Happy Anniversary Willow Hall!

A year ago today, the Passaic River Coalition staff had just secured all of the $1.875 million need to buy Willow Hall and preserve the house and its property. It had snowed the night before and it seemed as though we would never make it to the attorney's office in Chester on time.

But we all made it there safely. Our Executive Director, Ella Filippone, signed the deed, handed over the check, and then made Willow Hall the new headquarters of the Passaic River Coalition.

After 40 years of being renters, the purchase of Willow Hall was truly a new chapter in the history of the Passaic River Coalition. And we feel it is an important new chapter for Willow Hall as well. Using the house as office space is a sustainable use for it and we are working closely with historic professionals to preserve its historic integrity.

It has been busy first year for Willow Hall and the Passaic River Coalition. We look forward to celebrating our accomplishments today and continuing our work preserving the past and opening the doors of Willow Hall to the future.


Willow Hall's previous owner, Frederick Stradtman, symbolically gives a photo of the house to our Executive Director, Ella Filippone, at the property's closing last year.