428 3rd Street
A Baptist church building was on this site from 1866 to 1905, when it was demolished and the congregation moved to a location out of town. In 1859, the then-newly formed Baptist church with 17 original members met in the Stadelman Institute (see Walking Tour #18) until 1864, then began meeting at the courthouse until a year later when the Board of Chosen Freeholders resolved to evict them. The church then met in the park for a month, trasferring to the town hall on Water St. for a year before the freeholders reversed their decision and the Baptist congregants were allowed back into the courthouse on condition they build a meeting house, whereupon their pastor immediately resigned.A brick 38'x65' church building with a 125' spire was built on this corner at an expense of $13,000, the cornerstone laid in 1866 and the building completed in 1868. The lot was purchased from the Hon. George M. Robeson.A news item from April 19, 1905 reads: "The razing of the Baptist Church is now complete. The tall spire fell last Tuesday. It had been noised about town that Mr. Emery, the contractor, would finish that day, and the news called together a crowd which looked like a miniature Farmer's Picnic [precursor to Victorian Days]. As the bricks were removed from one side of the tower, this was jacked up with slabs of wood and in this way the foundation was removed, leaving a wooden structure underneath. Kerosene was poured on this and set afire, eating out the wood and the steeple with ropes attached as a guide fell with a roar that was heard all over town. Cashier [George P.] Young, who bought the building, says that 230,000 of the bricks used in the construction were made at the Little York Kiln near Oxford, now gone, and 30,000 came from Trenton. They will be used for the inner construction of the elegant new mansion Mr. Young is erecting.".George P. Young used 470,000 bricks in the construction, many reclaimed from the church building. The house is an example of Richardsonian Romanesque style and has a hipped roof, square corner tower with spire reclaimed from the Baptist church, wrap-around porch with Ionic columns, and a curved stained glass window on the side.Occupants of the house have included the Youngs, Coopers, Hoziers, Zardeckis, and Dr. and Mrs. Sykes. Dr. Stanton Sykes ran a prospering medical office out of his front rooms, with his wife acting as secretary and receptionist until just recently .
227 Hardwick
This grand 2 1/2 story center hall Italianate with decorative cupola on the main roof and double round arched windows has a front one-story full-width porch with square posts that accentuate the home's symmetrical aspects. The recessed panel front doors, decorative porch and cornice brackets, and molded window hoods all embody the Italianate style. The portion of the house used as the kitchen was detached and can be found next door on Third Street.Many unique addtions and features are included on this house. For example, note the very ornate oversized mirror on the north side of the house.
219 Hardwick Street - Methodist Church
The first Methodist services in Belvidere were held in 1786. Pioneer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal denomination held services in various homes as early as 1810-1812, but a church was first organized in 1825 at The Wesleyan Chapel, corner of Market Street and Delaware Avenue (the church graveyard is still there). It seated 300 persons, men on the right side of the sanctuary and women on the left. Two wood stoves provided heat.In 1847, the original building was deemed inadequate for the congregation's needs. But controversy over a new location was magnified by rivalry between the north and south sides of town. As an inducement to locate the new church on the north side, Theodore S. Paul offered to present the trustees with a lot of land on Market Street where the Second Presbyterian Church was later built. Dr. J. Marshall Paul agreed to supplement the gift with a contribution of $200. The Hon. Garret D. Wall, in laying out the town plot on the south side of the Pequest had set apart three lots facing the public square for church purposes. He offered the church its present site on Hardwick Street opposite the park, even though congregants complained it was much too far to one side of the town (two blocks south of the Pequest River, the dividing line). The trustees instead looked into purchasing a lot on the corner of Mill and Front Streets, a plan that fell through.In 1848, the trustees decided to demolish the old church. To keep the trustees from changing their minds, the next morning the Rev. David Graves (1848-1850) assured commitment to the church project by beginning to knock down the church walls. He was joined by several members of the congregation, and the structure was soon razed to the ground.Until a new church could be built, services were held in the courthouse, and it was finally resolved to accept the offer made by Gen. Wall. In July 1849, the cornerstone on Hardwick St. was laid. The main audience room (sanctuary) was not completed until 1855.1868 brought 175 new members into the church. The sanctuary was deemed too small and space for 40 new pews and three new classrooms were added. Electric lights were added in 1912 and ten stained glass windows were added by 1923. From 1946-1949 the sanctuary was again renovated, including replacing the aged pipe organ with a new electronic one. By 1976, the church and parsonage exterior received a brick facing, as seen today.
205 Hardwick St.--Lott/Yetter House
Adrian Lott was a shop keeper in downtown Belvidere who inherited a small house at 205 Hardwick St. from his uncle's estate in 1826. The roof was raised to include a full-height third floor. At the turn of the century, lumber and coalyard owner Peter S. Yetter purchased the property and added on to the back of the house, incorporating his knowledge of and access to wood by including beautiful built-in cabinets and cupboards, beadboard siding, and pine floors in the kitchen and bathrooms. The house was in the Yetter family for over 100 years, passing to Yetter's divorced daughter and thence to her daughter, who became Mrs. Hawes not long after she "accidentally" left her pocketbook at the local pharmacy on Water St. and it was returned to her by the bachelor proprieter, Albert C. Hawes. (One of the stained glass windows of the Methodist church two doors down is in memory of Peter S. Yetter.)The house retains many features of the original, with its wraparound porch and unique full length balusters, diamond window on the third floor, offset two-story bays capped with slate tiles, and full-length windows affording the residents unfettered views of the park.The house has seen some recent restoration, with the third floor finished and painted for the first time and the original and still operational dumb-waiter frequently raised and lowered with its foot-pedal to impress guests.
201 Hardwick Street
This Sears-Roebuck kit house was owned for many years by the Coppersmith family. A grand tree dedicated to Mr. Coppersmith stands near the center of the park. The double gambrel roof harkens to Colonial Era Pennsylvania Dutch and Moravian settlers. The upstairs bathroom is graced with an etched window from the Belvidere Water Co., where Mr. Coppersmith worked.
199 Hardwick
This Victorian Italianate with stucco over stone exterior hides rich history. Builder Daniel Kleinhans, who failed in the gold fields of California but succeeeded in Sacramento's grocery business, returned to Belvidere in 1858 to escape the stress of his life in California and married Susan Depue. In 1865 he built this house and sold it two years later to DeWitt Clinton (D.C.) Blair, son of John I. Blair (namesake of nearby Blairstown). D.C. Blair was a lawyer and president of the Belvidere Bank. In 1877, the Belvidere Water Company was organized to "supply the town of Belvidere with pure and wholesome water, for both culinary and sanitary purposes." D.C. Blair was Board President.In 1923, Blair sold the nearly completely furnished estate for $17,000 to the Presbyterian Synod of New Jersey. The synod's purpose was to create a home for family-less aged men and women in their denomination. Added to the building are the two wings stretching north and east, though the building retains remnants of the large porch. The first floor housed all the general living quarters: living room, dining room, sitting room, study, kitchen, butler's pantry, and laundry. The second floor had nine bedrooms and three baths. The third floor, with its roof raised by the synod, had an additional eight bedrooms and a large attic. They also added a solarium, game room, and a beauty parlor (aka the Pink Room).By 1970, the Presbyterian Home for the Aged had outgrown the space and sold the building to Warren County for $375,000. The county originally housed the Welfare Department, the Office on Aging, Probation Department, and the County Library in the building. The Blair Estate is now known as the Courthouse Annex, including offices of the County Prosecutor.
512 2nd Street
Circa 1870, this 2 1/2 story frame home displays a nearly original exterior facade. Notice the stone foundation, slate roof, and double round arch window in the front gable.
518 2nd Street
Displaying an original brick exterior, one of this home's features is the original double doors with beveled glass. This home also boasts a beautiful scalloped frieze under the gable. Walk down the alley to the right of this folk Victorian style house to view the back yard with its varied garden spaces and statuary.
613 Oxford--French influence
c. 1854, this Second Empire Victorian house elegantly displays its French influence with decorative shingles on a concave third-story mansard roof, a style popularized by 17th century architect Francois Mansart. The house also boasts a full width porch complete with decorative brackets and tall first floor windows typical of the style. An offset two-story bay window on the left side of the house with 1st and 2nd story cornices was added after the Civil War. A wine cellar and servants' quarters were also added to the back of the house at one point.
607 Oxford
c. 1925. This home was built by a former owner of the Hotel Belvidere as his retirement home. It is the quintessential example of a Craftsman bungalow with its low pitched roof, center dormer, full front porch with included roof and deep eaves, and tapered and battered columns over brick column bases. The second story ribbon windows in the front dormer and side gables is also indicative of Craftsman design.
535 Oxford--Blair Estate Carriage House
Prior to D.C. Blair's acquisition of this property (see Tour Stop #6), where he used to store his carriages, Major Hoops (see Tour Stop #14) erected an extensive slaughter-house where great numbers of cattle and hogs were slaughtered and packed. Together with flour manufactured at the mill, the meat was transported to Central Jersey for the use of the Continental Army. At that time, all the farmers' wagons and sleds were requisitioned for transport of these foods to Gen. Washington's thousands of half-starving soldiers near Morristown.In 1861, D.C. Blair raised 92 troops from Blairstown in response the President Lincoln's call to arms for the Civil War. The Governor of NJ, however, refused to accept the company since every regiment was already full "and there seemed to be no immediate prospect of a second call for volunteers, as Secretary Seward entertained the opinion that this was only a 'thirty days' war'" (writes Blair in a letter to Col. Charles Scranton in 1881). Blair maintained the men for two more weeks at his own expense, but after no second call was made, he disbanded them. By the time the second call came, most of the men had left and volunteered with Pennsylvania or New York. So Blair enlisted with the New York City 22nd Regiment, National Guard, as a private. He served three months' picket duty in MD and VA before being called to New York to suppress riots there. He then received an honorable discharge.This building was likely designed in the Gothic Revival Style as evidenced by the steeply gabled roof, window hood and chunky corner tower with the third story round window.
430 Front Street - Hotel Belvidere
This frame establishment on the corner of Hardwick and Front Streets was originally built as a store and dwelling in 1831 by Chapman Warner, uncle of S. T. Scranton. It was known as "Belvidere House" and the corner room (which became a bar room) was the store portion. Mr. Warner also kept a lumberyard in connection with its store, now "Hotel Belvidere," which has been recently refurbished with hardwood floors, tumbled marble bathrooms with traditional furnishings and modern amenities.In 1845, the pioneer Council fixed the following tavern rates:Breakfast--$0.25Dinner--$0.37 1/2Supper--$0.28Lodging for the night--$0.12 1/2Two or more in one bed--$0.08Madeira wine per quart--$1.25Sherry wine per quart--$0.75Porter or ale per bottle--$0.18 3/4West India rum per gill--$0.12 1/2New York rum per gill--$0.06 1/4Stabling a horse per night and good hay--$0.25Pasture for night--$0.12 1/2Liquid happiness and solid comfort were cheap in the pioneer days of our city fathers.Local lore maintains there was a speakeasy in the basement during Prohibition, accessed by the exterior stairwell on the west of the building. (See Tour Site #40)
8 Hardwick--Twin Mills
The Twin Mills, circa 1840. George K. McMurtrie and Co. Mill was operated by water power until the 1970s. It was two of the more than 40 mills that used to dot the banks of the Pequest River, which was deemed more reliable and profitable than the Delaware River for running the machinery in the mills. Two and a half stories with a brick gambrel roof has housed various industrial manufacturers throughout the 19th century, and now is home to King's Gambit, a roastery and coffee shop dedicated to serving quality coffees and teas.
1 Prospect St, Major Hoops' House
This is a stone example of a pre-Revolutionary Colonial style house. It retains the original exterior, featuring six-over-six window sashes, batten door, and rough-squared quoins. This is believed to be either the former residence of Major Robert Hoops or one of six that he built for the men who were stationed here at Fort Reading. The fort was built to protect settlers from local native Americans. The town was originally called Mercer but Hoops renamed the town Belvidere, as evidenced in a 1791 letter he wrote.
333 Water
Child prodigy, first conductor of philharmonic children's concerts, and famous pianist Ernest Schelling was born in this house on July 26, 1876. The house features an ornate front porch with scalloped supports and intricate scroll work.Schelling was born of an English mother, Rose White Wilkes of Cambridge, and Felix Emmanuel Schelling, a physician and philosopher of Swiss origin. The Romantic age of music was just ending.Schelling's first teacher was his father. At age 4, Schelling made his debut at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By age 7, Schelling had traveled to Europe to study and was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire, working with many great masters such as Goetschius, Huber, Barth, Moszkowski and Leschetizky.At the age of 20 in 1896, he became the only American pupil with Ignace Paderewski. He toured Europe and North and South America, gaining a reputation as a remarkable pianist.Schelling was the first conductor of the Young People's Concerts of the New York Philharmonic in March 1924. The concerts were designed to encourage the love of music in children by combining the orchestra's performance with a lecture featuring various aspects of the orchestra or the music with pictures or demonstrations, so children received a variety of stimuli. He illustrated the concerts with large-format glass lantern slides projected onto a screen, achieving a kind of Pied Piper status with his innovative methods.He married his first wife Lucie Howe Draper in 1905 in New York City. She died in 1938 at their summer home in Lausanne, Switzerland. His second wife, Helen Huntington "Peggy" Marshall, was the stepdaughter of the philanthropist Brooke Astor, and a niece of Vincent Astor. She was 21 and he was 63.He died of a cerebral embolism at his home in Manhattan on December 8, 1939. His bride of four months was at his side. He was to have conducted a children's philharmonic that very day.A commemorative bust of Ernest Schelling now stands in Carnegie Hall, placed in gratitude for his work with young musicians.Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Schelling and https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/c.asp?c=C531. Accessed August 29, 2020.
317 Water--Good Will Fire Co.
The Goodwill Fire Company was formed in 1879 but didn't officially incorporate until 1882 when land was conveyed to the inhabitants of the Town of Belvidere. The rear hall/kitchen was added c. 1919 and has been the location of numerous weddings and events. A hose carriage was purchased by the town in 1879 to connect to fire hydrants in town using whatever pressure was available. With the addition of the hose carriage, property loss from fire dropped from 78% to 18%. But getting the hose carriage to the fire was a challenge: the firefighters had to pull the heavy carriage themselves, and sometimes they would conveniently show up to the station just a little too late. Fines for members not pulling the apparatus were then levied. Problem solved!In 1884, the total equipment owned by the company was 800 ft. of fabric hose, 900 ft. of rubber hose, 3 hydrant wrenches, 6 spanners, 2 hose jackets, 2 lanterns, 1 trumpet, 11 rubber coats, 11 hats, and one axe. For an 1882 fire, firefighters responded by word of mouth since there was some trouble with the rope to the bell. An electric bell was installed in the chief's home in 1892.The worst fire in town was in Dec. 1905, when the Warren Woodworking Plant on the Pequest was engulfed after a store across the alley caught fire. Many stores downtown burned or were severly damaged. The fire was put out, but all the woodworking stock was lost by either fire or water, including two train carloads of finished mantels that were ready to ship.
192 Market--Second Church
Following a church split from First Church over theological issues, Second Church was organized in 1849. The architecture of this Market St. church is based on a Swiss model and was financed by Dr. J. Marshall Paul, who also presented the church with a parsonage (the former Stadelman Institute) in 1855. (See Tour Site #18) Second Church eventually merged back with First Church to become United Presbyterian Church located on the park.The building still features its original stained glass, even though it currently houses apartments.
430 Green Ln.--Paul Estate
This is an exuberant example of Victorian architecture! It is an 1830 Italianate villa-style house with a melange of details including wrap-around veranda, an Italianate-inspired campanile (originally designed to provide visibility and security during the Italian city-state era), Second Empire hooded windows, Gothic vergeboard and stick detail on the facades. It was built by Dr. George Green to impress from the town-level before the trees grew up. The architect, builder, and owner were each only 34 years old at the time of construction. This impressive home is built on one of the oldest building sites in town, formerly hosting a double log house occupied by various people--including Robert Hoops (see Tour Site #14). Thomas Paul was the patriarch of the estate. His son, J. Marshall Paul, was born in Belvidere in 1800. J. Marshall Paul became a renowned physician, studying in Paris and practicing in Philadelphia. In 1846 he inherited the estate, gave up his practice, and retired to Belvidere. He was an elder in the presbyterian church, and in 1855 he erected the Stadelman Institute next door at 418 Green Lane, in which he placed scientific apparatus, a sizeable library, and a reading room with newspapers and periodicals. It was intended for lectures and entertainment of a scientific and theological instructive nature as well as "for an habitual resort for the youth of the town of Belvidere." It was used as a meeting place for various churches betwixt buildings and some meetings, but in general his intentions for the space failed and he remodeled it into a home and offered it to Second Presbyterian as a parsonage.The original house was later owned by Henry Deshler, who moved from the stocking business in Emmaus, PA, to being the bookkeeper at the Belvidere Woodworking plant, a president of an unproductive copper mine in PA, and eventual owner of a 1913 U.S. Patent for a coin-operated vending machine--"Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for parking meters." So, every time you plunk those quarters or slide that credit card into a parking meter, you can thank Henry Deshler of Belvidere, NJ.
241 245 Water Street
A devastating fire in 1905 destroyed much of the downtown area. This is one of the downtown stores to escape the fire which destroyed the Warren Woodworking Company at Water and Greenwich streets (see Tour Site #16). Until recently, this building housed Ambiance Antiques, a high-scale gallery specializing in better quality home decor.
219 Water
This small Colonial Georgian (1700-1780) house characterizes the style with chimneys at each side gable and the symmetrical yet unequally spaced windows. The porch is a later addition. This would be a typical two bed-room house in the 18th century.
224 Water
c. 1880s. This is a Victorian Gothic Revival example which includes a steeply pitched roof, vergeboard gables and drip molds above the windows. Also of note are the paired pointed third story windows in the front gable.
19 Water Street
The house was built in 1863 by the Prall family in the Italianate style. The pumpkin pine floors are original as well as the medallions in the parlor and dining room and the crown molding in the living room. The property once included the house behind it as its carriage house. The brick fireplace in the kitchen has been rebuilt with the original brick. For many years the house had been divided into three separate apartments but has since been restored into a single family residence. This grand Victorian has pairing of all the main and second story windows headed by massive window hoods. Even the tall entry door is paired. Most of the roof brackets are paired yet there are triplets of roof bracket, expressive of Victorian excess. Speaking of pairs, even the chimneys are paired!.This is a side-gable house with a center gable and an impressive double story bay facing the morning sun. The house's high siting offers views of the Pequest and Delaware RIvers, a regal residence indeed.
10 Greenwich Street
Originally Syracuse Plows, this multi-use building was bought by John Deere, and from 1897-1910 was the local feed store. It became Ritter's Lumber in the 1940s, and now houses Rustic Retail, a multi-vendor antique and decor market.
16 Greenwich
A classic Victorian Stick Style (1860-1880) example, this building includes an arched false front gable and a wide cornice band with two types of roof brackets. The street facade boasts all the styling while the secondary facades are unadorned. It currently houses Fabulous Finds, an antique and decor store, as well as two apartments for AirBnB upstairs.
87 Front
This center hall, symmetrical home with a classic column porch, was built circa 1880 and contains Italianate detailing at the cornice lines and a central gable peak. The full-width porch and protruding side bay harkens to a bygone era complete with a porch swing. Also note the unique round window in the front gable.
83 Front
A T-shaped Victorian, this 3-bay side hall entrance home was built circa 1880 and boasts a wrap-around porch, molded double door entrance with beveled glass, stained glass transom above the dining room door, and floor to ceiling windows into the parlor. There is also a two story bay on the east facade and a triptych of rounded windows in the front gable.
78 Front Street
Landowner William P. Robeson sold this plot to Andrew (a lumber dealer) and Sarah Kinemour, who built this cozy Victorian in 1888 and subsequently sold it in 1897 to their daughter Emma and son-in-law Daniel of the Warren County renowned Roseberry family. The double story bay windows and projecting bow front porch create a very welcoming presence.
114 Greenwich Country Gate
This 200-seat playhouse is a converted 1930's art deco movie theater. Founded in 1972, Country Gate Players is dedicated to providing quality theater and arts educationto the local community and is the oldest established arts organization in Warren County. Country Gate Players found their permanent home in June of 1977 in the then-abandoned Belvidere Movie Theater built in 1939. Under the Scuratos' direction, the players transformed the forsaken movie house into a fully operational live theater. Over its forty-three year history, hundreds of local artists have performed for thousands of community audiences. Country Gate draws audiences from NJ, PA, and NY and is known for quality productions at reasonable ticket prices.
116 Greenwich--Croxall Mansion
Historically known as the Croxall Mansion, this Georgian-style home was built in 1780 by Robert Morris, who owned the large tract of land south of the Pequest River that was originally surveyed by William Penn. Morris built the house for his daughter, Mary Croxall. The original front facade faces the Delaware River. Originally from Liverpool, England, Robert Morris became a prominent member of a Philadelphia shipping and banking firm by age 20, exporting American goods and importing British cargo, even being captured by French privateers in Jamaica but escaping to Cuba with his crew. Robert Morris signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, AND the Constitution of the United States, one of only two men to do so. He was ranked second wealthiest among the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence and raised great amounts of money to support the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, earning the title "financier of the American Revolution." Morris served on the Second Continental Congress from 1775-1778, during which the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. He was superintendent of finance of the U.S. (1781-1784) and improved the unsettled financial condition of the post-war country by establishing the Bank of North America in 1782. Before he left office, he used over a million dollars in his own notes to feed and pay the troops. As a result of his generosity, the Continental Army had the necessary supplies and money to decisively win at Yorktown, thus ensuring the success of the revolution. His attempts to repay the debt to France after the war cost his own estate significantly.It was Morris who nominated General George Washington to be Chairman of the Annapolis Convention in 1787. As president, Washington invited Morris to be his Secretary of the Treasury; he declined the invitation but recommended his friend, Alexander Hamilton, whose name has more ring to it as a name for a musical than "Morris," but maybe Robert Morris' story will be told next?Following the war, Morris expanded his fortune through investments in unsettled land in the nation. Through the devious designs of his political enemies and some bad ventures, by the late 1790s his credit had collapsed and Morris was sent to debtor's prison in 1798. After release in 1801, he spent the last five years of his life in near poverty, sustained only by a stipend from fellow statesman and Articles and Constitution signer Gouverneur Morris.Before going into debt, in 1793 Robert Morris deeded the house and all 614 acres to his daughter Mary Croxall and her heirs forever. A new Jersey legislative act in 1818 reversed the "forever" part, converting it to fee simple, and by 1825, all of Mary's children had their mortgages paid by Garrett D. Wall, converting ownership to him. In 1826, there were only seven residences south of the Pequest River. Wall donated plots of land to Warren County for a courthouse and park and more lots to churches, securing Belvidere as the county seat. He sold the rest of the lots, thereby propelling Belvidere to grow south of the Pequest. By 1841, there were 162 dwellings and nearly 1000 people in town, and in 1870, the census reflected 1,882 people. (The completion of the Belvidere-Delaware Railroad was an added boon!) Thus, through the unfortunate collapse of Robert Morris' fortune was a Victorian town established in rural NJ.(For a more detailed account of Robert Morris' life, visit https://www.dsdi1776.com/signers-by-state/robert-morris/)
202 Greenwich--The William Blair Titman House
One can't help but notice this ornate Victorian beauty with its magnificently adorned front round window, its enhancing keyhole gingerbread, and the curving stairs leading to the wrap-around porch. This home was built in 1892 by Mr. William Blair Titman who was born September 7th, 1844 in Oxford Township, NJ. He was the son of Jabez Gwinnup Titman and Mary Ann Blair, the first cousin of John Insley Blair, railroad baron and founder of Blairstown.William Blair Titman married Margaret “Maggie” E. Rosberry; they had one child, Annie Blair Titman. William Blair Titman began farming at the age of 20 and retired in 1890, having also acquired considerable property throughout Belvidere. Mr. Titman passed away on July 21st, 1902 at the age of 57 and is buried in Belvidere Cemetery (commemorated with the very first monument as you enter the gates). Daughter Annie Blair Titman was married to Dr. George Wyckoff Cummins. Annie attended Centenary Collegiate Institute from 1881-1882 and studied music, playing pipe organ and piano. The couple had no children. Her husband Dr. George Wyckoff Cummins graduated from Centenary Collegiate Institute in 1881, then attended Yale School of Medicine and the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. He practiced medicine in Belvidere, specializing in treatment of respiratory illnesses. Dr. Wyckoff Cummins’ family home was built in 1834 on the courthouse square (see Tour Site #40).Annie lived in her family home until her death in 1952. Annie Blair Titman Cummings and Dr. George Wyckoff Cummins are buried in the Belvidere Cemetery. Dr. George Wyckoff Cummins is survived by his book "The History of Warren County".The plans for the William Blair Titman home were designed by George F. Barber, an architect who came up with “Design #53.” When the order-by-mail building giants were Montgomery Ward, Sears Roebuck, and others, George F. Barber started his own mail-order catalog offering floor plans that could be customized by owners. Barber became the most successful domestic American architect during the late Victorian era. Shortly after his death in 1915, Barber’s publications came to a halt, having sold over 20,000 plans. Most of his homes were Colonial Revival and Victorian Queen Anne styles. Barber's designs were known for their pastiche of elements with square gables over bay windows and oriel windows projecting beyond its gable. An oblong octagonal two-story turret with an ogee roof topped with decorative grillwork and finials cap this assemblage. Today, there is only one other home in existence using Design #53. It is located in Crockett, Texas, known as the Downes-Aldrich House. In 2019, this home became bank owned after being vacant for many years. In September 2019, the William Blair Titman House was purchased by Madeline Collazo, a Phillipsburg nurse anesthetist. This home became her passion project, working tirelessly to research the home's history and preserve its original Victorian qualities. With the help of her husband, Luis Collazo, she repaired and restored the home to stand for another 100 plus years.
301 2nd Street
Built in the early Federal style in 1833, this house has a side hall format, three bays, box cornice, and lunette windows. It also has an elliptical fanlight transom and double gabled chimneys. The kitchen wing and front porch with Tuscan columns were added in the early 20th century. Until 2017, the building housed the Belvidere Free Library (main entrance) and Town Municipal offices (side entrance). Now it is the Community Center @ Belvidere (CC@B) hosting classes and art gallery showings and meeting space for the community at large.
119 Greenwich
Built circa 1890, this home is believed to have been built in a style similar to--if not built by--prominent builder Reeder S. Emery. This house is the only survivor of "the frame block" consisting of several similar structures erected at that time by John Shay, Anthony Robeson and Mr. Reeder S. Emery. This particular home boasts a prominent octagonal corner tower and finials on the front gables.
301 Front--Warren House/Masonic Temple
This is the oldest colonial building site in town. On this site in the 1700s, Robert Patterson built a double log house, called "Mansion House," which stood until 1838. Benjamin Depue tore it down and built the hotel Warren House in 1840 which was slightly remodeled after a 1900 fire. Warren House was remodeled and reopened by Warren Lodge, No. 13, Free and Accepted Masons in 1926. It once boasted a wrap-around full-width two story porch with square columns. One resident of note at the Warren House was Onion John, whose story can be found in the 1960 Newbery Medal winner "Onion John" by Joseph Krumgold. The story is set in 1950s Belvidere, New Jersey, (renamed Serenity) and tells the story of 12-year-old Andy Rusch and his friendship with an eccentric onion-growing hermit who lives on the outskirts of the small town. Krumgold originally included the names of real people and locations in his manuscript but was advised by his lawyer to fictionalize this mostly true story. Onion John's grave can be found in the Belvidere Cemetery, near the fence fronting Pequest Rd.
312- 314 Front
c. 1885. This is a prime example of a commercial building from the late nineteenth century. It retains many original features, including clapboard siding, molded window hoods, and fluted cast iron columns Other Victorian details include the pair of hooded windows in the side gables and the paired brockets supporting the front pediment.
323 * 325 Front
323 Front - This building, originally a bank, was inspired by the Beaux Art style popular for civic buildings at the turn of the century. This Style inspired strength and permanence, qualities sought by bankers. The incised entry and ground floor windows are all capped by lunetttes. The second story paired windows, cornice, and parapet all contibute to this modest, yet assured building.325 Front - One of Belvidere's vintage law offices, this building was erected circa 1880 as a law office and has always been a law office. The exterior is in nearly original condition, featuring a false front with a rounded pediment, molded window hoods, and a flat roof. The incised or carved Eastlake detailing accents the wooden keys on the door and window hoods.
329 Front
This beautiful brick commercial structure was erected in 1840 as a storehouse. The cornice brackets are later additions but the front entrance with sidelights and transom is vintage. The molded door and window trim are original.
101 Mansfield--PNC Bank
The original Belvidere Bank was chartered by an act of the NJ Legislature in 1830. The largest stockholder at the time was John I. Blair (for which Blairstown is named), father of DeWitt Clinton Blair (see Tour Stop #6). Several other Blair family members were also subscribers, as well as the Hon. Garret D. Wall. John I. Blair was the vice president, discharging the duties of President John Kinney Jr. when he became blind, and became the next president of the bank.This building was built in 1929, just prior to the Great Depression. It was opened originally as the Warren County Trust Company. The bank was closed in 1931 during the bank holiday and reopened by the federal government the next year as The First National Bank of Belvidere.The simple block form building is a curious amalgam of Prairie School, Neoclassical and Beaux Arts styles, all popular during the first quarter of the 20th century. The ceiling is over 30 feet high with a spectacular center medallion that, along with the rest of the ceiling, was painted by the late Bill Duckworth of Washington, New Jersey in a fresco style. All of the imagery in the tile floor are various good luck symbols found in indigenous American and Asian lore. The building remains virtually unchanged except for the addition of three drive-through banking stations along Front Street.
413 Second St.--Warren County Courthouse
Warren County was separated from Sussex County in 1824 and its new court was held at Belvidere on the second Tuesday in February 1925. But the county needed to officially decide on the location of a county seat. To cement Belvidere as the obvious choice against Hope, Washington, and Oxford Furnace, landowner Garrett D. Wall offered plots of land for public buildings and a park for $1 and a subscription of $1000 to help build the courthouse. Belvidere was handily voted to be the Warren County Seat, and a 40'x60' two-story brick courthouse was built in 1826.It has been the location of many famous trials and historical events, including highly publicized hangings, when thousands of people would descend on the town. For one such hanging, tar was painted on tree trunks to discourage climbers, and several young men sitting on a barn roof nearby found themselves under debris from the collapsed roof.The building was modified in 1959-60 to its present configuration. You can see the original courthosue as the modest two story wings projecting from the more recent, and grander, center portico. Also, note how the building's expansion over two centuries was inspired by the original.
Opposite 413 Second St.--Temperance Fountain & Gaslight
A lighted drinking fountain was erected in Garrett D. Wall Park in 1910 by the Women’s Temperance League, aka Women's Christian Temperance Union, to provide fresh water "for man and beast." It replaced a Civil War Memorial."By 1830, the average American over 15 years old consumed nearly seven gallons of pure alcohol a year...and alcohol abuse (primarily by men) was wreaking havoc on the lives of many, particularly in an age when women had few legal rights and were utterly dependent on their husbands for sustenance and support."The country's first serious anti-alcohol movement grew out of a fervor for reform that swept the nation in the 1830s and 1840s. Many abolitionists fighting to rid the country of slavery came to see drink as an equally great evil to be eradicated – if America were ever to be fully cleansed of sin. The temperance movement, rooted in America's Protestant churches, first urged moderation, then encouraged drinkers to help each other to resist temptation, and ultimately demanded that local, state, and national governments prohibit alcohol outright."(Source: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/roots-of-prohibition/)The light and base is all that remain of the drinking fountain, a reminder that outright prohibition was difficult to enforce. Amendment 18, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol, was passed by Congress in 1920. It lasted 13 years, 10 months, 19 days, and 17 hrs., but who's counting?
202 Mansfield
Handsome and historic, this house was built by John P. B. Maxwell for his bride, who unfortunately did not live to enter it. It was later owned by Maxwell's sister, Mrs. William M. Robeson (mother of Hon. George M. Robeson, Secretary of the Navy under President Ulysses S Grant). In 1901, the home was purchased by Dr. G. Wyckoff Cummins, a newspaper editor and Congressman. The location is now known as the Cummins Building, housing the Warren County Elections office. Dr. Cummins' most significant contribution in the field of science was his universally adopted method of annealing copper, iron and copper wire. He was published in "Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Science." As a historian, he wrote, published and edited numerous historical works, most locally significant "The History of Warren County New Jersey."Professionally, in addition to practicing medicine in Belvidere for more than 50 years, Dr. Cummins was President of the Board of Health for Warren County, a member of the Belvidere Board of Education and a medical examiner for several life insurance companies. During World War One he served as a surgeon for the draft board and was the local food administrator for Warren County. He was also a surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad. During "The Great War" he was made chairman for the newly formed Belvidere Chapter of the American Red Cross.This imposing stone house has Federal period details including the gambrel roof with gable dormers, a lunette window and sidelights at the front door, and half-lunettes in the attic space. The portico is typical for the era.
224 Mansfield--United Presbyterian Church
Originally built in 1834 on property donated by Garrett D. Wall, this church was a daughter church of old Oxford Presbyterian (founded before 1744). The Presbyterian Church at Belvidere began with a meeting at the Courthouse in Belvidere. The first building was completed on the present site in late 1834. The congregation divided during the Civil War, and Second Presbyterian Church (now apartments on Market Street, see Tour Site #17) was established in 1849-1850. The church on Mansfield Street was then designated “First Presbyterian.” A fire destroyed the building in 1859 and in 1860, the present structure was largely completed. In May 24, 1964, First and Second Presbyterian Churches combined as United Presbyterian Church.The stained glass windows in the sanctuary are, in part, actually paintings, and were placed in the sanctuary in 1910. The Gleaners, in the northwest wall, tells the Biblical story of Ruth. The Christmas window, “Behold I Bring You Glad Tidings,” follows on the north side, followed by the resurrection window, and the last of the art is a depiction of Revelation 3: 20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”The windows in the south wall include “Christ Teaching in the Temple,” The Ascension Window, Jesus as the Great Shepherd, and the glorious Gethsemane window, which is backlit on Good Friday evening services held in the sanctuary.The beautiful hand painted church sign on the church lawn was designed and made Peach Cole, the editor of The Busy Peach.The United Presbyterian Church is part of the Belvidere Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 3, 1980 for its significance in architecture, commerce, community planning, industry, politics and government during the 19th century. The district is bounded by Market and Race streets; Greenwich and Mansfield Avenues; and the Pequest River. It includes 228 contributing buildings. United Presbyterian Church is #183 of the contributing buildings.
228 Mansfield
Also known as the Hilton House, this 1860 Italianate is somewhat imposing, displaying many features of the style, including decorative, bold cornice brackets, molded paneled front doors, ornate molded window hoods, a full-width one story front porch with square beveled posts and decorative brackets, and a five bay symmetrical massing. Of particular note is the unique wood trim detail connecting the porch capitals.
402 3rd Street
This mid-nineteenth century three ranked, side entrance home is a beautiful example of local building traditions. The Italianate cornice brackets and moderately adorned squared, beveled porch posts add charm and grace to this facade. The inside is immaculately decorated with Bradbury and Bradbury wall coverings and Victorian antiques. The bricks forming the walls are smooth on the exterior and rough on the interior, a practiced cost-saving measure back in the day. A stroll down Mansfield yields glimpses of the exquisite gardens behind.
302 Mansfield
Local legend tells of a former Mayor's wife who wanted the status of living "on the park"--but their house fronted Mansfield. So, she simply had her husband jack up the house, turn it 45 degrees and put it back down!This beautiful albeit daunting example of the turn of the century Colonial Revival displays typical features of the style, such as the notable ornamental Corinthian capitals, graceful porte-cochere (the only one of its kind in Belvidere), recessed integral second story porch with round arched opening, classically inspired pilaster corner boards, and symmetrical massing. This house was modified at the turn of the century and contains an older structure with a curious eyebrow window.
300 Greenwich
One of the most beautiful and largest examples of Victorian architecture in town, this home was built circa 1880 by Judge Morrow. It features a low-hipped roof, a square projecting pavilion suggesting a tower (or cupola), and an octagonal bay wing. The exterior facade retains its original clapboard trim and cornice, paired rounded window hoods, and original porch detailing.
300 Third St.--3rd Street School
Originally built as Belvidere Classical Academy, this building stands on property donated by Garrett D. and Ann Wall for school purposes in 1841 or 1842. The first principal was the Rev. R. B. Foresman who became the pastor of the "Yellow Frame" Church in Frelinghuysen.Because of the terms under which the land was made available for educational purposes, when Belvidere Classical Academy folded, a lawsuit was brought against Mr. Morrow (who lived in the large white estate across the street, Tour Site #46) "who seems to have been in possession and control of the building [when] he occasionally, and for short spaces, used it in part for the storage of crops, housing..., and latterly permitted the upper floor to be used for the giving of dancing lessons. On the lawn he erected a tennis court for use of the young folks of the town, and also sometimes kept his fancy chickens in the yard."More recently, the building was used for elementary students in kindergarten through third grades.This modest design projects room functions with the classrooms having five-ganged windows and the entry doors have windows above them to illuminate the stairwells. The rusticated foundation adds some weight to the school's appearance.
327 Greenwich-- St. Patrick & St. Rosa Lima Catholic Church
c. 1890. The first mass in Warren County was in 1851, meeting in homes and then a frame church on Hardwick St. The original church building was burned on Easter Sunday in 1900, but was rebuilt at its current location in 1902.
420 Greenwich
A circa 1905 vernacular building type, this home is a three ranked, side entrance, gable to the street residence typical to the period and common in this town.
426 Greenwich
This two ranked side entrance gable to the street home features a rocking chair porch and once was more similar in configuration to the sister house at 420 Greenwich (Tour Site #47).
519 Mansfield
A Craftsman bungalow was one of the most successful vernacular homes. This one built in 1912 retains all the original craftsman architecture on the exterior, characterized by a low-pitched gable or hip roof, wide eave overhangs, exposed roof rafters, visible foundations and chimneys of cobble or rough stone, piers for porch posts, and a prominent porch. The 1920s produced many pattern books offering plans for affordable bungalows, with pre-cut packages of lumber. This one housed 'Bill's Barbershop' in the sunroom.
319 Mansfield
The visible, front section of the house was built by a local doctor in 1861 in the center of a one acre lot. He used the front parlor for meeting with patients. The original house had a stable in the rear, an outhouse, and probably at least one exterior building for servants. The rear wing of the house was added in 1888 and included both a kitchen and quarters for a servant. The house retains all of its original leaded glass windows. The woodwork around the front door and the front windows is all original, and has recently been repainted. The windows had shutters, and future plans include restoring these to the house. The front door originally had a smaller stoop around it. By 1938, the house was falling into disrepair. The building was purchased, the property was subdivided into multiple lots, and the house was remodeled into an upstairs/downstairs duplex. The owners lived in one apartment and rented out the other for 65 years. The large wrap-around porch was added at this time. The original slate roof was replaced by a shingle roof. This unique home was purchased by its current owner in 2003, at which time it was rezoned as a single occupancy home. The front brick sidewalk was installed in 2005. The front porch has been recently rebuilt, retaining the framing and footprint of the porch from 1938. Visitors frequently argue about the architectural style of the house. Like many historic Victorian homes, the multiple phases of construction over the years led to a mixture of architectural elements. The projecting eaves and large corbels at the top, along with the triangular pediment at the front of the porch, are Italianate. The large, Roman columns on the front porch are Neoclassical. The brick construction with white trim and columns around the front door suggests the Federal style. The multiple floors with the high standing attic, as well as the multiple colors of the current paint scheme, are Victorian. These colors were selected from the Sherwin Williams historic color palette from the 1880s. The house continues to be under renovation, and every effort is being made to preserve its beauty and unique history.
318 Mansfield
This Folk Victorian, c. 1870-1910, is similar in style to 518 Second St.(Tour Site #8), except this one has floor length windows, clapboard siding instead of brick, and a wooden medallion above a pair of gable windows. It has a wrap around porch, two-story side bays, and gingerbread detailing. It retains its original molded double door and front facade floor to ceiling windows.In the same family for three generations, the family originally moved here to be close to the elementary school which was located on the corner of Fourth and Mansfield while the general store was across from the school. Talk about walkable!The house has the original pine floors upstairs and in the kitchen. The living room retains the original fire place and window cornices. There are two staircases, one off the main entrance and a back one off the kitchen, typical of the era. The original outhouse has been converted to a gardening shed in the back, while the two car garage was used to house the original horse powerered transportation: horses!
316 Mansfield
Built in 1890, this house invites you in with its front porch and original exterior with a projecting front bay. To the passerby, the bay delineated the placement of the most important room in the house--encouraging the visitor to take note of the parlor within the floor plan. Also of note are the porch's spindlework and the alternating bands of fish scale and octagonal wood shingles in the gable and on the front parlor.
314 Mansfield
A truly interesting gem for Belvidere, this new Victorian was built by local residents in 1993 from nineteenth century precedents. The intent was to blend in with the surroundings (contextualize)--and they've done a fabulous job of it! Although new to a street lined with vintage Victorians, this home reflects the true character and classiness of the period and adds to the charm and beauty of the town.
313 Mansfield, Warren County Historical Society
You are looking at what was once a one-room schoolhouse, where history and other subjects were taught. Now it is a piece of the history of this town, housing the Warren County Historical and Genealogical Society. It was originally just a small frame structure of 14x20 ft., crudely built. Primitively built desks stood with their backs to the wall and for seats, log slabs with round sticks as legs were driven into bored holes. It ceased to be a school house in 1822, when a stone school house was built on the north side of the Pequest. The school house portion stands at the back and the brick house was added to the original structure.Noteworthy Federal Era details include the lack of ornamentation, and the expected lunette above the front door is actually achieved through the rounded pair of doors.
334 Hardwick
This is a rare local specimen of Modern Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. It uses steel beam construction, boasts Spanish roof tiles, wrought iron work, arcaded porch with solid oak paneled doorway and metal peephole, tiled patios and interior floors, and many other original features unique to this style. Round arched doorways and built-ins are decorated with tile surrounds containing patterns from ancient motifs. Art deco detailing in the kitchen and bathrooms complete the look of this 1927 house. The builder was a Portland, PA banker, who, after a visit to California, fell in love with the architecture he saw there. He imported everything from the West Coast but never lived in the home, as he went bankrupt in the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and committed suicide.
514 3rd Street
Built in 1897 by George Angle, this home is one of the most imposing and classy homes on a street chock full of Victorians. Like many of the historic homes in Belvidere, this one retains its origianl Queen Anne facade. The Northwind carving on the northeast gable cannot help but catch the eye. The tower rising above the porch, second story integral window, and oriel (projecting) window on the east facade are all typical features of the style, but outfitted in all white, the features are enhanced and drawn together into a cohesive whole. Another unique Queen Anne detail is the third story tower windows with a large lower pane and smaller diagonal panes above. The curved porch is an invitation to truly relax and enjoy the surroundings.
520 Third St.
This Italiante-style Victorian was built in 1874 for Judge Jeheil Shipman and was designed by the prominent architect Samuel Sloane, who designed the NJ State House in Trenton, as well as Greystone Mental Hospital. Mr. Sloane was based in Philadelphia, PA, and was responsible for many of the higher-end homes throughout PA and as far south as NC and SC. His designs set the standard for mid-late Victorian era architecture.A map from 1880 shows that this house was one of the only houses on the block. The square, solidly-built structure is one of the largest houses on the street with unobstructed classic lines.A likely original feature is the large granite mounting block by the curb edge allowed ladies easier access to and from their carriages. True to Itanliante style, the house boasts wide front steps with no railings. The massive double front doors of solid walnut have the original hardware and glass and open into a small vestibule and a second pair of doors and a wide hallway entry.Jehiel Shipman was considered one of the best lawyers of his day, being counsel for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, the Belvidere National Bank, the Morris Canal, and other corporations. His first case as a newly admitted member of the bar was a murder case in which his ability and thoroughness cemented his success as a criminal lawyer, including the locally renowned case of the Rev. J. S. Harden.Shipman married a daughter of another prominent lawyer, W. C. Morris, Esq.. Their son, George M. Shipman, was his law partner for many years.Dr. Albertson, son-in-law to Judge Shipman, lived and practiced medicine at this location from the 1890s – 1920s.
525 Third Street
Originally the home of Judge George Shipman, this circa 1870 Italianate home boasts many original features. It contains a central gable with a paired, round arched window, original clapboard, molded window hoods, and a transomed entryway. One of the most noticeable features is the front facade first story windows that are ceiling to floor. This house is a refined version of 228 Mansfield Street that lacks the layers of detailing and more massive elementsA wonderful original carriage house also graces this property. .
530 3rd Street
Built by John and Hattie Snyder, this 1896 Queen Anne Victorian home has been senstively restored, proudly displaying the typical and ornamental features of the style: wrap-around porch, three story corner tower, hipped roof with front dormer, stained glass sashes and various textured surfaces. All these were era-typical methods of breaking up wall and roof surfaces and textures. The lavish interior on the first floor features Bradbury and Bradbury wallpaper, a parlor influenced by Robert Morris (see Tour stop #29). and leather Lincustra, a wallcovering imported from England, surrounds the dining room. (Lincrusta is a deeply embossed wallcovering, invented by Frederick Walton, who also patented linoleum floor covering. Notable installations of the Lincrusta wallpaper includes six staterooms on the Titanic, and the White House.)The carriage house in the back has been remodeled in a European country cottage decor.The original home did not have a corner tower--it was added later with the witch's bonnet style roof. The original wrought iron fence was donated as scrap iron to support the war effort in the 1940s. In 1988, because of the newly formed historic district, the owners had to secure a variance from the town to replace the fence with the current one.
614 3rd Street
Built circa 1890, this late Victorian home is classy in its authentic gray and black paint scheme. The wraparound porch draws the eye to an original beveled glass upper sash prominent in the first floor front facade window.This is an austere Queen Anne lacking any substantial ornamentation. Each of the corners has a diagonal element with bays window at the NE and SW corners and a camferred corner at the NW. also, The front gable has rounded shingles.
620 3rd Street
This modest bungalow is a common early 20th century style home with its straighforward form and hip roof with a hipped dormer. The porch is a curious excess with its composite column capitals (ionic and corinthian) and upturned balustrades.
33 Parker
This post-Victorian home, circa 1910, welcomes you with an "L" shaped porch featuring a glassed-in area. The house contains wooden columns supported by masonry piers, which is a turn of the century (19th to 20th) feature. Earlier Victorians didn't have that. The home retains its original clapboard siding including the front gable with its scalloped shingles. This is a rare house with a genuine corner turret capped with a cross gabled roof!
41 Parker
This beautiful example of the bungalow, thought to be a Sears Roebuck catalogue house, closely resembles the "Elsmore." This cottage remains virtually unchanged and displays many features typical of the style: low piers absent of columns flanking the front steps, a front porch tucked under a massive roof, and prominent wide eaves with exposed rafters. It exudes the simple craftsman-inspired charm!
