Historic Morristown, NJ

Remember a few weeks ago, when I visited Macculloch Hall? The neighborhood around the museum is filled with beautiful old houses. I took a moment to walk up and down the street and take a few photos.

Pictured above is the historic Admiral Rodgers house. It was built in 1852 for Christopher Raymond Perry Rodgers and his wife Jane Slidell. Rodgers was the nephew of three naval commodores and served in the Mexican Wars, as Superintendent of the US Naval Academy and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron. The wisteria which clambers over the front porch is said to have been a gift from Commodore Matthew C. Perry after his famous 1854 expedition to Japan. Rodgers died in 1892. The house is a private residence today.

There are many beautiful private residences on the street, including this lovely yellow Victorian pictured above.

The Thomas Nast House, also known as Villa Fontana, is pictured above. Nast was a famous political cartoonist in the nineteenth century. He created popular and enduring images of the Republican Elephant, the Democratic Donkey, Uncle Sam, and Santa Claus. He also drew cartoons exposing corruption in the New York City government under Boss Tweed. Contemporary visitors to Thomas Nast's home included Ulysees S. Grant and Mark Twain. The house is listed on the National Register of historic places, and is privately owned.

As you can see, this is a neighborhood filled with gracious residences, some of which have been converted to office space (below).

It was a beautiful day for a stroll, and the street is quiet enough that I did not feel too strange walking along with my camera.

Pictured above is The Kedge, built between 1870 and 1880 by Henry Miller, a grandson of George Macculloch of Macculloch Hall (see below). Miller served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy, and named his home "The Kedge," which means a small anchor. It was originally built as a summer cottage and later enlarged to serve as a permanent residence. Today The Kedge remains in the Macculloch family.

Macculloch Hall. pictured above, was built in 1819 by George Perrot Macculloch, who was known as the "Father of the Morris Canal." The canal connected Pennsylvania's coal mines to Morris County's iron foundries. The canal was in operation for approximately ninety years, and was a major factor in the development of the city of Morristown, NJ.

The Federal-style mansion is currently a museum of 18th and 19th century furnishings and decorative arts.

For a virtual tour of more historic buildings in Morristown, visit the website

Morristown's History.

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