The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-17
LANDMARK CONE
Historic Merseles Home
stead Destroyed By
Fire.
HELD THREE sHERIFFs
Mrs. Stephen Vreeland Tells
Some Interesting Things
About It.

The old Merseles homestead at the foot
of Gates avenue overlooking the New
York Bay. was completely destroyed by
fire yesterday afternoon. The alarm was
sent in about one O'Clock. Engines Mes
13 and s and the chemical engine from
Belmont avenue quickly responded On
the way to the fire, at Ocean and Hooker
avenues, engine No. 13 broke an axle and
was unable to proceed. Fortunately none
of the fremen was hurt
When engine No. s arrived at the scene
Of the connagration it was found that the
hydrant nearest the burning building was
located on Garfield avenue fully five hum
dred yards away. The hose from both
tenders were run out and connected, and
fortunately reached the burning building.
Considerable time had bene lost in con-
Meeting the hose and by the time every
thing was in readiness the building was
entirely enveloped in flames. After two
hours of hard work the flames were sub
dued, although the building was COM
pIetely gutted, the stone walls alone stand
ing
At the first alarm Captain Nugent and
Inspector Archibald hurried to the scene
and assisted the family occupying the
house to save portion of their house
hold belongings. 1t was necessary to run
the hose across the tracks of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad, thereby blocking traffic
on the road.
The house was occupied by the family
of Julius Link, pilot. It is the property
of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, which
runs within twenty feet of the rear of the
building. The fire is supposed to have
been caused by a spark from one of the
Lehigh engines alighting on the roof. The
Links estimate their loss at $400
The fire was first discovered by Miss
Link, who saw smoke ascending from the
roof. At first she thought the smoke was
from an engine which had just passed
On closer inspection she found the roof
was in flames The family attempted to
extinguish the fire with pals of water
but the attempt was futile One of the
members of the family then ran to the
fire alarm box, located on Garfield avenue,
and the rest carried out some of the fur
niture.
Neither the building nor furniture was
insured. The building, which was a ram
bling old Colonial structure, of two sto-
and twenty-five years old. 1t was situat-
view of the New York Bay and the Mar
rows. 1t is not known exactly when the
house was built, but it came into the
possession of the Merseles family in Rev
olutionary days That and old Retire.
ment Hall, which is situated on the
New York Bay Shore, about a quarter of
a mile away, the two oldest buildings in
the neighborhood
Mrs. Stephen Vreeland, who was Miss
Mary Merseles, said last evening that
she was born in the old house seventy
years ago. Her brother, Jacob Merseles,
who was Sheriff of Hudson county in
1852, was also born there. John Merseles,
a son of Jacob Merseles. also born in
the old homestead, was Sheriff of Hud-
son county in 1867.
About twenty-five years ago the prop
erty passed into the hands of John Mid
nero, who conducted a soda water busi-
ness. Mr.. Midmer Was also Sheriff of
Hudson county. Thus the old house has
been the residence of three Sheriffs of
Hudson county.
Mr.. Jacob Merseles was the founder
and owner of the old stage line which
ran from Jersey City to Bergen Point.
Later he inaugurated the dummy system
which was used until about twenty-five
wears ago. Many of the old residents re-
member the dummies, and many tale
is told of the passengers experiences.
In many cases they were compelled to
get out and push. Mrs. Stephen Vree-
land said that the old house had with
stood many night attacks from the lndi-
ans in the Revolutionary War, and
many a bullet hole in oaken woodwork
testified to the fierce struggles formerly
held. 1t is said that during the war an
English warship bombarded the house.
One of the cannon balls penetrated the
stone wall of the house In those days
houses were few and far between. Par
ties would be formed and visits exchang-
ed The guests would be royalty enter
tained by the old Dutch settlers, and
many a merry dance was held in the
halls of the old Colonial mansions.
After Mr.. John Midmer's death the CID
house was vacant for some time. It was
finally purchased by the Lehigh Valley
Road, which has purchased considerable
property along the shore front on which
to build its new line. The Links occupied
the building for eleven years. They had
become much attached to the old spot
Many people visited the scene of the
fire last evening. Another old landmark
was gone, was frequently heard. A dead
tree near the house smouidered In three
places. The glowing embers appeared like
red danger signals.