The Penn's Grove record., 1913-06-06
old BARRACKS
AT EXPOSITION
Historic Structure to Be Repro
duced at Panama-Pacific Fair
TO SERVE AS STATE EXHIBIT
Commissioners Appointed by Cover
nor Wilson Favor Proposition-lmi-
tation of Old Colonial Building
to Be Erected on Grounds.

Especial Trenton Correspondence.
Trenton.-In all the original thir-
teen States of the Union there is no
more interesting memorial of the Am
erican Colonial period than the build
ing known as "The lido Barracks" on
West Front street, in this city. Its
richness In historic association, its
quaint appearance and it's fine state
of preservation, have led to the sug-
gestion that a reproduction Of the
building be erected on the grounds of
the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San
Francisco to serve as the State build
ing. 1t is understood that the commits
sioners appointed by Governor Will
son to represent this State are favor
able to the proposition, and that it is
probable that the idea will be carried
out. 1t is proposed to erect a build
ing similar in every respect, so far as
appearance is concerned, to what
''The Old Barracks" was originally,
having the solid stone work correctly
initiated by means of stucco. This
would undoubtedly make the building
the most noted and the most interest
ing of any of the buildings on the ex-
position grounds.
1t was built in 1853, and the square
building which stands at the end Of
the northeast wing, which was the
officers quarters, was added in the
spring of 1859. 1t is one of five build
ings that we're built by the Colonists
to house the troops who were expect
ed to take part in the French and In
dian wars. The other buildings we're
located at Perth Amboy, New Bruins
wick, Elizabethtown and Burlington,
and all traces of them have disappear
ed. The barracks housed the Colonial
troops, and the Provisional Legisla-
ture requested the King to furnish
cots, tables and chairs. This request
was denied, because the King claim
ed that the Colony Of New Jersey was
not loyal to him. The building was
occupied by Colonial troops up to the
time of the Revolution, and by the
Hessians during the battle of Trenton.
It was then occupied by Washington's
troops for a few days until he with
drew to Pennsylvania.
The next time that it was occupied
was by CORVALLIS and his troops
when the second Battle of Trenton
was fought. After CORVALLIS with
drew it was occupied by various
troops that took part in the Revolu-
ton, among whom were the French
soldiers who marched from the North
with Rochambeau to fight the battle
at Yorktown. Rochambeau and his
staff occupied the officers quarters
and his OWL bodyguard occupied the
other part of the barracks. After the
Revolution the structure passed into
the hands of the State and the Legis-
lature divided it into apartments and
fixed the price of each apartment.
The tracing showing the apartments
and the prices fixed, which prices
were in pounds, shillings and pence,
IS in possession of the State. The
apartments did not rent we'll, and in
1913 Front street was extended to the
Capitol, and the property was sold.
The part on the south side Of the
street finally became the Widows and
Single Women's Home and was about
to pass into the hands of the contract
ors, who expected to use the stone in
the historic structure for the founda-
tons for a row Of buildings which
they intended to erect, when the pat
riotic ome of the State raised en-
ough money to buy it. The price paid
was $4,000. The officers quarters on
the north side of the street was divid-
ed into two dwellings, and to make it
a little bit more ~presentable in the
mind of the purchaser the stone front
was removed and brick was substitute
ed. The balance of the building stand
ing on the north side of the street
was divided into three houses, the
most westerly of which vas raised to
a ~three-story building in 1854 by the
father of Colonel Samuel Armstrong,
the deputy quartermaster general.
Hugh Roberts, architect of Jersey
City, who had done a large amount of
notable work, volunteered his services
to make all plans and specifications
for the restoration of the old pile.
These plans are elaborate and Mr..
Roberts has spent several months in
studying the situation, and has even
sent to other British colonies for plans
of similar buildings erected about the
same time. 1t is pretty generally
thought that the entrance to the sec
ond floor of the barracks as it origi-
nally existed was by way of the bal
cony that ran around the entire In
side of the three sides of the hollow
square. A number of windows have