The Van Harlingen Historical Society was founded in 1965 to help preserve the heritage of the Montgomery Township area and to interpret the area's history through educational programs, publications, and exhibits.   VHHS believes that by educating our people about our rich history, we create a stronger sense of community.

 

 

 

 

2008 was a very good year!!!

The Greening of Gulick House –  December, 2008

...A good time was had by all...

   

  

 

 

Bedensville Schoolhouse gets a face lift

 

Society members Candy, Judy, and Marge begin the onerous task of scraping the schoolhouse.		The finished product a few months later.

 

The Bedensville Schoolhouse has been all spruced up with a new exterior paint job and looks great.  Society members began the job of scraping and quickly realized we needed professional help.  Mike Girvan, a Montgomery Township School District teacher and coach by profession, paints during the summer.  He brought in his expert crew and the schoolhouse was looking lovely in a few days. 

 

 

Walter C. Baker is 100 years old

Walter Baker (center) with friends Duncan Campbell, Jr., Carolyn Dixon, Elaine Zeltner,
and Charlie Grayson at May in Montgomery 2008

            Historian, author, and long time society member Walter Baker reached 100 years on June 13, 2008.  Walter, former entomologist, retired from a long distinguished career in the public health field in 1978 and turned his eye toward Montgomery Township historical activities.  He served as recording secretary and chair of the Van Harlingen Historical Society's nominating committee for many years.  He is currently an honorary trustee. In 1981, he began interviewing township people to ensure their stories were not lost to future generations.  To date, Walter has piloted over 20 oral histories through to publication. Click here to go to the publications page.

             One of his many special interests is documenting and preserving local cemeteries.  The 2008 2^nd edition of his book, Family Burying Grounds Montgomery Township Somerset County, complete with photographs, came out (with the help of Judy Peters) just in time for May in Montgomery 2008.   The society is placing a stone bench with plaque at the Dirck Gulick House, society headquarters, in honor of Walter.

 

 

May in Montgomery 2008

Digging up the past in Montgomery: a cemetery tour