Nathaniel Crane House
Introduction
The Nathaniel Crane House was built in 1818 by Captain Nathaniel Crane, Jr., Israel Crane’s cousin. In 1894, it was moved from the front to the rear of 108 Orange Road by Dr. James Henry Clark, Jr. to make way for his new residence (now known as the Clark House). During this time, the house apparently was no longer used as a residence. In fact, the smaller portion, likely a kitchen, was demolished right before being moved to the back of the property. It seems to have been used as an outbuilding that supported the Clark family occupancy, which lasted until 1962 when the Clark House property was purchased by the Sampson family.
In 1974, the Sampsons donated the Nathaniel Crane House to the Montclair Historical Society, but retained the Clark House as their residence. It was moved about seventy-five feet south in order to be located on the adjacent property of the recently relocated Israel Crane House.
Today, it houses a general store, much like the one that Israel Crane established in Montclair and an 19th century school room, complete with a dunce chair and hat!
History
Captain Nathaniel Crane, Jr., who was a militiaman and patriot from Essex County, built this farmhouse in 1818 on land that was part of the original three-hundred acres Jasper Crane (1605-1681) had willed to his sons Azariah and Jasper, Jr. in 1681. In 1694, Azariah built one of the first homes in the area on 55 Myrtle Avenue, near its intersection with Orange Road. A cornerstone from Nathaniel Crane’s farmhouse dates back to 1732 from an even older structure. Made from solid oak framing timbers that are fastened by wood joints instead of nails, Nathaniel’s house stayed in the Crane family until 1851. That year, it was sold for $4,000 to Stephen Paul along with 25 acres of land. Ossian Hatch bought the property four years later. A year before the American Civil War began, Henry Mason acquired the property. Three years after that, in 1863, Dr. James Henry Clark (1814-1869) purchased the house and used it as a retirement home until he passed away. At the time, Dr. Clark was an Army surgeon stationed in Newark.
In 1894, the ell (likely the kitchen) of Nathaniel Crane’s old house was torn down while the larger section was rolled on logs by Dr. James Henry Clark, Jr. towards its new location in the backyard of 108 Orange Road. After being placed onto small brick piers, James likely used it as an outbuilding, such as a carriage house or a barn. While he was building the house that now bears his name, Dr. Clark incorporated some original Nathaniel Crane House artifacts such as a mantel piece, the brass andirons and fender, and even the mahogany stair rail.
In 1962, the Nathaniel Crane House was purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Martin Sampson. As part of the purchase of the larger Victorian house next door, it was sold by Dr. Clark’s grandniece, Ann Borden-Smith. In 1974, the Sampsons donated the Nathaniel Crane House to the Montclair Historical Society. It was moved about seventy-five feet south in order to be located on the adjacent property of the recently relocated Israel Crane House. The 1732 stone was moved along with it, where it has remained ever since.
Today, the Nathaniel Crane House is used by the Montclair Historical Society as an exhibit of a nineteenth century general store on the first floor, much like the one owned by Israel Crane in the early nineteenth century. On the second floor, there is an exhibit featuring a nineteenth century schoolroom illustrating nineteenth century education in Montclair. During tours, visitors can view a portion of the house’s interior simple framing construction through a glass window.