Dey Mansion Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Dey Mansion
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


Location in Passaic County, New Jersey Show map of Passaic County, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	199 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470
Area	2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Architectural style	Georgian Style with Dutch and English Influences
NRHP reference No.	70000392
Added to NRHP	December 18, 1970

The Dey Mansion (pronounced dye) is a historic house in Wayne, Passaic County, New Jersey. It was once known as Bloomsburg Manor. This mansion played a very important part in the American Revolutionary War.

Colonel Theunis Dey built the mansion in the 1770s. It served as George Washington's Headquarters many times during the war. Today, you can visit the Dey Mansion. It is open for guided tours from Wednesday to Sunday.

The Dey Family Story
Washington's Headquarters in Preakness Valley
Mansion Design and Property
Dey Mansion Over the Years
Images for kids
See also

The Dey Family Story

The Dey family first came to the American colonies in 1641. Dirck Janszen Siecken Dey, a soldier from Denmark, was the first to arrive. His grandson, Dirck Dey, bought 600 acres of land in what is now Wayne Township.

By 1764, the mansion belonged to Theunis Dey. He and his wife, Hester Schuyler, raised ten children there. Theunis was an important person in politics. He served on the state council for Bergen County. He was also a founding trustee at Queens College, which is now Rutgers University.

During the American Revolution, Theunis was a colonel in the Bergen County Militia. This is how he met George Washington. In 1780, Theunis offered his mansion to be Washington's headquarters.

Washington's Headquarters in Preakness Valley

The Dey Mansion, where Washington stayed.

George Washington used the Dey Mansion as one of his main headquarters during the American Revolution. This area was chosen because of its good location. It also had plenty of food and supplies for the army.

Washington stayed at the Dey Mansion twice. The first time was from July 1 to July 28, 1780. The second time was from October 8 to November 27, 1780.

While at the mansion, Washington and his team used four rooms on the south-eastern side. These rooms were for their bedrooms and for planning war strategies. Important people like Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, and General Anthony Wayne visited Washington here. Even Benedict Arnold visited before his treason.

Washington wrote many letters from the Dey Mansion. On July 14, 1780, he learned that French allies had arrived in Newport. Washington left on July 28 to meet them. He also gave Benedict Arnold his commission to West Point from here. Arnold was a respected soldier at that time.

Alexander Hamilton was one of Washington's aides. He wrote many letters from the Dey Mansion. On July 21, Hamilton received an urgent message. It warned that the British were sending ships from New York to Rhode Island. Hamilton quickly sent a warning to Lafayette. When Washington returned, Hamilton also warned Rochambeau. This quick action helped save the French fleet and American soldiers.

Hamilton also wrote many romantic letters to his fiancée, Elizabeth Schuyler. They had met that spring and were engaged. The war delayed their wedding until December.

While Washington was away, Benedict Arnold's betrayal became clear. His helper, Major John Andre, was executed on October 2. Washington feared the British would seek revenge. So, he moved his army back to the Dey Mansion. He arrived on October 8, 1780. He stayed until November 27, 1780, then moved to Morristown, New Jersey. Alexander Hamilton left with Washington. He then traveled to Albany to marry Elizabeth Schuyler on December 14, 1780.

Mansion Design and Property

The Dey Mansion is built in the Georgian style. It has influences from both English and Dutch designs. It was built on a large 600-acre piece of land. The mansion faces south to get the most sunlight.

The two-story mansion has a long, wide hall in the middle of each floor. There are several rooms on each side. An attic runs the entire length of the mansion. The original kitchen was separate from the house and burned down. A new kitchen was built next to the house in the 1930s. It looks like a summer kitchen from a wealthy colonial family.

The mansion was fully restored in 2016. However, most of the original wood frames and floors are still there. The mansion is located within the 377-acre Preakness Valley Park. The property also has a forge, a plantation house, a spring house, and a courtyard.

Dey Mansion Over the Years

Colonel Theunis Dey's grandson, General Richard Dey, sold the mansion and its remaining 335 acres in 1801. Since then, many different families have owned the mansion. In 1930, the County of Passaic purchased it.

One notable family who lived there was the Hogencamp family. They were the first mayors of Wayne Township. They lived in the house for almost fifty years. They are buried in the family cemetery on the property. Theunis Dey's daughter, Ann, is also buried there.

On January 10, 1930, Passaic County Parks Commission bought the land. On October 8, 1934, the mansion opened to visitors. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was invited to the opening. He couldn't attend but sent a letter. In it, he wrote, "You have made a real contribution to the history of the nation."

In 1970, the Dey Mansion was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1987, the Dey Mansion has been open to the public as a museum. The County of Passaic manages it. It is also a meeting place for historical groups.

On February 22, 2016, the newly restored Dey Mansion was officially reopened. The Dey Mansion is open year-round for guided public tours. You can visit Wednesday through Sunday. They also have special events and lectures throughout the year. You can find more information on the County of Passaic website or their Facebook page.