Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

New Jersey Historic Trust Affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs

Allen House

Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund
Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund
Historic Site Management Grant
Grant Award: $31,044 (2002); $47,550 (2018); $41,587 (2022)
Grant Recipient: Monmouth County Historical Association
County: Monmouth
Municipality: Shrewsbury

The Allen House, constructed circa 1702, is a built expression of early Dutch influences. Surviving early New York and New Jersey two-story frames, assembled in the Dutch tradition, are quite rare. The two-story frame of the main portion of the Allen House features Dutch elements - typical for structures erected in Monmouth County during the first half of the eighteenth century, even if the owner was not of Dutch descent. The framing, with widely spaced anchor beams spanning the entire depth of the building, is clearly influenced by Dutch building practices. While the Allen House had numerous owners, Josiah Halstead’s period as tavernkeeper offers dynamic opportunities to interpret the American Revolution, conflict between Monmouth’s patriots and loyalists, themes of slavery and indentured servitude and impact of colonial economics on Monmouth County residents.

The 2022 Trust grant will help fund a probing and design phase which will include documentation, design development, contract documents, and allowances for engineering and systems work to inform future work.

The 2018 Trust grant helped fund an update to a 2008 historic structure report, survey and base drawings, schematic designs, and construction documents for the stabilization of the Allen House. 

The 2002 Trust matching grant helped fund a historic structures report to consolidate previous research, prioritize and cost repairs, and guide the re-evaluation of the building's period of significance and interpretation as a historic site. 

For more information, visit: https://www.monmouthhistory.org/ 


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