About Us

OUR MISSION:

To collect, preserve, and share Madison’s rich history in a way that is accessible and relevant to all. Through our extensive collection of historical materials, engaging exhibits, community and educational programs, and events, we aim to inspire pride, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of our shared past. We strive to create a lasting legacy that fosters community connections and encourages ongoing exploration and learning for future generations.

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OUR VISION:

To be the trusted guardian and ambassador of Madison’s rich history, preserving the stories of our past and sharing them with present and future generations, in our community and beyond. We strive to inspire curiosity and pride in the community, and a lifelong passion for learning and discovery, through resource materials, engaging exhibits, educational programs, and community events that celebrate our heritage and honor the contributions of those who have shaped our town. As history continues to unfold, we strive to stay relevant and active, and to strengthen community bonds and create a sense of connection that transcends time.

2024-2025 Board Members

President: Virginia Laughlin
Vice President & Program Chair: Nancy Adamczyk
Corresponding Secretary: Noreen McManus
Recording Secretary:
Treasurer: Dave Luber
Custodian: Kate Malcolm
Historian: Nikolina Uzicainin
Membership Chair: Judy Seery
Museum Chair: Susan Simon

Trustees:
Maureen Byrne
Blair Conley
Rebecca Fields Herm Huber
Jim Malcolm Christine Preston
Judy Seery
Doug Simon
Trustees Emeritae
Cathie Coultas
Dorothy Pietrowski

History of the Madison Historical Society

The Madison Historical Society was founded in 1922 by a group of very civic-minded citizens committed to saving one of the most historic structures in Madison, the Bottle Hill Tavern, that stood on the corner of Main St. and Waverly Place where the Chase Bank now stands. In 1819, Colonel Stephen D. Hunting of the Morris County Militia purchased the original site of the tavern and an inn/tavern was erected on the site and known through the years as the Waverly House, the Madison House, and the Bottle Hill Tavern. In 1825 the Marquis de Lafayette visited the Tavern. Lafayette was a French military officer who served under George Washington in the Continental Army.

In 1922 the First National Bank purchased the site where the Bottle Hill Tavern was located for a new building and intended to tear down the old tavern. Led by Mrs. Calvin Anderson, Mrs. Anderson Case, Mrs. Fitshugh C. Speer, Lloyd W. Smith and Arthur W. Buttenheim, a successful fundraising effort was completed to pay for the cost of moving the Tavern to a location further down Main Street. After the move took place in 1923, it became the home for the Historical Society until the late 1940s when the Society moved to the Madison Public Library that now houses the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts.

In the late 1950s the historical collection of the Society was for a time homeless and had to be dispersed. Some items went into storage, many were put on permanent loan in local museums and some returned to their donors. Meetings were held in the YMCA. Currently the Historical Society is housed in The Local History Center at the Madison Public Library.

Bottle Hill Tavern moved down Main Street in 1922. Motivation for founding of the Madison Historical Society