New Hampton Walking Tour

THE HISTORIC NEW HAMPTON WALKING TOUR

Enjoy this self-guided walking tour of the historic hamlet of New Hampton on the banks of the Musconetcong River, located within Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Start at the Lebanon Township Museum at 57 Musconetcong River Road. Then follow the route below to learn more about the historically significant buildings and structures that contributed to the district being added to the State and National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

For historic information and photos, click on the down arrow next to each building name.

1. Lebanon Township Museum / New Hampton Schoolhouse,

c. 1825 (57 Musconetcong River Rd)

In 1825, the property was donated by wealthy merchant, land and slave owner Major Henry Dusenbery to the people of Lebanon Township to be used for educational purposes. Public School #8 was erected and opened that same year. The Musconetcong Valley Presbyterian Church congregation was organized in the schoolhouse in 1836 and held tent services in Hampton until their building was complete in 1837.

In the 1870s, the building was expanded and a second floor was added. From 1892-1918, thirty-four Native American students were sent to New Hampton on Outing from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Those who stayed for the calendar year attended school here.

The building was used as a public school until 1929 but continued to be used as a Sunday School into the fifties. It fell into a state of disrepair before being restored in 1979 and reopened as a museum in 1982.

2. John Smith House, c. 1850-80 (55 Musconetcong River Rd)

In 1830, a wheelwright shop was located here, south of where the house stands today.

3. Grist Mill c.1800/Shoddy Mill c.1910 (1 Shoddy Mill Rd)

This three-story grist mill, boasting two water wheels and three pairs of stones, was opened by Henry Dusenbery in 1800. By 1850, it generated the largest production of Lebanon Township’s five grist mills. It was destroyed by a fire in 1906.

A new textile mill, used to convert rags into shoddy, was established on the site. Shoddy is the name given to cloth made from recycled wool; the process involved cutting scraps of woolen rags into fibers, grinding them and mixing them with small amounts of new wool. The result was a cheap cloth known as shoddy or rag-wool. Union Army uniforms in the Civil War were made of shoddy instead of virgin wool and did not withstand soldiers’ usage.

In the 1950s, an antique shop was opened here.

4. Pony Pratt Truss Bridge,

c. 1868 (Shoddy Mill Rd-Rymon Rd)

This Pratt-style Pony Truss Bridge was manufactured in 1868 by William Cowin of Lambertville. It is one of the few early examples of iron Pratt truss bridges remaining in the United States and is one of Cowin’s three remaining composite cast iron and wrought iron Pratt truss bridges in New Jersey. The others are in Glen Gardner (1870) and Clinton (1870).

For its significance in engineering, industry and transportation, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was also documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in 1991. It is currently closed to vehicular traffic.

5. Riddle Spring House, c. 1830 (Rymon Rd, visible from the bridge)

This roofless springhouse is all that remains of the home of William and Lida Riddle. Over the course of fifteen years (from 1893-1908), they hosted nineteen students on Outing from the Carlisle Indian Residential School. Any resident of the Riddle farm would have crossed the Pony Pratt Truss Bridge to visit the shops and businesses of New Hampton and students, including the Carlisle students during the school year, would have attended the New Hampton School now the Lebanon Township Museum.

6. Distillery Foundation Site, c. 1815 (Shoddy Mill Rd, wooded lot)

This lot was originally purchased by Dr. Samuel C. Fell and later sold to his father-in-law Henry Dusenbery. In 1812, a man named Wilson built a large stone two-story 35’ x 35’ distillery here and began manufacturing rye and apple whisky. He employed thirty men and had six teams continually on the roads to and from Philadelphia and other cities. He was succeeded by James Grady who named his best product “Grady’s Celebrated Irish Whisky.”

It was one of the largest distilleries in Lebanon Township.

7. Craftsman Style Dwelling,

c. 1915 (51 Musconetcong River Rd)

This property was described as containing a “dwelling house and blacksmith shop” in 1833, perhaps belonging to John Martin. The current home was built on the stone foundation of an earlier dwelling that was destroyed by fire.

8. Dusenbery/Simonton Store, c.1810 (47 Musconetcong River Rd)

Known as “Dusenbery’s storehouse lot” as Dusenbery was working in the village as a merchant and operating the storehouse located here. Mr. Simonton’s 1846 daybook, at the Lebanon Township Museum, lists transactions from the site.

The building was described as a “18' x42" stone store house" when being sold at auction in 1851. It was then converted to a private dwelling.

In 1965, former Ziegfeld Follies showgirl Martha Lorber retired here and dedicated herself to transforming her backyard into a lush oasis inspired by Monet’s gardens.

9. McLenahan General Store & Post Office, c. 1859-66

(45 Musconetcong River Rd)

This brick 2-story structure was constructed by Dr. Robert McLenahan. The building served as a general store and the New Hampton Post Office. It was later known as the Riddle General Store and was in operation as a post office and general store until 1948.

In 1853, Dr. McLenahan acquired the Dusenbery house and the Union Hotel, making him New Hampton’s principal land proprietor.

10. J.W. Dusenbery Stone House, c. 1820

(43 Musconetcong River Rd)

This stone house was said to be the home of Henry Dusenbery’s son Joseph Warren Dusenbery. Joseph died at the age of 27 in 1831, the same year his son was born. His widow Margaret and their children continued to reside there.

More recently residents include interior designers Eleanor and Richard Nolte, friends of Mary Washington Streep, mother of Meryl Streep.

11. H. Dusenbery Stone House, c.1839 (41 Musconetcong River Rd)

The lot on which this house stands was sold by the executors of Henry Dusenbery’s will to William H. Parke. At that time, it was described as “formerly the tanyard lot,” indicating the presence of the nearby tannery that was operated by Jacob Swayze.

12. Bowlby-Lacey 1.5 Story Frame House, c. 1790-1820

(29 Musconetcong River Rd)

According to undocumented oral tradition this building served as a physician’s office.

13. Union Hotel, c. 1850/New Hampton General Store

(27 Musconetcong River Rd)

Previously the site of a stone tavern, possibly Matlock’s and the predecessor of the American House hotel. In the late 1800s, the hotel would become the New Hampton General Store, an early mail order business, operating into the mid-twentieth century.

Currently a private residence.

14. Stucco Stone House, c. 1825 (17 Musconetcong River Rd)

One of the oldest stone houses in New Hampton.

15. D. Connolly, “Trinity” Bank House, c. 1780’s

(15 Musconetcong River Rd)

This house is known as a “trinity” house for its three stories; it includes a bank cellar entrance in the rear. Previously the home of Dorothea Connolly, first Curator of the Lebanon Township Museum at New Hampton.

16. Dr. Knox, Frame & Stone House, c. 1810-40

(16 Musconetcong River Rd)

Reportedly the first residence of Dr. Robert Mc Lenahan who practiced medicine in New Hampton from 1836 to 1864. He later constructed the General Store and Post Office (building #9 on this tour) before acquiring the Dusenbery house and the Union Hotel.

In 1922, Dr. Howard Andrew Knox worked from this house and resided here with his family. Before moving to New Hampton, Dr. Knox worked for the Army at Ellis Island and was a pioneer in intelligence testing. Dr. Knox and his neighbor, the artist Isaac Sharps, painted scenes on every door in the building. The only one known still to exist is on display at the Lebanon Township Museum.

17. JS Prall Stucco Stone House, c. 1830 (28 Musconetcong River Rd)

Around 1830, John Prall’s furniture factory, a large frame structure, stood behind the house. It was said that there wasn’t “a homestead in all this vicinity which has not in it some of Prall’s furniture.” The factory was demolished around 1906 due to a few fires in the factory. It is reported that the first schoolhouse, constructed of logs, stood on this site.

18. David Parke 2 Story Frame House, c. 1813-30

(34 Musconetcong River Rd)

In 1813, Samuel Bowlby sold this 2.25 acre lot to David Parke for $200. David Parke served as New Hampton’s Postmaster in 1841. He was the brother of the 1843 Changewater Murder victim John B. Parke and offered a $1000 reward for the apprehension of the murderers.

Later the Sharps family (Godfrey, Charlotta and children Mary and Isaac), descendants of Christian Sharps of Sharps rifle fame, lived in this home.

Mary was the New Hampton school teacher circa 1905-1928 and a soprano who sang for the children at many local concerts. Ike was a musician who played for “all the affairs” and offered fiddle lessons. He was also a handyman at the school, a reporter for the Washington Star and a painter who offered lessons from his home. He studied under Hudson River Valley painter Jerome Thompson who summered/retired in Glen Gardner (then a part of Lebanon Township). Both men had artwork on display at the American Centennial Celebration, a World’s Fair-type fete in Philadelphia.

Now home to former Lebanon Township Historian, Charles Speierl.

19. Abandoned Frame House, Joseph Bowlby, c. 1810

(36 Musconetcong River Rd)

One of the oldest frame houses in the district, sold to Joseph Bowlby by Sam Bowlby in 1810. There is a frame barn behind the house, currently dilapidated. The house is currently abandoned.

20. Dusenbery Mansion House, c.1790-1802

(40 Musconetcong River Rd)

This stone, two-story, five-bay residence had the highest assessment of any such property in Lebanon Township in 1800. Henry and Lydia Swayze Dusenbery, who had ten children, lived here. Dusenbery settled in New Hampton around 1784. He was active as a Major in the local militia as well as in local politics. His holdings included many business and real estate enterprises.

Dusenbery held humans in bondage. The unpaid labor of these enslaved people allowed the Dusenberys to to maintain an affluent lifestyle.

The following is a list of women and children known to be enslaved by the Dusenberys:

Hannah and her son Charles were purchased by Henry Dusenbery in 1792 for for £200 (equivalent to over $30,000 today) from Moore Furman (wealthy land and business owner and well-known deputy quarter-master general of New Jersey in the Revolution).

Jinna Rhea
Sylvia Simpson, who accompanied Mr. Dusenbery on his many trips to Philadelphia

Children born in bondage:

Isaac born 1/19/1806, mother Sylvia Simpson
Fanny born 11/19/1807, mother Sylvia Simpson
Maria born 2/16/1810, mother Sylvia Simpson
Caty born 12/23/1810, mother Jinna Rhea
Hannibal born 12/8/1811, mother Sylvia Simpson

The father(s) and fates of the children are unknown.

An inventory after Dusenbery’s death in 1825 reflected his prosperity. He donated property to build the New Hampton School, now the Lebanon Township Museum. There is also a hand-dug stone well on this property.

House has been restored and is currently the private residence of Jim Chesterton and Nina Savoia, Lebanon Township Historian.

21. R. Rounsaville 1.5 Story Frame House, c. 1808

(42 Musconetcong River Rd)

Early 19th century home with north half possibly built before 1808. Formerly a post office in New Hampton, the building was conveyed by William Wolever to Richard Rounsaville.

Current home of Joan Lucas, second Curator of Lebanon Township Museum. There is a two-story frame barn on this property.

22. American House Hotel,

c. 1862

(44 Musconetcong River Rd)

Jacob Thomas erected this two-and-a-half story, five-bay hotel near the site of the Jacob P. Thomas tavern. The tavern was first purchased by Jacob Johnston from the executors of Henry Dusenbery in 1828 and was purchased by Jacob Thomas from the Johnston estate in 1853. The kitchen wing may predate the main building.

The American Hotel continued to be a social community center and the site of dances until 1913. It remained open until the start of prohibition in 1928. In the 20th century it became McCreary's Fine Furniture.

23. Carhart 1.5 Story Frame “Eyebrow” House, c. 1800-40

(48 Musconetcong River Rd)

This building is known as the “eyebrow” house due to its small upper windows. Owners are now producing New Hampton Honey.

24. G. Bowlby Italianate Style House, c. 1850-70

(52 Musconetcong River Rd)

George W. Bowlby purchased the mill property across the street and may have been responsible for the construction of his stylish residence, across the street from the mill.

As one drives through New Hampton today, it's hard to believe what an industrious hamlet it once was; home to a furniture factory, mill, distillery, tannery, harness maker, blacksmith, cooper, two hotels and more.

Historic New Hampton: Millstones & Milestones celebrates the village's 25th anniversary of being included on the National Register of Historic Places, highlighting previously unheard history, remarkable residents & amazing artisans of the locale, from both then and now.

GO TO THE VIRTUAL EXHIBIT HERE

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