The Vision for Rutherfurd Hall is to become a self sufficient enterprise that protects and preserves its historical, cultural, and architectural integrity; all while providing educational and enrichment opportunities for the residents of Allamuchy and the surrounding communities.
News: Rutherfurd Hall received approval for National and NJ State Historic Landmark Designation in February 2011. Great news!
Rutherfurd Hall has National and NJ State Historic Landmark Designation. Famed architect Whitney Warren designed the 18,000 square foot Tudor country home in Allamuchy, NJ in 1902. Warren also designed Grand Central Station in New York City as Warren and Wetmore Architects (1903-1911).
Rutherfurd Hall known by the family as the ‘Big House’ was designed for Winthrop Rutherfurd (1862-1944) who was the son of Lewis Morris Rutherfurd (1816-1892)and Margaret Chanler Stuyvesant (?-1890) a descendant of Peter Gerard Stuyvesant. The Rutherfurd family land grant was made by the King of England in the early 1700s. Since early US history, the family has had a positive impact on this region. Through preservation and conservation, in the form of Allamuchy State Park and Rutherfurd Hall, we have the means to tell many meaningful historical stories, about citizens of New Jersey and their associates in the early 1900s.
The building tells architectural histories and landscape histories. There are marvelous stories about the local food production and the hunts; animal breeding, boating, horse riding and hiking filled one’s days. So many important people, including President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt , were ‘entertained’ in this remote landscape, a sanctuary out of the urban.
Rutherfurd Hall grounds today.
Allamuchy then!
Project Development: The first stage of the project was the adaptive re-use of the 1950s addition to the mansion (also known as the infirmary). This 3-story building, holding no historic significance, was renovated and added to, in order to make a Pre K through 2nd grade school expansion for Allamuchy NJ Elementary School called the Mountain Villa School. This project was completed using sustainable and green school design practices. The school opened in the spring of 2010, and the historic mansion, located behind the school building, is currently in development.
The second stage of the project is about studying Rutherfurd Hall and the grounds in order to develop best practices for community education activities. There are many steps to building an historic museum and community use. The first step was to complete the research and writing needed to place the building on the NJ State and National Historic Landmarks designation. We have been approved for both in February 2011. Now we continue with research and planning.
Currently we are also raising the money to complete a series of formal studies to codify the preservation, the interpretation, and the facility use plans as they relate to organizational development and fiscal development.
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Rutherfurd Hall Physical Address: 1686 Route 517 Allamuchy, NJ 07820
