This Old Stone House

[Gibby]

I am labeling and organizing the thousands of pictures that I have and came across a series I took of an old house several Winters ago. Without getting to specific of the location, the stone structure is along a river bank in northern New Jersey. I have no idea how it has survived many of the floods that have swept the area. What I found most interesting in the craftsmanship of the house is the configuration of the stone and randomness of the sizes. Also, the chimney has a magnificent twist. The fireplace is in the corner of the home and the chimney turns onto the adjoining wall. Some of the wood is still around the window openings too. The stonework is different than what can still be seen in the Pines. Have a look and any guesses to the age of the building?

If you were to look out the front door, only a river would be in view.

The magnificent chimney and fireplace.

 

[46er]

I have a pretty good idea where it might be and the river that flows past it. I'd put it at pre-Revolutionary war era. I have about 18 abandoned houses/barns catalogued from up that part of NJ. Tons of history. I'll be up that way in a few weeks.

 

[manumuskin]

The house is still there because the wise man not only built his house upon the rock but built it of rock.The foolish man builds his house upon the sand.That would be me,very little rock in the Barrens so I'll build a wigwam on the sand,hurt less that way when it collapses and I have to rebuild

 

[bobpbx]

That really is a nice piece of work.

 

[Ben Ruset]

See that to me looks very mid to late 19th century. Colonial buildings just weren't often built like that.

 

[Gibby]

I wonder if it could be a ferry station. The building is very close to a river, in fact only a few yards away. The area had countless ferry operations on both sides of the waterway.

 

[46er]

I wonder if it could be a ferry station. The building is very close to a river, in fact only a few yards away. The area had countless ferry operations on both sides of the waterway.

There was a bridge just to the north of it, perhaps a bridgekeepers residence?

 

[manumuskin]

I see no mortar whatsoever.Very nice stonework there. excepting of course the top of the fireplace opening where due to gravity mortar was a necessity.

 

[Gibby]

There was a bridge just to the north of it, perhaps a bridgekeepers residence?

46er, the bridge north of the house was a railroad bridge. The abutments are still visible. It was speculation on my part as to what the structure may be. If you take a look at Reading Howell's 1785 map and William Watson's 1812 map of New Jersey you will see several names very close to where the house is located. They both start with "S".

 

[Pine Baron]

The first photo is interesting. It seems to imply the building was made piecemeal, as if availability of the stone was a concern. Many of the smaller stones are near the bottom of the structure, while the larger ones are at the top.

If all the stone was at hand during initial construction, the larger (heavier) stone would have been placed closer to the bottom, as opposed to hauling them up a scaffold. Also, under the right window shows two distinct joints, the stones are not "tied-in" to the other columns, making it appear as if they were placed there at separate times.

John-

 

[Gibby]

These two photos show an architectural detail along the front edge of the roofline that might help with guessing the age of the building. The front is several feet higher than where the fascia would be on a modern house.

 

[46er]

Gibby,

I don't think that is a rail bridge, no approaches to it from the main line in NJ. The stone house may be a rail station as there was a stop in that area. Perhaps the bridge provided access to the rail stop. I have an email in to someone that may have more info regarding the house.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Is this up by the Old Mine Road?

 

[glowordz]

Beautiful pics of a great old house! I admire it whenever I go by. Love the way you describe it, Gibby.
~Glo

 

[Gibby]

46er you are right about the bridge. It isn't a rail bridge even though I always thought it was. It was built in 1855 and destroyed in 1955 by Hurricane Diane. The bridge replaced an earlier ferry system.