Allaire volunteers wanted

Would you like to be a part of one of New Jersey’s authentic treasures? Become a volunteer at the Historic Village of Allaire.

Your choice of community service can range from carpentry to cooking, from costumed tour-guiding to gardening, and from sewing to selling tickets at public events. Call 732-919-3500 (extension 10) weekdays for details, or visit http://www.allairevillage.org.

This ”company town” (based on bog iron) is a non-profit living history museum of 13 buildings on 26 acres in Allaire State Park. It is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. (The blacksmith’s shop is pictured.)

The general store/gift shop is now open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The bakery is open weekends. On March 15th, “St. Patrick’s Day in the 1830s” will be celebrated. An 1836 temperance rally and old-time “school days” will be featured on March 29th.

Beginning weekends in April, the public can take tours of the picturesque community’s furnished buildings with entertaining historical interpreters -- to get an eye-opening glimpse of yesteryear. On weekdays, many Mercer and Monmouth County schools have field-trip outings there.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, tours will be given Wednesday through Sunday. A calendar of special events is on the Allaire Village website.

The museum’s educational, interpretive and fund-raising activities are primarily staffed by volunteers. Last year, area residents -- from teenagers to retirees -- volunteered for a record total of 20,500 hours.

Whether you can contribute a few hours at an event, or your unique skills at on-going programs, find out how YOU can make your mark in history!

Allaire State Park is at 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale. It is accessible from Route 34, the Garden State Parkway and Interstate Route 195.