Campbell-Christie House facts for kids
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Campbell-Christie House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Campbell-Christie House in 2021
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 Location in Bergen County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1201 Main Street River Edge, New Jersey |
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| Built | c. 1774 |
| Part of | Steuben Estate Complex (ID80004403) |
| MPS | Early Stone Houses of Bergen County |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001481 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 10, 1983 |
| Designated CP | December 9, 1980 |
The Campbell-Christie House is a really old house in River Edge, New Jersey. It was built around 1774 and has a lot of history! This special house was moved to New Bridge Landing to save it. It's now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Who Lived in the Campbell-Christie House?
The Campbell Family and Early Days
The house was built by Jacob Campbell, a stonemason, in 1774. He built it as a store near a main road in New Milford, New Jersey. His father, William Campbell, owned a tavern nearby.
Jacob Campbell was a soldier in the American Revolution. His property was damaged during the war. After the war, he continued to be a merchant.
The Christie Family and Their Tavern
In 1795, a blacksmith named John D. Christie bought the house. He turned it into a tavern, a place where people could eat, drink, and stay. When he passed away in 1836, his son, John J. Christie, who was a farmer, inherited the house.
Later, the house went to Jacob Brinkerhoff Christie. He managed a company that sold coal and lumber.
J. Walter Christie: An Amazing Inventor
A very famous inventor, J. Walter Christie, was born in this house on May 6, 1865. He was a mechanical genius!
When he was only 16, he worked on early submarines. He also helped design parts for battleships. J. Walter Christie loved cars too. He built and raced them, even setting speed records!
After a car crash in 1907, he focused on new inventions. He created the idea of front-wheel drive for cars, which was used in fire trucks. But he is most famous for being called the "father of the modern tank." He passed away in 1944.
Saving the Campbell-Christie House
Why Was the House Moved?
In 1908, the house was changed a lot by a company. Later, in 1977, the house was going to be torn down!
The Bergen County Historical Society, a group of volunteers, wanted to save it. They worked with Bergen County to move the house.
Moving a Historic House
A local leader, D. Bennett Mazur, helped a lot to save the house. With a special grant of $150,000, the 200-year-old house was moved.
In September 1977, it traveled two miles from New Milford to New Bridge Landing in River Edge. This area is now a historic site.
The House Today
The Bergen County Historical Society now takes care of the Campbell-Christie House. They have decorated it to look like an 18th-century tavern. This helps visitors imagine what life was like back then.
In 1992, they even built a working replica of an "Out Kitchen" behind the house. This was a separate building used for cooking.
The Historical Society often opens the Campbell-Christie House for special events. They work with the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission to share this history with everyone. The society relies on donations to keep these buildings open and cared for.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bergen County, New Jersey
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
