Montclair historic houses decorated for the holidays

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Visit the Montclair Historical Society museums decked out for the holiday season! Tours of the historic houses incorporate the holiday traditions throughout the country’s more than 200-year history, as well as stories of the houses and the people who lived and played in them. The houses will be open every Sunday prior to Dec. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Tours begin at the Nathaniel Crane House at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, where less “foppery” reigned and the decorations reflect the period when Christmas was barely a hint of the celebration seen in America today. Then walk over to the Crane House and Historic YWCA, where the Garden Club of Montclair decorates the period rooms in styles appropriate to those times from boughs of holly to bubble lights. At the Crane House and Historic YWCA, warm up by the fire in the 1800s hearth kitchen and learn about holiday food traditions. At the Shultz House at 30 North Mountain Ave., the Shultz family’s own collection of decorations, antique toys and children’s book exhibit will be on display along with fresh decorations donated by Bartlett’s Greenhouses and Florist of Clifton.

Tours of the Crane House and Historic YWCA at 108 Orange Road are on the hour, with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m. Tours of the Shultz House are on the half hour, with the last last tour 3:30 p.m, allowing you to easily visit both houses in one day. Admission is charged, though members get in for free.

The Crane House and Historic YWCA will also be open on Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m, with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m.

The Montclair Historical Society is an independent not-for-profit organization that has been dedicated to preserving, sharing and educating others about Montclair’s history since 1965. For additional information, visit www.montclairhistorical.org or contact the Montclair Historical Society at 973- 744-1796 or [email protected].

  Montclair History Center