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WELCOME TO THE HOWELL IRON WORKS
Here at the Historic Village at Allaire our volunteers and staff strive to re-create life in an 1830’s Industrial town. What is now known as the Historic Village at Allaire owes its namesake to James P. Allaire, a marine steamship engineer from New York City. In 1822 Allaire's long time friend and business associate Benjamin B. Howell wrote to him about a small forge on the upper fringes of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Howell had been leasing the property from its owner, William Newbold, where he operated the Monmouth Furnace. Howell wrote Allaire, "The furnace, as you know, is situated in a pleasant and good country and I think this country wants only to be known to render it a place of a much greater moment. As a situation for a furnace it possesses many great advantages."
Thus, the Howell Iron Works was bought and opened.
Despite a poor cash flow economy and the oncoming of the Industrial Revolution, Allaire prospered and became a wealthy man. Between the years of 1822 and 1836 the Allaire Works reached the peak of its production and Allaire was building over 50 percent of all steam boat engines and boilers in the country.
During this period the Howell Works developed into a major industrial center. It employed, at its peak production, between 400 and 600 employees, both residents of the Works community and the surrounding neighborhood. While much of Monmouth County was devoted to farmland, the Howell Iron Works provided an industrial center to the area and was a bustling center of commerce and labor. Villagers would be employed in the four forges (only one still stands today), the casting shed, an on-site screw factory, trades shops, and the General Store. The Chapel was used as a one-room schoolhouse in which Mr. Allaire paid for all of his employees’ children to attend, including girls (an unheard-of practice at the time).
Due to several personal financial losses and the industrial innovations that would make Allaire’s forges obsolete, the Howell Iron Works went bankrupt in the 1840’s and by 1846 had ceased production completely. Upon his death in 1858, Allaire passed the property to his youngest son, Hal. Hal eventually sold the property to Arthur Brisbane, the syndicated journalist who would open turn the land into a thriving community in the midst of the Great Depression.
Brisbane's vision was realized by 1957 when, in accordance with Brisbane's wishes, a group of concerned citizens led by several of James P. Allaire's own descendants formed Allaire Village, Inc.; a non-profit, educational organization; to act as trustees of the Historic Village, in cooperation with the State of New Jersey. Because of the dedication of Allaire Village, Inc. and the State of New Jersey, Brisbane's visions continues on today.
TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF OUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS
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The Row Homes/Visitor’s Center: As you enter the Village, the long Row Homes will be the first building you’ll see! What once housed the working families of the Village, the building has been opened up as a Visitor Center and museum. See what a working-class home would have looked like, grab some pamphlets, chat with our knowledgeable staff, and learn more about James P. Allaire’s vision. |
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The Chapel: Renovated in 1836, the Chapel provided services to Villagers of all faiths and also served as the one-room schoolhouse. Today it is used for historic programs and hundreds of weddings are held here each year!
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The Foreman’s Cottage: Peek into this one-room home and see how Mr. Johnson’s family, the Foreman of the Howell Iron Works lived in 1836. Also explore the medicinal herb garden and learn how different ailments were treated in the early 19th century. |
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The Blacksmith’s Shop: Learn more about this necessary trade as our experienced Blacksmiths demonstrate their crafts. |
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The Bakery: In the 1830’s the Bakery held several communal ovens for the Villagers to use. Today, it sells baked goods, cool drinks, hot coffee and more! |
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The Manager’s House: Take a tour of James Smith’s home and see how an upper-middle class family would have lived. Learn about cooking in the 1830’s, family customs, chores, and more during your stop! |
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The General Store & Museum Gift Shop: During the early 1800’s the Howell Works General Store was the largest store in New Jersey and sold goods of all kinds. Today it serves as a museum and gift shop where one can shop for period games, books, Holiday ornaments, and more! |
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The Carpenter’s & Tinsmith Shop: Visit a few of our crafts people as they demonstrate their artistic talents and see what it takes to be the highest paid employee at the Village. |
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The Carriage House & Gardener’s Cottage: Learn more about 19th century transportation and see visit the home of the Village gardener! You can also find the Allaire Militia here on event days. |
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The Enameling Building: Evidence of James P. Allaire's commitment to new technology, the Howel Works Enameling Building was built to house the furnace which baked an enamel finish onto hollowware in an experimental process. Open today as an exhibition hall, step in to discover more about Allaire Village. |
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The Allaire Mansion: Visit the home where James P. Allaire lived with his family. Take a guided tour to learn more about Allaire and his contribution to the area. |
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The Blast Furnace: Take the path by the General Store to see the “true heart” of the Howell Works. The sole remaining furnace is a testament to the legacy of Allaire and the importance of iron-production in 19th century America. |
ALLAIRE VILLAGE KIDS!
Allaire Village is devoted to making history accessible and interesting for people of all ages! With our new activities designed for kids & families, we hope to make every child’s visit to Allaire full of learning and fun. Games & activities will be constantly changing to make sure that every visit is an exciting new adventure!
Visit Allaire Village to play 19th century games, test your knowledge with quizzes and fun facts, print out our scavenger hunt below, and more!
Link to Scavenger Hunt Print Out! Link to Youth Art Contest!