The sun., 1893-06-11
1t Is the Historic Fowler House" At OF.
ford Furnace. New Jersey.

1t Il the Historic Fowler House" At On.
ford Furnace, New Jersey.
The oldest dwelling house now standing in
the State OF New Jersey 10 located ct Oxford
Furnace. 1t is the large mansion directly op-
poste the store OF the Oxford Iron Company.
1t Is known as the Fowler House." and is
occupied now as boarding house. This house
is known to have been built in l742 by William
Shippen. vino had soma time previously re-
ceived grant OF 10000 acres Of land from
King George VI England.
The mansion consists OF two stories and
basement with walls three feet thick. 1t was
builtto stand the ravages Of time. and so well
has it faced the storms OF lol years that to.
day 1t is in n wonderful stute Of preservation.
The great chin neys that start from the collar
and rear themselves far above the slopinG
roof resemble huge towers built within the
house. The lreplaces. seven in number. are
large openings in tho chimney walls and are
lined with iron plates. The back plates are
ornamented with tho British coat Of arms-
When changes were made 10 the old
house several years ago these fire.
places wero walled un John Jourdan.
Philadelphia banker. speat q summer at OK.
ford Furnace some years ago While being
shown through the house h. n Iticed the coat
q arms on the middle iron plate Of the only
sion 10 remove the plate and 1t now forms
Bart Of nn ntsfestins e"Ls9.toa oEnsd EE Sy the
family Who orsnaify !: ~ built tkis hosss, cams
from England and settled in Fhiladelphls
se0pt the & sar SGvla AZ p h tHsy wss1 c.t1 wealthy
During tho Revolutionary war. while Phila-
delphia was In POSSESSION Of Lord Howe; Dr.
@nt.i 2sf: BsSe aF 'i4 raoa d'ShHs1 %hsn fssffy SEE
shippen and orotheT-in-law Of benedict
ArnoIi. He octVpisd the h9nse for number
wou!i st him from New York and Phiiadsi:
rhia. and grAEd hunt with hounds would
fs stSSe kous a would scha win sounds Of rev resei1T
~ th- guest. vi, wtrnsd a' lndsr the stimulating
Ia THIS Old stone hous. ) Judgs Hoveson lived
for some years. aud here his son. Gen. George
n. Eoneso,.. secretary Of the Navy under frss-
ri-t 10 tho WOMAN with whom ne lived 1t OK
them them lie did. ] however. pf"yide @ ssch witt with a
marriage portion. shippen's Tlis-lt she
Tor Its mellow influence would bsroms
extremely hilarious, shipnsn, conaludsd
iJ"' ~ anr h E"ua Il. Fs, waS ca,s ~ .he' .rss
proved more than II match for him. During
his ahssHct she set one Of tn. rnIored male
stone wal that separated the Kitchen fireplace
from the vine esliars He nrrt rsmoved the
arms from the back ofthe Fireplace. and then
with pick and crowbar he made = hole large
drawing supply from ono OF the casks she
would return to the Kitchen and slide the Iron
plate in place. she dranS a great deal before
her mothod was discovered 10y her husband.
In spite Of her f"n4nrss Tor strong drink shs
was as tho-ougEly arirto ratio as the time0
would warrant. While takip: her morning
walks shs would be accom- panied by . eolorod
boy named James burr, who carried her train
over his shoulder.
DIR. shippen did not end his days ia Oxford.
It IL more than probable that he returnsd to
bis departure tho old house ana the magnif-
cent surroundings fell into de say and passed
into other hands. As the years sped By many
owners lived In the old stone house. great
changes came about. unti to-day the grand
nn,Sirn mahSiI1p h o. S, eSS,ntary and hall age is
walls are as 1IA ss when lPst built and there
u 40 doubt that they will last q century aersI