CCA Receives Bergen County Historic Preservation Award
On May 4, 2010, The Concerned Citizens of Allendale, received a historic preservation award from Bergen County.
The awards ceremony was held in Hackensack’s historic Church on the Green. The group was recognized for "exhibiting outstanding leadership which has contributed … to historic preservation in Bergen County."
The group, which took title to the historic house and 2.8-acre property on the Franklin Turnpike in March, plans to use the house for educational programs, workshops and lectures – and to encourage a new generation of environmental and historic preservation.
"This really was a grassroots effort," said Finn, “from the bumper stickers to lawn signs to ‘Save the Fell House’ buttons. We can’t thank Bergen County enough for this prestigious award, and we look forward to contributing to the community for years to come.”
In accepting the award for the CCA, President Pat Finn not only praised her group’s dedication but also gave special recognition to Brookside School fifth grader Madison Rom for forming a group with two dozen young students in support of the Fell House. She also praised Allendale Mayor Vince Barra for his crucial support.
The house had been slated for demolition, with 11 townhouses to be built on the property, until the CCA mobilized the community and the developer withdrew.
The house, named after Founding Father and Revolutionary War hero John Fell, has many layers of historical and architectural significance, beginning with Fell’s original frame house. Fell was arrested at the house by British sympathizers in 1777 and was imprisoned in New York City for more than eight months – where he kept a secret journal that documented the horrendous conditions in the Provost Jail.
The 2010 Awards were presented by Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Historic Preservation Advisory Board and the Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
Freedom Day
On April 22, 2010, more than 100 third-graders from Hillside School in Allendale, NJ were treated to a Revolutionary War re-enactment on the arrest of John Fell in his home (The Fell House) by the British.
After a flag-raising ceremony that honored two local veterans, Bud Blide and Stiles Thomas, Mayor Vince Barra read a proclamation that declared April 22 to be Freedom Day in Allendale in honor of Revolutionary War hero John Fell.
Dressed in colonial garb, Raoul Mallalieu and other members of the Heard's Brigade re-enacted the arrest of John Fell -- who was taken from his house by 25-armed British loyalists on April 22, 1777 and held as a prisoner of war for more than eight months.
The students also had a chance to see the first floor of the home, tour the grounds, and plant a tree donated by Rohsler's Allendale Nursery.
Allendale Garden Club
On April 11, 2010 the Allendale Garden Club presented the Concerned Citizens of Allendale with a donation for the Fell House.
A SUCCESSFUL OPEN HOUSE
We want to thank all who came to the Open House on March 28th. Over 1,500 people came that Sunday afternoon to explore the home and grounds of the American patriot -John Fell. Because of the generosity of so many of you, we were able to raise almost $3,000 to assist with the restoration and program efforts of the Fell House.
If you would like to contribute, please send your tax-deductible donation to:
Concerned Citizens of Allendale, Inc. 475 Franklin Turnpike Allendale, New Jersey 07401
If you have a skill which you would like to donate, please let us know that, too! Thank you again for your support. Please check out event calendar for things to come.
THE JOHN FELL HOUSE SAVED
After a three-year struggle, and thanks to our loyal supporters, the Concerned Citizens of Allendale has acquired the historic Fell House on the Franklin Turnpike in Allendale.
The closing took place on March 4, with the purchase funded through the Bergen County Open Space Fund, New Jersey Green Acres and donations from the public – including Allendale third-graders who voted to donate the profits from a strawberry festival to the cause.
Having reached that goal, we are moving to the next phase of our project.
Our immediate goal is to address the needs of getting the house up and running for educational and environmental programs, setting up meeting space, and planning events for the public to enjoy this historical site.
Our long term goal is to restore and maintain the house and 2.8 acre property and to return it to its former grandeur. We believe this historic landmark is a site that belongs to residents of New Jersey and our nation. We will begin working on getting the house listed on the state and national Register of Historic Places.
