Cornelius Low House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ivy Hall
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Cornelius Low House in 2008
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 Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1225 River Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08854 |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1741 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000510 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
The Cornelius Low House (also called Ivy Hall) is a grand old mansion in Piscataway, New Jersey. It was built in 1741 in a style called Georgian architecture. This historic house is listed on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is home to the Cornelius Low House/Middlesex County Museum.
Contents
History of the Low House
Who was Cornelius Low, Jr.?
Cornelius Low Jr. was born around 1700. He was one of fifteen children! His grandfather, Peter Cornellessen Low, came to America from Holland in 1659. Cornelius Low, Jr. grew up to be a very successful merchant, which means he bought and sold goods.
In the 1720s, he became a rich businessman in Newark, New Jersey. He married Johanna Gouveneur in 1729. They decided to move to a busy port town called Raritan Landing, near New Brunswick. Because he owned ships, Low became one of the most important people in the community.
Building a New Home
In 1738, a big flood destroyed Low's first home. It was located right by the river in Raritan Landing. So, Low bought land on a hill overlooking the port. He called his new home the "new house on the mountain." This higher spot allowed him to watch over his businesses at the wharves. He could especially keep an eye on his warehouse near the river.
Cornelius Low died in 1777. His house was not damaged during the American Revolutionary War. This was because he remained loyal to the King of England until his death.
The House's Design
The main part of the Cornelius Low House is quite large. It measures 40 feet by 30 feet. When it was built, it was one of the biggest and most expensive homes in the area. The house was made with over 350 tons of sandstone. Most homes in Raritan Landing had stone foundations, but this was the only one built entirely of stone.
Today, the old village of Raritan Landing is mostly gone. Its remains are under parts of Johnson Park and River Road. The Low House is one of only two buildings left from that busy village. It helps us remember the history of Piscataway and Middlesex County.
Special Stone Work
Low wanted the front of his house to show how important he was. A stone ledge, called a sill course, goes around the house about three feet from the ground. This makes the house look like it's sitting on a platform. Low bought large, good-quality stone blocks for the front of the house. This side faced the river and Raritan Landing.
However, Low was also careful with his money. Only the front of the house has these fancy, cut stones. The other three sides were built with less expensive rubble stone. These were irregular pieces that needed less shaping.
The "Kitchen Ghost"
Around 1870, a kitchen wing that was attached to the house was removed. You can still see a "shadow" or "ghost" of this removed part on the outside wall. The mortar (the cement between the stones) is a different color where the kitchen used to be. You can even see the outline of the doorway that led into the kitchen. This room was likely used for dining or entertaining guests.
Delft Tiles
The fireplaces inside the Low House have original 18th-century Delft tiles. These tiles get their name from the city of Delft in Holland. That's where they were first made in the 1500s. Before this, tiles were mostly used for floors and made from red clay. By the late 1500s, Delft tiles were used on walls in many homes. They were especially good for keeping out dampness in Dutch houses built near water. They were used where walls met floors and behind fireplaces.
Restoring the House
Keeping History Alive
Five different families owned the Low House over the years. They all took good care of it. These families were usually wealthy enough to afford the upkeep of such a large property. The Low House is now one of the best examples of Georgian-style architecture in America. It's also one of only two buildings left from Raritan Landing.
In 1979, Middlesex County, New Jersey bought the house and its land. The county wanted to use the Low House as a local history museum. It helps people learn about New Jersey's past and how it fits into national events.
Fixing the Outside
When the county bought the house, it was in pretty good shape. Still, some changes were made. A garage and swimming pool were removed from the backyard. A new parking area was built. The ivy, which gave the house its "Ivy Hall" nickname, was also removed.
The entire roof was replaced between 1982 and 1983. New cedar shingles were put on, replacing old slate tiles. In 1987 and 1988, new windows were installed on the side of the house facing the water. These replaced old, worn-out ones.
In the 1990s, a big restoration project began. In 1995, the county received a grant to help fix the Low House. The restoration happened between 1995 and 1996. New landscaping was added, and a special "interpretive path" was built. This path has signs that tell the story of the house. The front stone wall was also repointed, meaning the mortar between the stones was repaired.
Some of the windows on the first and second floors look a little crooked. This is because the house has settled over time. Originally, two basement windows near the front were actually doorways. These allowed servants to access the basement for storage. Later, these doorways were changed into windows. When the house settled, these windows became crooked. When they were replaced in the mid-1980s, the new windows were made to fit the crooked openings.
Fixing the Inside
From 1995 to 1996, the inside of the house was also restored. Workers stripped 26 layers of paint from the wood! Then, they repainted it in colors that were popular when the house was first built. Hidden work included new heating and cooling systems. New electrical wiring and a modern fire sprinkler system were also installed. New plumbing and water systems were added too. Special exhibit displays were built to protect the original plaster walls. This allows the museum to put up different exhibits without harming the old walls.
Discoveries from the Ground
Archaeology at the House
Before the restoration, archaeologists studied the grounds around the house. Archaeologists are like history detectives who dig up clues from the past. They found many interesting objects. These included pieces of clay pipes, more Delft tiles, glass pieces, and even a British military button! These artifacts (old objects) helped them learn more about what happened at the house over the years. They also confirmed ideas people had about its history.
Timeline
- 1738 Cornelius Low buys 2 acres of land on a hill overlooking Landing Lane.
- 1741 Low moves into his "new house on the mountain." He lives there until he dies in 1777.
- 1793 John Pool buys the property from Cornelius Low's son, Nicholas Low.
- 1871 George W. Metlar buys the house from John Adams Pool's widow for $14,000.
- 1916 Anna Voorhees gets the house from the Metlar family.
- 1937 The house was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey.
- 1965 Stephen Van Rensselaer Strong buys the property from Theodore Voorhees for $1.
- 1979 Middlesex County, New Jersey buys the house from Stephen's widow, Marianne Strong, for $160,000.
