Keeping History Afloat

It was on a long-planned tour of the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus last spring that Caitlynn Albarella first saw a decrepit old rowboat sitting on the front lawn of the historic landmark.

A stop on the tour of the property that’s steeped in history, the boat belonged to the Rosencrantz family, members of which occupied the Victorian house for more than 150 years up until 1970.

With rotted wood, exposed hardware jutting out from the dilapidated frame, and grass growing between disintegrating bottom slats, it would be hard to imagine the fun times had on the boat, but for a plaque displaying a photo of the family detailing the outdoor activities they enjoyed.

In the picture taken circa 1890, the Rosencrantzes stage a bucolic rowing scene, far from the water, on a carriageway in front of the home.

“It was clear from the photo that they had a sense of humor,” Albarella, a junior at Northern Highlands Regional High School and Girl Scout, says. “It intrigued me, and the idea that the boat needed refurbishing was initially just a thought in the back of my mind.”

Months later, thanks to community outreach, fundraising presentations, and hundreds of hours of hard physical work, the restoration of the rowboat is complete.

For the project, Albarella earned her Gold Award—the highest distinction in Girl Scouts, along with a deep appreciation for community and the importance of keeping history alive.

“My favorite part of this project was connecting with people and seeing the impact you can have,” she says. “From senior citizens to kids in the Brownies, it was inspiring to see how a common interest in learning more about your community spans generations.”

Going for the Gold

Albarella says when it came time to think about what she might do for her Gold Award project, she reached out to Nancy Moses, the volunteer grounds coordinator at the Hermitage, to see how she could help.

Though several opportunities were discussed, the scout says the rowboat was the one she felt most connected to and wanted to tackle.

Given the state of the badly decomposed rowboat, Albarella says there wasn’t much to save; she knew she would first need to find a similar wooden boat to work on, incorporating salvageable pieces of the original.

She began scouring the internet for a boat approved by the Hermitage board and eventually found one in Plymouth, Massachusetts, named the Big 3.

Albarella says it’s fitting that the boat, which came from a city known as the birthplace of American ideals, now rests at the Revolutionary War landmark in Ho-Ho-Kus.

“The name Big 3 honors the shared spirit between these historic places: the pursuit of religious liberty, the fight for political independence, and the commitment to preserving legacy,” she says. “It reflects three enduring values that define both journeys from the Mayflower to the American Revolution—courage, hope, and new beginnings.”

Albarella says she relied on the help and support of Northern Highlands educators and local business owners for her project.

A lifelong crafter, Albarella has always loved art, taking on numerous projects throughout her scouting years, and has expanded her love of creating with more hands-on projects. Refurbishment of the rowboat included cleaning, scraping, and sanding before priming and painting it.

“It was a big learning experience, and I learned as I went,” she says. “It was really just a matter of reaching out to people for guidance, and they were all wonderful and so helpful.”

Albarella sought the advice of experts at Waldwick Paint & Wallpaper Company for help finding sustainable outdoor paints that will stand the test of time. She researched historic colors that might have been used on the original boat. The chosen colors were gray with deep red accents.

It was important to the scout to incorporate the original rowboat into the project. She brought one piece that was salvageable to Braunius Brothers General Contracting in Midland Park, where they helped her create an “H” from the wood to represent the Hermitage.

Moses, a former teacher, says Albarella’s commitment to the project was remarkable.

“She’s an outstanding young lady, and she really took the reins on this project. Caitlynn is good with communication and follow-up. She really saved the day when it came to this piece of the Hermitage history,” Moses says. “Docents giving tours would joke before the restoration that this was the boat because it was so broken down. Now we have a lovely display.”

Albarella says sustainability is a big part of the Gold Award project. To ensure the boat holds up, she drilled holes in the bottom and displayed it on a pitch so rainwater and snow can drain. A cardboard base (which younger Girl Scouts helped collect and contribute), topped with rocks, was used to keep weeds away from the boat.

Albarella says the project took about six months, and she recently received approval for it to receive her Gold Award; a ceremony will be held next month.

“I built so many friendships through the Girl Scouts and really appreciate those core memories and experiences with fellow scouts,” she says of wrapping up with the program. “The Gold Award is a wonderful thing to work toward and gave me the ability and opportunity to actually go out into the world and make a difference.”

Albarella says teachers, including her ASL instructor, Shannon Rodenberg; Career and Academic Pathways Supervisor, Kimberly Hayes; and Principal, Joseph Occhino, were particularly helpful in her journey. And of course, Moses—the scout says she is incredibly encouraging and makes volunteering at the Hermitage fun.

“This place is kind of magical; once you come here and do something, you get taken in,” Moses says. “We’re so grateful for students like Caitlynn who express interest.”

Albarella says she has enjoyed educating the community about her project and hopes many future generations will enjoy the rowboat.

“In the end, the scene feels complete with the boat resting quietly on the Hermitage lawn,” she says. “It is waiting for community members to visit and learn the incredible history at the Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey.”

For more about Albarella’s project, search “Girl Scout Gold Award Project - the Hermitage Historic Rowboat Restoration” and “The Big 3 Legacy at the Hermitage in NJ” on YouTube.

Photographs by Joe Nolan and courtesy of Caitlynn Albarella

Sarah Nolan is a writer with a passion for telling people’s stories. A Ho-Ho-Kus native, she believes in the power of local journalism to connect and inform residents and foster a sense of community.