Clinton Township Newsletter

2 3 o c t o b e r 2 0 2 2 (History, Mysteries, And Curiosities Galore!) continued from page 22 ... homeowner dating back to the 1800's. It's truly incredible how much detail and sweat-equity is required to maintain a home's historic character over time. Specific to our home, the only noticeable aesthetic alterations I see from the historic archive photos and my lived experience in the house are: the relocation of the chimney, which may have been done when the house had a stint as a legal two family home (since reconverted back to its original single-family state) – or, perhaps the chimney was relocated when the home converted from a coal fired furnace to oil; and The stairs of the gingerbread porch were double wide at some point, which is a minor difference from how the porch looks today. It was likely a building code revision or safety code compliance item which required the porch be narrowed, and railings installed. Other than these two minor items, the interior and exterior of the home remain almost exactly as they were when the house was built in 1853. Every year around Halloween many of the families in our historic village decorate their houses with impressive displays (some of which deserve awards). It feels like a trip back in time, strolling the streets – admiring distinct older architectural stylings and the intricate details of the properties here, and the creativity harnessed in decorating them. Though it's a sight to see any time of year, there is something special about the amount of buzzing energy on our streets on Halloween Day. One of my favorite aspects of living in Annandale Historic District is the palpable energy buzzing around the holidays here – the best being Halloween. Village residents and hundreds of local visitors with their families in costumes flock here, creating a truly unique experience that brings Halloween to the next level. On Halloween, hundreds of trick or treaters and their families flock to our village to trick or treat. Many come to the village to stroll the sidewalks, and visit friends. Over Halloweens past, I have been impressed at the amount of parents who share the same curiosity and appreciation for the unique architectural styles and features of the homes, which vary widely from property to property. We love to engage in conversation with curious parents and passersby who ask about the history of our home. Over the years, our first responders provide community support via safety and traffic control to ensure the massive wave of trick or treaters and their families can relax, and soak in the spirit of Halloween. Our first responders host a community celebration with food, music, and various activities, and provide educational awareness about public safety and fire safety. This is hosted in the Annandale Train station parking lot on Halloween day, and it is free to the public. We hope that everyone can experience the mystery, uniqueness, and joy of Halloween in the Historic Village. However you choose to celebrate, we encourage you to keep mystery alive in your imaginations! Stay safe, and most of all – have fun! If you liked this article or have feedback for future articles from HPC, we welcome your feedback! Please feel free to send us a note: historic.clintontownshipnj@gmail.com. For more information about Clinton Township Historic Preservation Commission or Annandale Historic District, please feel free to visit: www.AnnandaleVillage.com, www.ClintonTwpNJ. com/images/HPC/Historic-Preservation-Commission.pdf, https:// ClintonTwpNJ.gov/boards-commissions/historic-preservation- commission.

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