Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Historic Morristown, NJ



Remember a few weeks ago, when I visited Macculloch Hall? The neighborhood around the museum is filled with beautiful old houses. I took a moment to walk up and down the street and take a few photos.

Pictured above is the historic Admiral Rodgers house. It was built in 1852 for Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers and his wife Jane Slidell. Rodgers was the nephew of three naval commodores and served in the Mexican Wars, as Superintendent of the US Naval Academy and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron. The wisteria which clambers over the front porch is said to have been a gift from Commodore Matthew C. Perry after his famous 1854 expedition to Japan. Rodgers died in 1892. The house is a private residence today.





There are many beautiful private residences on the street, including this lovely yellow Victorian pictured above.




The Thomas Nast House, also known as Villa Fontana, is pictured above. Nast was a famous political cartoonist in the nineteenth century. He created popular and enduring images of the Republican Elephant, the Democratic Donkey, Uncle Sam, and Santa Claus. He also drew cartoons exposing corruption in the New York City government under Boss Tweed. Contemporary visitors to Thomas Nast's home included Ulysees S. Grant and Mark Twain. The house is listed on the National Register of historic places, and is privately owned.




As you can see, this is a neighborhood filled with gracious residences, some of which have been converted to office space (below).




It was a beautiful day for a stroll, and the street is quiet enough that I did not feel too strange walking along with my camera.




Pictured above is The Kedge, built between 1870 and 1880 by Henry Miller, a grandson of George Macculloch of Macculloch Hall (see below). Miller served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy, and named his home "The Kedge," which means a small anchor. It was originally built as a summer cottage and later enlarged to serve as a permanent residence. Today The Kedge remains in the Macculloch family.



Macculloch Hall. pictured above, was built in 1819 by George Perrot Macculloch, who was known as the "Father of the Morris Canal." The canal connected Pennsylvania's coal mines to Morris County's iron foundries. The canal was in operation for approximately ninety years, and was a major factor in the development of the city of Morristown, NJ.

The Federal-style mansion is currently a museum of 18th and 19th century furnishings and decorative arts.







For a virtual tour of more historic buildings in Morristown, visit the website

30 comments:

  1. My goodness! What beautiful houses and so well kept. What wonderful stories these houses must hold! Thank you!! Cathy

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  2. I grew up in Chatham and worked in Morristown - a little bit of memory lane.

    Carol

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  3. My favorite is number three..just beautiful...

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  4. I love these posts and these beautiful old homes. Wonderful!

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  5. Wonderful architecture!
    This must have been a beautiful walk.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Becky K.

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  6. Oh, Mary, a few of those Victorian homes are heart-stoppers. Gor-ge-ous! Thanks for sharing. Sincerely, Susan

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  7. What beautiful houses. Wonderful architecture and gardens.
    Greetings from Poland

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  8. Mary thank you so much for showing us all these beautiful homes. Being an Australian I just love seeing the homes and surroundings from your country.
    Alison

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  9. Aren't they beautifully kept historical homes? There is a lot of history there. Lovely photos as usual. I am still trying to get through the mosiacs from yesterday Mary. It is so popular that it takes me days to see them all. Valerie

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  10. These beautiful stately homes have so much history attached to them, I can imagine the ladies all decked out in their hoop dresses on the arm of gentlemen in uniform. What a lovely picture, thank you for taking us on a tour and have a wonderful day.

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  11. Mary...thank you for taking us along! I LOVE old, stately homes. Our little town has quite a few.

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  12. Gorgeous homes and each with such a history. I'm trying to decide which is my favorite so that I can move right in. ;> I love the idea of a home being named for a small anchor. That's my idea of home. Thank you for the tour!

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  13. I love historic houses. Thanks for the tour. Carla

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  14. Thanks for the tour - I love seeing these beautiful old homes. Glad they are being taken care of.

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  15. I loved this tour and even saw some familiar places as I used to live near there. Such beautiful history! And a great time of year to take the photos. Thanks!

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  16. Your photos show these beautiful houses at the perfect time of year ... trees ready to burst into their leaves. Thanks for a great tour.

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  17. I've always enjoyed older homes ...

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  18. What beautiful, grand houses!! Lovely! ♥

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing these photos, Mary. This is a stroll down memory lane for me. I haven't seen these grand homes since i was a freshman at the College of St Elizabeth in Convent Station. Just lovely. :) Lizzy

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  20. what a beautiful place - beautiful homes

    thanks for sharing

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  21. Thanks for capturing such beauty in Morristown, New Jersey. I used to live in Bridgewater and went to Morristown quite a bit. Many people don't think of such beauty when they think of New Jersey...Thanks for sharing it! Karen

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  22. Love those homes, I would love to take a tour:-)

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  23. Lovely! If I lived near I think I would drive my dog to that street for her exercise!

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  24. Thanks for the "tour"! I love to see old houses; what a great area! All of the homes are beautiful!
    And I know what you mean about feeling strange walking around with a camera and taking photos! I always feel like people are staring at me and wondering why I'm always taking pictures of things; like food and building facades and antique mall booths...I feel like I should wear a sign that says "I'm taking pictures because I'm a Blogger, not a Stalker!"

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  25. it looks like a beautiful place to live. Every home is so well maintained and manicured!

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  26. Sigh...I grew up in NJ, mostly Monmouth County, but I married a military man and we've moved all over. Currently living in extreme S. TX, but I so miss all those pretty houses. Used to love to wander around Red Bank and Freehold just to look at all the pretty houses. Thanks for a nice bit of nostalgia...

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  27. Love these pics! I used to live in the historic district and I loved those houses. Now I live on the other side of town :(

    Miss B, Busy Bee

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!