Meet Santa, Get Free Holiday Photos In Historic Howell Setting

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell Heritage & Historical Society invites the public to celebrate the holiday with photos taken in a festive setting - the Old Ardena Schoohouse.

Visitors can meet Santa and view the schoolhouse's updated interior on Saturday, Dec. 2, according to its Facebook site.

Visitors can have photos taken at no cost, but must bring their own cameras. And while free, donations to the upkeep of the site are always welcome, the organization says.

Here is the schedule:

• From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. are pet photos only (outdoors).
• From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. are family photos (indoor photos, no pets).

The Old Ardena School house is at the corner of Old Tavern and Preventorium Roads.

On February 24, 2020, the society received the deed for the MacKenzie Museum and Library property from Howell Township. On September 14, 2021 Howell Township Council passed an ordinance leasing the land under the Ardena Schoolhouse to the Howell Heritage & Historical Society. They are now in full possession of two major historic properties in Howell, the society says on its website.

The society has raised funds in the past to paint the historic schoolhouse, and now wants to replace the roof.

Ardena is "the last one-room schoolhouse in Howell Township that remains as it was originally intended," the society has noted.

The mission of Howell Heritage & Historical Society is to collect and preserve materials related to Howell Township’s cultural and historical heritage; to provide the Howell Township residents and the public at large, accessibility to materials, displays and buildings that highlight the historical significance of Howell Township, and to promote the study of local and regional history through educational programs and events, its website says.