The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-09-09
WHERE PEGGY SHIPPEN LIVED.
Ie Is the Historic sFow1er House, at
- =. :. Oxford Furnace. n. j.

Tho oldest dwelling house now
standing in the state of New Jersey
is located at Oxford Furnace. It is
the large mansion directly opposite
the store OF the Oxford iron company.
1t is known as the s.Fowler house."
and is occupied now as boarding
house. The house is known to have
been built in 1742 by William Ship
pen, who had some time previously
received a grant of 10000 acres Of
land from King George of England,
says the New York Sun.
The mansion consists of two stories
and a basement, with walls three feet
thick. 1t was built to stand the raw
ages OF time, and so we'll has it faced
the storms of 151 years that to-day
1t Is In a wonderful state of preserva-
tlon. The great chimneys that start
from the cellar and rear themselves
far above the sloping roof resemble
huge towers built within the house.
the fireplaces, seven in number, are
large openings in the chimney walls
and are lined with iron plates The
back plates are ornamented with the
British coat of arms. When changes
were made in the old house several
years ago these freplaces were walled
up. John Jourdan, a Philadelphia
banker, spent a summer at Oxford
furnace some years ago. While be-
ing shown through the house he
noticed the coat of arms on the mid
die iron of the only fireplace not
closed up. He received permission
to remove the plate, and it now forms
part of an interesting collection
owned by the Philadelphia historical
society. The Shipper family who
originally built this house, came
from England and settled in Phila-
delphia about the year 1885. They
were a wealthy family and moved in
the best society.
During the revolutionary war,
while Philadelphia was in possession
of Lasd Howe, DR.. Shippen's was the
social headquarters of the officers.
DR.. Shippen's daughter Peggy mar
ried Benedict Arnold. William Ship
pen, who built this house, was a son
OF DR.: Shipper and brother-in-law
Of Benedict Arnold. He occupied
the house for number Of years with
his family. Every fail friends would
visit him from New York and Phila-
delphia and 2 grand hunt with
| hounds would take place: All dur,
ing the winter. the old Stone house
would echo with. sounds of revelry,
as the guests warmed under the
stimulating effects of the Well-flled
wine cellars.
In this Old gt2ne house Judge Robe
Son lived for sySie ;'1aHs and here
his son, 6eperal George M. Robes.sA
secretary OF the navy under President
Graht was born.
Snippsn'g Eifs vas very fond of
wine and under It's Mellow influence
would become extremely hilarious.
Shlppen concluded that he wo1iId
break up these orgies by locking the
wine cellars. But she proved more
than a match for him. During his
absence she set one of the colored
male servants at work to cut a hole
through the stone wall that separated
the kitchen fireplace from the wine
cellars. He first removed the iron
plate emblazoned by the British coat
OF arms from the back of the fireplace,
and then with a pick and crowbar he
made hole large enough to admit
the woman's body. After drawing a
supply from one of the casks She
would return to the kitchen and slide
up the iron plate in place. She drank
a great deal before her method was
discovered by her husband. In spite
OF her fondness for strong drink she
was as thoroughly aristocratic as the
times would warrant. While taking
her morning walks she would be ac-
companied by a colored boy named
James Burr, who carried her train
over his shoulder.
DR.: Shippen did not end his davs
in Oxford. It is more than probable
that he returned to PHILADELPHIA.
the home of his ancestors. After his
departure the old house and magnif-
cent surroundings fell into decay
and passed into other hands. AS the
years sped by many owners lived in
the old stone house. great changes
came about, until to-day the grand
mansion OF a century and a half ago
is nothing but an ordinary boariing
house. The walls. are as firm as
when first; built, - and there is no
doubt thia{ they will last a century
: ' - ...-ez.:ls;-.... s7:.s -
"Belgian" Block Quarried in Americ,.
Any one asked where the Belgian
block comes from would say, ..Whv.
from Belgium, Of course but this is
far from the truth. Great quarries at
a point four miles above Sellersville.
Buck county, known as the Rocks
supply most of the blocks used in
this city,. A great piece of rock was
recently blasted there from which :
were. cut $4,000, Belgian blocks of
size. The rock was thir-
ty.lve feetywide, twelve and one-half
eet deep and! sixty-6ve feet long.
The blocks cut up will realize nearly
Il, 800 for the quarryman. .-Philadel~
,hia Record.
.Nt Always Clean. 49,.
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