Oakland Historical Society | May Open House
A Celebration of Brides & Mothers
Sunday, May 17 | 1–4 PM
Historic Van Allen House, 3 Franklin Avenue, Oakland, NJ 07436
Join us this May for a special exhibit celebrating Brides and Mothers, featuring historic clothing, photographs, artifacts, ephemera, and more.
We will also welcome Palisades Spinning Guild of Spinners and Weavers member Kathy Latini, who will mount an exhibit of historic textile arts, demonstrate spinning, and have hands-on activities. And, if the weather is nice, Oakland blacksmith Patrick Curran will demonstrate blacksmithing in the yard.
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Alongside items from our own Brides and Mothers collection, we invite the Oakland community to share their family treasures. We are seeking historic objects that tell the stories of weddings, motherhood, and family life—especially those connected to Oakland and its people.
We are especially interested in:
– Historic items (generally 75+ years old—or simply too special not to share)
– Items connected to Oakland, Ponds Church or other houses of worship, and/or local families (from here and abroad)
– Objects with known provenance / stories (for example, identified individuals or documented stories)
– A wide range of family artifacts, from wedding gowns and baby clothing to photographs, documents, and traditional gifts
Approved items may be brought to the Van Allen House on the day of the event and taken home at its conclusion. If you wish, we can also photograph or scan your item, record its story, and preserve it as part of our local history collections.
If you have an item you would like to share, please contact us at ohs.inc1966@verizon.net or 201-337-9652 as soon as possible.
Help us bring Oakland’s stories of love, family, and tradition to life—we look forward to hearing from you soon!