Montclair Historical Society

The spectacular Presby Iris Gardens are beginning to bloom. Find time in your schedule in the next few weeks to stroll through this amazing garden and marvel at the 1000+ varieties of iris. The garden was founded in 1927 to honor Frank H. Presby, the founder of the American Iris Society.   Check their website for updates on what’s in bloom when.

That once-a-year event is underway.  The magnificent wisteria at the Van Vleck House is in bloom.  Stop by to see and the rest of the gardens at 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair. They’re open from dawn to dusk.  Check their website for more information.

Listen to a historic presentation of costume jewelry making from 1880 – 1980 by Joyce Simmons, author, lecturer and avid collector of vintage costume and collectible jewelry for over 35 years. Joyce will discuss HOT jewelry topics, what to wear, how to care and why to collect. This event, which is sponsored by the College Women’s Club of Montclair, takes place on May 5, 2012 at  10:00 AM at the First Lutheran Church, 153 Park Street, Montclair.  It is free for members of the Women’s Club of Montclair, guests are $5.

This year, to help those of you who can’t make it to the herb sale until Saturday and have been disappointed when we’ve run out of your favorite scented geranium, we’re offering you an opportunity to pre-order the plants you’d like us to reserve for you.  We’ll stay open late Thursday (until 8 pm), to give you a chance  [Read more...]

Jeff Sitar, who’s won a remarkable 8 championships for opening safes, will be coming to the Montclair Historical Society’s Charles Shultz House (Evergreens) this Sunday, April 1, to open a safe that has been locked for decades. Jeff primarily uses sight, hearing, and touch to open safes.  When he checked out the one he will be opening this Sunday, he used a hearing device similar to a stethoscope. After several minutes, he leaned back and said, “I can do this.”  Says Jeff, “I have never failed, not once.  I’ve never met a safe I couldn’t open.” Jeff’s clients include homeowners, businesses, the government, and even the movies.  One of his more recent gigs was helping the producers of the movie Tower Heist stage an authentic safe cracking scene. Join as at 3:30 at 30 North Mountain Avenue to watch Jeff in action.

The Historical Society of Caldwell is faced with an interesting dilemma.  They have a two-sided flag from the War of 1812  they would like to display.  Ah, but which side to show? Because of its fragile condition, it cannot be displayed vertically in a glass case preventing them from making both sides visible. They are asking for the public’s opinion.  You can see both sides of the flag, and weigh in, here.

Check out our full-color Spring Newsletter, with all the latest news and information about upcoming events! We’ve got news about our new oral history project on the YWCA years, our Sunday Spotlight programs, our Annual Herb Sale, and our Quilt Show and Tea, coming in May.

For 45 years — from 1920 to 1965 — the house built by Israel Crane in 1796 was home to a YWCA that served young African American women who lived in the area or moved into the area seeking employment. Some of these young women lived there, others took classes there, some socialized there.  It became a vibrant social center where the likes of Langston Hughes and W.E. B. DuBois came to speak.

Were you, or a family member or friend, involved in the YWCA?  We want to hear your stories.  We recently received a grant from the Essex County Division of Parks and Recreation to begin to collect oral histories from people whose lives were touched by the Y.  These oral histories will become the basis for a permanent exhibition or series of public programs.  Please contact us at YWCA@montclairhistorical.org or call 973-744-1796 if you know someone who would like to share her history.

We’ve recently completed a project at the Carriage House of the Shultz House to reduce energy consumption thanks to the help and guidance of Ciel Power LLC.  The goal, as with any historic property, was to insulate the space, while maintaining the historic integrity of the structure.

The ground floor of the Carriage House still has the stables where Charles Shultz’s horses [Read more...]

You must register IN-PERSON – no phone registrations — at The Store at MAM.  Montclair Art Museum Store hours Tuesday – Sundays, 10 to 5 pm.  There will be two sessions on Sunday, March 11, from 2 to 4 pm and 5-7 pm.  $35 per family (advanced registration is required!) See our events listing for more information.