The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1907-03-07
SAD RELICS OF
A MIGHTY FORTUNE.
They Tell the Story of One Iron
M0narch's Downfall and
AnOther's Rise.

M0narCh's Downfall and
AnOther's Rise.
There is a deserted village at Allaire
within fifty miles of New York whose
history teens with sorrow, genuine
pathos and romance. A patriotic in
terest too, attaches to the melancholy
ruins, for here were cast many OF tie
guns that belched forth shot and shell
in defence of the young United States
during the second war with Great
Britain.
All this wealth of material for sight
seer and novelist lies almost within
walking distance of Freehold. Lake
wood, Asbury Park and Long Branch,
the delight of many visitors and yet
comparatively unknown.
But few ever learn more than that
the deserted village is-or rather was,
for it is no more-Allaire. Yet there
is u wonderfully interesting history
connected with this curious spot, and
one that has it's romances and its
ghosts, Just as the ruins of the castles
along the Rhine and the deserted
towns of Mexico. Here, surrounded
by life and Summer gayety. but
buried deep in the woods and over
grown with weeds and cobwebs, lies
all the ruins of q dissipated fortune,
the blasted hopes of one who was in
the early days of the century one OF
New York's most influential mer-
chants. Here is seen all that Is lett OF
what was once thriving village of
mechanics, and here are buried all
the early memories of John Roach,
the unfortunate ship builder, OF Dol
phin fame.
In all this village there are but
three buildings still kept In decent
repair. The little chapel, with its
narrow tower and clock. is jealousy
guarded by the Episcopal clergymen.
and the house in which John
Roachs wife was courted and married
is used as residence and kept in re-
pair by retainer OF the Allaire family,
while the old Allaire homestead
was kept up by Hal Allaire
until his death. The owner of all
these ruins, this same Hal
Allaire, was one of the most in
reresting attractions of this most in-
teresfing place. He could hardly be
called a recluse, yet he lived he life of
one. He was grad uale Of Columbia
College-of the class of 69-aDd in his
day was an oarsman and a man of
many friends in this vicinity, yet he
lived there year after year SUR
rounded by these decaying evidences
of his fathers ruin, as if the neglect
ed spot had a fascination for him too
powerful TO be overcome.
TRIBUTE TO HAL ALLAIRE.
We cannot refrain at this time from
paying just tribute to the memory
of Hal Allaire. Although to those not
acquainted with him intimately he
appeared, as we have stated above
distant and recluse, yet when in
company with friends he threw off all
restraint and was jovial and the acme
of good fellowship. His friends all
loved him for his truthfulness, SINGER
ity and kind, gentlenaniy demeanor
Whether you met him as student
at the old Freehold Institute, d col
lege chun, q studious scholar and man
of letters, as art critic, painter, an
amateur performer in theatrlcals, or
landed proprietor of vast estate he
was always the same genial companion
and never forgot to bestow praise on
those whose efforts and ambitions
merited it and his advice and criticism
were often sought and highly valued.
His devotion to the old religion and
faithfulness to the old chapel started
by his father and the liberal assistance
he gave TO families of the old eni-
ployees of the works, who for many
years occupied the houses that were
fast crumbling into decay even when
he was a small boy, was touching and
affectionate.
Those who knew him loved him for
his true worth and although the
shadow of sorrow had fallen across
his path, his exemplary life, lived al
most austerely, stood out as 0 bright
star that cannot be eclipsed in the
hearts of his friends while memory
lasts. To his worth we bow in love
and to his memory we drop tear.
1t is a curious story, this history of
Allaire and one that reads almost Ikea
page from old fiction. Here When
our country was very young Indeed,
when Washington was our first Presi-
dent. and when England dlad soply
just acknowledged the indepen deqGe
of the colonies, iron wasedjsopv ed IN
New Jersey, and snaItipk FURNACES
and fonndries sprang upl1hke.. m
rooms, for the war was over aud the
warriors were all looking for profita-
bic occupation.