NJBERGEN-L Archives

From: Pat Wardell <>
Subject: Re: [NJBergen] Oakley Hall
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:33:17 -0400
References: <MB10ZuOByaZDaUvZdol000048b3@MB10.myfamilysouth.com>
In-Reply-To: <MB10ZuOByaZDaUvZdol000048b3@MB10.myfamilysouth.com>

Oakley Hall was in Allendale, Bergen Co., NJ --

99 Franklin Turnpike
Sullivan House
Block 2003, Lot 7 (Old Block 21, Lot 10)
Built prob. 1910-1911. Built 1900, according to one
unidentifdied list of old houses in Allendale, compiled about 1983
with no sources cited.
Arthur Bull Sullivan, 1911. A. B. Sullivan "Sable Feather
Farm" (1913 Bromley Atlas).
Oakley Hall School for Girls, 1927-at least 1933.
George H. Simpson & Marie T. Simpson, 1943-1957.
Francis J. Feeley and Agnes R. ["Scotti"] Feeley, 1957-1967.
Francis J. Feeley (1965-66, 1967 Here's Allendale). Mrs. Scotti
Feeley (1965-66, 1967 Here's Allendale).
Edward P. Hannon and Jeanne M. Hannon, his wife, 1967-1969.
Einar A. Juhlin and Britta Juhlin, 1969-present (1986).
Britta Juhlin (1981-82, 1985-86 Here's Allendale). Einar A. Juhlin,
M.D. (1989-90 Here's Allendale).
Joseph Caracoppa, Sep 1994 (Allendale Water Department Mailing List).
Transactions:
* 31 July 1969 (Book 5333, p. 232) from Edward P. Hannon and
Jeanne M. Hannon, his wife, to Einar A. Juhlin and Britta Juhlin, his
wife.
* 6 September 1967 (Book 5089, p. 201) from Francis J. Feeley
and Agnes R. Feeley, h/w, to Edward P. Hannon and Jeanne M. Hannon,
h/w.
* 15 August 1957 (Book 3884, p. 650) from Marie T. Simpson,
widow, to Francis J. Feeley and Agnes R. Feeley, h/w, being part of
the premises conveyed July 24, 1943 (Book 2393, p. 225) from Isabel
Place Sullivan Fox, etc. et al, to George H. Simpson and Marie T.
Simpson, h/w.

Arthur Bull Sullivan came to Allendale to live in 1911. The
house was most likely built for him about that time, although it may
have been built about 1893 for James Alfred Ackerman, as a house
marked "A. Ackerman" is shown in this location on the 1902 Robinson's
Map (It is possible that the "A. Ackerman" house shown on the 1902
map may refer to the house just south of this one, at 73 Franklin
Turnpike. Further research is needed to resolve this question.)
Arthur Bull Sullivan called his estate "Sable Feather Farm"
because on it he bred and raised Black Orpington chickens, of which
he was a well-known importer-exporter.
In May of 1927, Ethel Veronica Bender opened her "Oakley
Hall" private school for girls, running a summer camp when the school
was not in session. (Mrs. Bender evidently rented the estate from A.
B. Sullivan, who had moved to Connecticut.) The school took girls
from 6 to 15 years and advertised "modern methods and
equipment...Beautiful estate" (1929). At the 1929 graduation
exercises, one girl graduated, with the 27 "members of the school
dressed in uniform" in attendance. In June 1930, Mrs. Bender applied
to the Allendale Board of Health for a camping permit for the summer
session and was denied the permit because "children were living on
the screened porches of the school." The problem must have been
resolved, because on August 28, 1930, "the girls of Camp "Sun-O-Set"
at Oakley Hall" presented a play in the auditorium of the school.
The school was still operating during the 1933-34 school
year, but it is not known at present how much longer the school
existed.
Arthur Bull Sullivan was born in New York City February 25,
1873, the son of Arthur Thomas Sullivan (John T. Sullivan?) and
Isabel Place Sullivan. He married, November 20, 1907 in New York
City, Lilly Mott, daughter of Charles Mott (a Pennsylvania State
Judge) and Marie Jeannette Schimmel Mott. They had two children:
Isabel Place Sullivan (m. --?-- Fox) and Arthur Thomas Sullivan.
Arthur Bull Sullivan attended Kenyon College in Gambier,
Ohio, after which he became a reporter for the New York Sun for two
years. He then joined his father's firm, Sullivan & Vail Company, of
New York City (wholesale dealers in woolen goods) and later worked
for A. D. Julliant & Company, also in the wholesale woolen business.
A. B. Sullivan moved his family to this Allendale estate in
1911, and called the place "Sable Feather Farm" for the Black
Orpington chickens he bred and raised on it. He advertised in 1915:
"Sable Feather Farm; S. C. Black Orpingtons Bred as a Specialty by
Arthur Bull Sullivan, Owner, Allendale, N.J. Member of American
Poultry Association & National Black Orpington Club. Cable Address:
"Sable Sully." Telephone 445J4 Allendale. Exporter; importer.
Nothing to sell now."
In Allendale, he was involved in community affairs, and was
an active supporter of the Allendale Fire Department, serving as its
president for three years (1917-1919). For Allendale's 21st Birthday
Celebration in 1915, he donated swings for the Allendale Recreation
Park as a permanent improvement.

The following transaction subdivided Block 21, Lot 10,
creating Lots 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, and 10-4:
15 August 1957 (Book 3884, p. 542) from Marie T. Simpson,
widow, to M.B.H. Developers, Inc., being part of the premises
conveyed July 24, 1943 (Book 2393, p. 225) from Isabel Place Sullivan
Fox, etc., et al, to George H. Simpson and Marie T. Simpson, h/w.

I'd be interested if you have further information about Oakley Hall.

Pat

>This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
>
>Classification: Query
>
>Message Board URL:
>
>http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/gRB.2ACI/1738
>
>Message Board Post:
>
>Looking for Oakley Hall. I believe it may have been a boarding
>school or home in the early to mid 20's.
>Eugene Atkinson


--
Pat & Walter Wardell
Englewood, FL

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