Wayne Township Historical Commission

Activities | Commission | House Museums | Homes and Sites | History of Wayne

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The Commission and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite the public to attend our meetings and events and programs listed under Activities - Historical Commission and House Museums

The recorded history of Wayne Township began in 1947 during the centennial celebration of it's organization, which occurred at the Casey House on Hamburg Turnpike, April 12, 1847. The centennial organizing committee uncovered so much local factual historical data that the governing body, The Township Committee, appointed a Historical Committee. The first members were Dorothy Stults, Helen Zachariasen, S. Hobart Lockett, Rev. Edgar B. Rohrbach and Ronald Gall.

The committee functioned until the early 1960's when Wayne Township adopted the Mayor-Council form of government. The Historical Committee was changed to a Commission, responsible to the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The commission's major functions are to uncover and preserve any material pertaining to the history of the community; cooperate with township officials in the preservation of records and archives of the township; and the preservation of historic buildings, monuments, and markers.

In 1966 the commission became aware of the pending realignment of Route 23 in the Fairfield Road area of Wayne. The project would eliminate several homes including the historic Mead-Van Duyne House. For the next nine years the commission strove to save the historic site by first having it placed on the State and National Registers and then having the local governing body move the house to it's present site. An archaeological dig at the original site uncovered many artifacts that are on display in the Archaeological Laboratory on the museum grounds.

In 1993 Wayne Township purchased the Schuyler-Colfax House on Hamburg Turnpike. It has since been restored and opened as a museum with displays of artifacts and furnishings dating back to colonial times.

Several commissioners have written books over the years which are available at the Museums. William Berce wrote Under The Sign Of The Eagle; Edward Lenik composed the Archaeology Of Wayne Township and Weekends In The Soil; Charles Tackson authored the Van Riper-Hopper House and Mead's Basin Brickyards In Wayne Township. The Bicentennial Booklet was co-authored by Dr. Robert Brubaker, his daughter Anne Burns and Gratia Mahony. The Artists' Coloring Book was composed by Ruth Jasinski, Gratia Mahony, Gretchen Tiedemann and Carolyn Jackson. A Self-Guided Tour Of Wayne Township was written by Edward Lenik, Thomas Fitzpatrick and Barbara Olsen.  The former director of Historic House Museums, Cathy Tobin, wrote Images of Wayne Township.

Commissioners who served over the years include: John C. Bank, Howard Bartelt, William Berce, Milo Boulton, Robert Brubaker, Herbert Campbell, Dorothy Daube, Marianna Decker, Frank DeHart, Jane Colfax DeNike, Raymond Dey, Donald Duclos, Sue Freedberg, Ann Gerhold, Lewis Goodman, Violetta Hill, Ronald Hinchman, Dorothy Huber, Edward Lenik, Beatrice Klacsmann, Ruth Jasinski, Gertrude Luks, Gratia Mahony, Dorcas Berdan Martin, Jack McLaughlin Jr., Anne Mondejar, Jerry Nathans, Dorothy Sanchirico, Ethel Scheuber, Henri Senneur, Gay Serwin, Marcia Sills, Leonard Singer, Edward Slaska, Robert Thew, Gretchen Tiedemann, Edward Van Duyne, Violet Witowski, Mary Wagner, Gladys Warner, Peggy Woodhouse, Lydia Hall, Jean Snyder, Gerard Speciale, Sam Intrabartolo, John Hensen, Charles Haas, Roberta Aiello, Lynn Dunkerley, Robert Elkin, Jean Harden Robert Monacelli, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Margaret McVeigh, Gene Miller. Dorothy Sanchirico, Eugene Connell and Doris Stefanowski.  In addition, current and former commissioners include:  Jean Ann Christie, Adrea Cohen, Brian David, Marge Gross, James Hiseler, Charles Kreutz, Mary Pavlak, Susan Peracchio, Doris Porter, Maggi Puglia, Marjorie Stockhammer, Bert Tucker, and Joyce Zappula.

By Robert M. Brubaker, DDS - Chairman Wayne Township Historical Commission  

Please e-mail or call 973-694-7192.

Activities | Commission | House Museums | Homes and Sites | History of Wayne

Fundraising | General Anthony Wayne | Sunnybank | Virtual Tour | Parks & Recreation