MONTCLAIR
150
at
Clark House Israel Crane House
Charles Shultz House Nathaniel Crane House
HISTORIC HOMES OFFER GLIMPSE INTO MONTCLAIR’S PAST
T
COMPILED BY JOSEPH RITACCO
he mission of the Montclair History Center (MHC) is to preserve local
history through historic buildings, artifacts and documents, educate the
community through programs, advocacy and exhibits, and share the sto-
ries and history of various people and groups that have shaped Montclair.
A private, nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization, MHC is the steward of four historic
houses in Montclair — the Crane House and Historic YWCA (110 Orange Road),
the Nathaniel Crane House (110 Orange Road), the Clark House (108 Orange
Road) and the Shultz House, also known as Evergreens (30 N. Mountain Ave).
“These four houses,” says Jane Eliasof, MHC’s executive director, “represent
200 years of history.”
The Israel Crane and Nathaniel Crane houses, built in 1796 and 1818, respec-
tively, reflect Montclair’s agricultural history and early downtown development,
while the Clark and Shultz houses, built in 1894 and 1896, respectively, reflect
Montclair’s evolution into a suburban community with small lots populated by
local business owners or workers who commuted by train to New York City.
More information may be found at montclairhistory.org.
38
SPRING 2018 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE
CLARK HOUSE
Dr. James Henry Clark, Jr. and his wife Carrie Schenck built the two-and-a-
half story Queen Anne-style house, which was occupied by the Clark family
until 1962. Today it is used as the Society’s educational, research and adminis-
trative complex, including exhibits and the Albert Payson Terhune Library,
which in turn is dedicated to the preservation of local resources unique to
Montclair.
CHARLES SHULTZ HOUSE (EVERGREENS)
Built in 1896 by Hoboken Bank President Charles S. Shultz, the three-story
home, also known as “Evergreens,” has 21 rooms, most of which have barely
changed in the house’s history. The house is representative of the new wealth
flowing into Montclair during its railroad-era transformation in the late 19th
century. Donated to the MHC by Charles Shultz’s granddaughter, Molly Shultz,
the estate represents an important addition to the Society’s collection of
properties and historical education program.
ISRAEL CRANE HOUSE AND HISTORIC YWCA
A Federal Revival-style landmark, the Israel Crane House has had three lives
— as the Crane family home, a YWCA for African American women and girls
and a historic house museum. The Montclair History Center was founded in
1965 to save the Israel Crane House, which is used today to tell the stories of all
the people who lived, worked and played in the house.
NATHANIEL CRANE HOUSE
Made from solid oak framing timbers, The Nathaniel Crane House was built
by Captain Nathaniel Crane, Jr., a militiaman from Essex County, and remained
in the Crane family until 1851. Today, it is used by the Montclair History Center
as a visitor’s center, and has an exhibit of a 19th-century general store (pictured)
on the first floor. On the second floor is an exhibit featuring a 19th-century
schoolroom.