We Believe . . .
VHHS believes that by educating our people about our rich history, we create a stronger sense of community. As advocates for preservation of sites and settings, we help the town make better decisions regarding development.
Protecting our Historic Assets
Today, the Montgomery area is a rapidly growing community that enjoys a high quality of life, outstanding schools, and a strong community spirit. Yet, the pace of change and growth can sometimes overshadow our roots as a Dutch agricultural community with many rich historical assets—old homes, buildings, and farms, historic vistas, bridges, and byways.
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. The Society finds many ways to preserve, educate, and to strengthen our community life:
Preservation
• Restoring the 1752 Dirck Gulick House to become our headquarters, library, and archives.
• Managing the one-room Bedensville Schoolhouse at Orchard Hill Elementary School.
• Creating the Montgomery Farm Museum behind the 1860 House.
• Establishing a select library of books, family records, manuscripts, and photographs to support research & genealogy.
• Publishing a multi-volume series of oral histories based on memories of long-time citizens.
• Advocating the preservation of scenic byways, villages, and buildings before governing bodies.
Education
• Supplementing the third-grade history curriculum with a one-room schoolhouse program.
• Hosting regular programs on local history topics.
• Organizing walks and hikes in the local villages, along the canal, and up the Sourland Mountain.
• Publishing the Van Harlingen Historian newsletter.
Strengthening Community Life
• Holding the annual May In Montgomery event as a fundraiser and community-building activity.
• Opening the one-room school to the community as part of the town July 4th celebration
• Hosting an annual Wine & Cheese Holiday Party in an historic local home.restoring and rehabilitating an 18th century house, establishing a small farm museum, starting a program for local school children in an 1853 one-room schoolhouse, and developing a library and archive of historical records.