On Saturday, May 18^th, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, at 216 Holly Street, The Cranford Historical Society will host a fundraising garage sale, to raise funds for a barn.  That’s right – a barn.  The plan is to purchase a miniature barn, to be placed on the grounds at the Crane-Phillips House Museum at 124 North Union Avenue, just as it was in the late 1800’s.  This is a much anticipated addition to the popular town museum, which offers residents an opportunity to step back in time to Cranford’s early roots. 

            The Crane-Phillips House Museum is on the National and State Register of Historic Places and was named an “American Treasure” by the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1999.  The house is a charming Victorian cottage , offering visitors glimpse of what life was like for a modest family in the Victorian era. It illustrates the late 19th century as the “era of invention” and highlights inventions that changed everyday life for the average person. (Owner Henry Phillips, himself, was one of the first inventors of the modern kitchen range hood,  and his brother, Dr. Charles H. Phillips, was the inventor of Phillips Milk of Magnesia.)

            The Cranes were the first settlers to come to the area in the early 18th century (1715), build mills on the river and establish a farm on the west side of the Rahway River. This house was first built circa 1840 by Josiah Crane for his son, Josiah Jr., when he married.  Josiah Crane Jr. later sold the property in 1867 to Henry and Cecelia Phillips, who lived there until Henry’s death in 1911. It was Mr. and Mrs. Phillips who built most of the cottage in the Downing style.

            Today, the Crane-Phillips House features an outstanding collection of artifacts from area Native Americans, Revolutionary and Civil War eras, and 19^th century farm and town life.  Changing exhibits include major displays from the Society’s extensive antique clothing collection. It is hoped that the addition of the barn will further illustrate the true conditions and day to day life of times past, for the families, school groups, and others who visit the museum.

            The barn will be purchased in memory of Donald Widdows, a member and former trustee of the Cranford Historical Society, which preserves and perpetuates the history of Cranford.  So if you make a purchase at the garage sale, you will be able to say that you are partially responsible for that barn-raising.  Plus, you may come home with a few treasures of your own.  For questions about the Garage Sale, please call 908-447-6994.

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