The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-09-01
Old WALLACE HOUSE
New Jersey Memorial So
clety May Purchase a
Somervi1le Land
mark.
WASHINGTON WINTERED THERE
Distinguished Visitors of a Cen
tury-plans for a Gel
ebration.
snecsa1ta fhe Jerscr citu Ns,ss.

rBftf2t IN TIT 1cfctH ltQ lNCtI
SOMERyILLE. Sept. ]. 1ss6.-It is now
almost a certainty that the Wallace house,
at Somerville, will go into the possession
OF the Revolutionary Memorial Society of
New Jersey before the close of the year,
and win be made one OF the most interest
ing Of the real Revolutionary relics of the
State. A forfeit sum has already been
paid to the owner, Alfred Cooper, for the
refusal Of the place until December, and
now preparations are being made on a
grand scale for the celebration Of the
farewell address Of Washington to the
country, to be held on the grounds sur
rounding the Wallace house on September
10. The Somerville committee met with
officers of the society last week and COM
Hfttees were appointed and other details
attended to. The celebration Is to be
made a National affair, and many dis
tinguished persons are expected
Surrounded by a grove Of ancient oaks,
the old colonial mansion stands at the
west end Of ~Somerville. somewhat back
from the old Raritan road. It's walls
have echoed to the tread Of many fair
women and heroic men Of those trying
days of the Republic.
It was in the winter of 1T8 and 49,, while
Washington's seven brigades of Infantry,
embracing troops Of Virginia, Delaware,
PENNSYLVANIA and Maryland, were en-
carnped at Camp Middlebrook, Bound
Brook, that the Wallace mansion was
honored as the headquarters of the great
Commander-in-Chief. The timbers for the
building had recently been hewn from the
woods, and the finishing touches had been
put on especially for the distinguished
occupant. Its owners were TWO brothers
named Wallace. Scotch merchants Of New
of land in the county.
The campaign had been a successful
one for the American forces. The British
having been driven from New Jersey. en-
and rope were uppermost in
the hearts of the struggling patriots. The
winter and spring OF I779 were mild and
Pleasant. and the dependency and gloom
OF the previous winter at Valley Forge
ave way to joy and merriment, and the
old mansion amid the oaks saw not a
little OF gayety n mirth. Early in De-
cenlner General Washington was Joined
or entertainments began.
The old mansion Is stin we'll preserved.
ana ls IN daily use as a dwelling. The
main part of the building is two stories
high and the remainder only a story and
q half. Entering through the Dutch door
from the stoop at the front of the house.
You come into a broad, panelled hallway.
%AAI aim Ill d UIOd0. eASV
ascending stairway in THE rear. To the
right was the. reception room. with white
wooden mantel OF simple but beautiful
design. and a broad open fireplace. It
must ave been a handsome room and
we'll appointed in Its day.
Across the hail vas the dining room
MOI large, but yet quite roomy. Here. also,
y an expansive chimney place, where the
yule log must have burned brightly an
that Christmas of IT'S. The open bear ma
are overhead. as they were so often in the
0I1 Nh a. --L -
OF this, large and with all the convent
ences of the time when 1t was first used.
In the rear OF the reception room. with
an entrance from the hallway under the
stair, is the room occupied hy the COM
mander. Here is an open frenlaea sur
rounded by blue thing.
some OF the most famous heroes of the
time Vlsated General and Mrs. Washington
az the Wallace house during that winter
OF resi-: There were Baron Steuben. who
G gas AaidMs-de,camp to Frederick the Great:
zoIlern-Hecktngen, who had his headouar-
Sers at Abraham Staats's house on the
rev Brunswick road. but frequently
Lee, of Virginia. father Of General Rob-
err Il, Lee Lord and Lady Stirling and
thssr neautifgl daughter. Lady Kitty. and
nag a handsome manor house at Baslsine
niuse Generai Knox. commanding the
end w o. aT,,iisry quartered at P~luckamin,
lution.; Colonel Alexander Hamilton. col
opel Teneh Tilghman, William Colfar
General Greene, who was at the Van
vechten mansion at Finderne. Mrs. John
Jay General Putnam. whose division was
encamped near Chimney RocS. and Can
tasns James Fairlie and Benjamir, Walker
Al OF tnese men and ladies walke under
the Dig oaks and sat around the festive
board at the Wallace House.
An Old slave who died a few years ago
used 10 tell Of some of the scenes there
He saw General Washington and the
other distinguished personases during
their stay there. In a loft over tha kiT.
cnen We're found a number of reJics If
this winters visitors. Among them wss
an umbrella, upon the horn of which was
etched an excellent likeness 81 Washing
ton and the coat-of-arms Of the Ur:fed
to him.
The society proposes TO take this his
toric place and perserve it as a memenfo
OF the founders of the Republic. In its
rooms will be placed all the relics of Rev
o~iutfonary days that can be collected
from various parts of the State. Already
there is q partial promise of a collector
valued at S2.Wo by a gentleman Interested
IN such things. 1t VIII stand on a mar
with. tbs headquarters at Morristown and
NeWburg. but with a greater wealth az
historic memories than either. Situated
IN the centre of the Raritan Valley
where so much transpired that made his,
tory, the Wallace house is an appropriate
landmark of W~ashington's visit.