invite K-12 groups and other organizations for guided, private tours throughout the year. A virtual tour of the Van Allen House is included on the Borough of Oakland’s This Week in Oakland series, episode 7 on YouTube. Viewing and using our historic manuscripts, documents, photographs, and maps for research are available by appointment with Society and take place at the Local History Room at the Oakland Public Library. Call Jerri or Klaus at 201-337-9652 or e-mail [email protected] for more information on any of the above. |
