Crane-Phillips House

The Crane-Phillips House is a Victorian residence built around 1840 that displays intricate carved woodwork, period moldings, and ornamental details throughout its interior and exterior. The structure reveals how mid-nineteenth-century homes in New Jersey were designed with multiple rooms that reflected the social status and lifestyle of prosperous families.

The residence was built around 1840 by Josiah Crane during Cranford's early development as a residential community. Its architectural significance earned it recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, preserving it for future generations.

The house serves as a gathering space where the Cranford Historical Society shares stories about family life and domestic practices from the 1800s. Visitors discover how residents furnished their homes and organized their daily routines through the objects and layouts on display.

The house can be explored during designated visiting hours, which are offered primarily during autumn and winter months when temperatures are mild. Visitors should check in advance about current hours and wear comfortable shoes for walking through the period rooms.

The house is known in the community as 'The Little House on the Rahway,' a name that reflects its location near the river and its intimate scale compared to grander estates. The collections inside trace how residential design and domestic life in the area evolved over generations, making it a window into neighborhood development.

Location: Cranford

Architectural style: Victorian architecture

Address: 124 North Union Avenue

GPS coordinates: 40.65750,-74.29060

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:20