History,  Museums

Can The Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion Be Saved? (2012)| Oradell, New Jersey

December 20, 2012 / 24 Comments
Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion

The Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion

The Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion located on Kinderkamack Road in lovely Oradell, New Jersey, was originally built in 1897. 

The manse is interesting because it was a fine example of shingle-style architecture.

Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion

Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion

The original owner was Kimball Chase Atwood, and the second owner was Elmer Blauvelt who bought the home in 1926.

The property also includes the former carriage house, which has housed the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum and Foundation, since 1957 (seen on the right of the last of the above photos.)

This small museum is a fascinating one, devoted to wildlife art and displays. It is free and open to the public. 

It is well worth a visit!

Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum

Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum

Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum crane sculpture

Saving The Atwood Blauvelt Mansion

The home has been owned by another family since 1978, but they fell into financial straits which made it difficult to keep the home. 

The owner has really tried to keep the mansion from being razed but finds it difficult and costly to maintain. 

The owners asked for help from the town of Oradell, but the town has also found maintaining the home to be difficult. 

The house has been the subject of much debate in the town of Oradell since the owners have tried to find a buyer. At one point the owner sold the property for use as an assisted care facility, but the town fought back. 

Even though the home would qualify to be placed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, for some reason it has never been placed on either list! 

Right now the house is in foreclosure and the status of the mansion is in limbo. I don’t know if this also includes the art museum.

Preservation New Jersey listed this mansion as one of the Top Ten Most Endangered sites in 2011.

The town will hold more hearings in January.

What will happen to the Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion? 

2022 Updates:

Not much has changed. 

In 2021 there was a hole in the roof which was repaired but left preservationists more worried than ever about the building’s fate.

The Art Museum is still thriving.

Please read my 2022 Updates: Was The Atwood-Blauvelt Mansion Saved? and The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum.

Please read my posts on The Montclair Art Museum and on another beautiful mansion: Evergreens.

Thanks for visiting New Jersey Memories!

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