Explore the history of the of the Van Vleck family in Montclair and the elaborate houses they built for the community or called home. Presentation led by Montclair Township Historian Mike Farelly and Montclair Architect Paul Sionas.

This is a free program held virtually on zoom.

Mike Farrelly has been the Montclair Township Historian since 2004 and on the board of the Montclair History Center. He previously lived in Montclair for 39 years and has also wondered about and been fascinated by the history of the houses in Montclair that he walks by or drives by. Most of his time is spent researching those houses.
Paul Sionas was the longtime principal of the Montclair-based design firm, Sionas Architecture, that he formed in 1985. At the beginning of October of this year, Sionas Architecture joined GSAPC, a NYC based Architecture firm that recently moved to NJ. Paul holds professional licenses in Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Professional Planning, with degrees in Architecture from Pratt Institute and in Landscape Architecture from Rutgers University. Paul also served as a faculty member at Pratt Institute School ofArchitecture for 12 years. Paul was a 21 year Board member and Board secretary for the Montclair YMCA, served on the Board of the Montclair Foundation and Montclair Shared Housing Association, and was a past president of the Montclair Lions Club. Additionally, Paul sat on the HOMEcorp Community Advisory Board, the Montclair Housing Commission, the Imani Advocacy Center and on various committees at Union Congregational Church of which he is a member. He has lived in Montclair with his wife Michele since 1979 where they raised two daughters Emily and Aynnie (3rd generation to attend Montclair Public Schools).