How to Spend a Lovely Fall Day in New Jersey at Allaire State Park
- Brooke
- Sep 2, 2022
- 5 min read
Having grown up in New Jersey, I can assure you that I've heard all the jokes. And look, if we're being really honest, I've probably even told a few of them myself.
New Jersey is not often thought of as a "scenic" state, having much to do with that corridor of the New Jersey Turnpike between Linden and the Lincoln Tunnel, where smoke stacks and oil refineries dot the landscape. It's true, that area of New Jersey, usually the only part of the state many people see as they make their way to and from NYC, is not something us Jersey folks feel proud of.
But if that's the only part of New Jersey you ever see, well, I do feel a little bit sad for you. Now, let's keep in mind that I moved to a set of tropical islands 6,000 miles away from Jersey (as the locals call it, and not any of this "New Joisey" stuff you hear) as soon as I was able to, but I can still appreciate that my home state, while a little rough around the edges, has some really pleasant stuff away from those edges. After all, it's called the Garden State for a reason, and if you are intrepid enough to venture off our main highways, you might be in for a real surprise.
I'm not usually in Jersey in the fall due to my university teaching schedule, but every so often, an event lures me back to the East Coast during my semester. In this case, Ben's sister was getting married in Long Island, so we used the excuse to then head down to Jersey afterwards, and spend some time with friends and family. Generally speaking, I try to spend a month or so a year in New Jersey, but those are usually in the summer or over Christmas break. Ben usually does not join me, as he doesn't have as much time off as I do or flexibility with his work, so it was nice to have him tagging along.
However, even though I don't often get to visit the East Coast in the fall, when I do, I absolutely love it. Not enough to move back, of course, but enough to get super excited. I have a friend who sends me pictures of leaf color changes throughout the season I love it so much. However, I'll take my Hawaii weather any day of the year, but if I can at least visit fall, I know I'm in for a real treat.
While New Jersey isn't one of the biggest states for leaf peeping (like Vermont or New Hampshire), it still manages to put on a show, with bright reds, oranges and yellows lighting up the trees in a colorful parade of seasonal change.
One such place to see the leaves changing color in a peaceful and tranquil setting in New Jersey is Allaire State Park. I grew up visiting this park throughout my childhood, but I don't take enough time as an adult to go back and visit it when I spend time in New Jersey. For some reason, perhaps because Ben was with me, this trip seemed like the perfect time to revisit a place I had spent a considerable amount of time in during my youth.
Allaire State Park is a historical village of the former iron-working community of Howell Iron Works, Co. founded by 19th century entrepreneur James P. Allaire in the 1830s. Several historical buildings still stand, including the chapel (seen above and below), a blacksmith shop, a general store, workers' row houses, and other important buildings necessary for a self-contained corporate community. The park is also home to a number of beautiful walking and biking trails, but also a smattering of historical reenactments take place throughout the year as well.
One of the first buildings you find in the park is the Chapel. First started in 1832, it was eventually completed in 1836, and is still available today to be rented out for important events, such as weddings and christenings. It has an unusual feature, though, with its belfry being located at the back of the building, instead of on the more common front part of the church. This was due to the different building materials used at the two eras of construction - in 1832 when the building was started, the community used weaker recycled wood. However, by the time the building was completed, they had switched over to sturdier wood, making the back part of the structure more appropriate to house the heavy belfry.
Above, you can see an example of the row houses where the workers would have lived. According to The Village, a nonprofit corporation that runs the historical aspects of the park, rent would have cost $1-$2 a month (with a worker making around $1000 a year), and might have housed up to ten people per unit.
Above, with the fenced in yard is the Foreman's Cottage, the third largest house on the property. It is also the oldest brick building in the community.
The community needed a bakery, seen above, to bake bread and other necessities. During the 1830s when the community was thriving, many individual houses would not have had their own ovens, and would instead rely on this building to provide them with the food they'd need for every day life.
Below is the entrance to the General Store that features a gift shop. It was also the perfect place to snag a lollipop or penny candy as a kid.
Above and below is the Blacksmith Shop, one of the largest in the US at that time. Built in 1836, it featured four forges, allowing 12-20 people to work from sun up to sun down. There are still demonstrations on how the forge works today.
No matter the time of year, a stroll through historic Allaire Village is an enjoyable one. Fall itself presents a wonderful chance to experience the leaves changing color in a laid back and relaxing space, and really helps to share just how pleasant New Jersey can be, if you know where to look.
Allaire State Park Details
Allaire State Park is located minutes away from the Garden State Parkway off of Exit 98, and from I-195 off of Exit 31-B. The park includes an old steam train that occasionally runs, and is a huge hit with local children.
The museum and shops are open seasonally, and have different hours depending on the time of year of your visit. To learn more about the park, including museum and shop hours, entrance fees, as well as the other recreational activities available in the park, visit their website.
Day of travel: October 19, 2016
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