Welcome to the website of the Glen Ridge Historical Society!
Learn about the history of our town, browse our newsletter archives, enjoy our slide shows, and mark your calendar for upcoming events. Visit us on the second Saturday of the month from 9 AM-12:00 noon at the Terry S. Webster Archives located at 195 Ridgewood Avenue, on the third floor of the Glen Ridge Congregational Church. And…join us as a member!
In 2024 two Glen Ridge residences were awarded the Preservation Award:
558 Ridgewood Avenue, renovated by Dan McMahon and Carolyn Badenhausen & 340 Washington Street, owned by Roberta and Neil Baldwin
558 Ridgewood Avenue, renovated by Dan McMahon and Carolyn Badenhausen
In 2021 the house was in danger of being demolished. However, the Glen Ridge Historic Preservation Commission denied an application for demolition and Carolyn and Dan stepped in to rescue the house. They chose materials that were true to the original documents and photos throughout.
The house had been deprived of almost all the cosmetic and some of the regular maintenance over the last forty years. While many components of the house were solid, some key structural deficits needed to be addressed in order to preserve the integrity of the house and its design.
One of the most significant features of the house is the generous front porch with its large 20” diameter columns and poured concrete floor. Unfortunately, this part of the structure was the most problematic, having suffered water damage, steel rebar corrosion and a crumbling foundation.
Committed to maintaining this defining feature, they reinforced the cement porch with new steel beam undergirding, creating the ability to add the weight of blue stone flooring to match the original front walkway. Two defining details were salvaged: the front door with its distinctive halfmoon window and the original, fully operational shutters with their crescent and moon motif.
340 Washington Street, owned by Roberta and Neil Baldwin
The house was built in the 1920s just as this south end neighborhood was being established and enlarged.
In 2022, rather than adding another coat of paint to the exterior, they undertook extensive work to repair the fragile stucco coating which had deteriorated over time by water infiltration.
The roof ridges, flashings and valleys were reinforced. An asphalt shingle roof was installed over a new ice and water barrier along the eaves and copper flashing around the chimney. The rotting wood window casings and Tudor trim were repaired or replaced. The stucco was delicately cleaned and then painted.
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