Parker Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Parker Homestead
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 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rumson Road, Little Silver, New Jersey |
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| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Built | 1720 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000966 |
The Parker Homestead is a very old house and farm in Little Silver, New Jersey. It is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, at 235 Rumson Road.
The main house was first built around 1720. It even includes parts from an even older building from about 1667! Over the years, more parts were added in the 1800s and early 1900s. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in New Jersey. The entire farm, including three barns, was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
Who First Settled Here?
The area known as Little Silver was first settled by two brothers, Joseph and Peter Parker. They were among the first English speakers to settle in Shrewsbury Township in 1667.
The brothers owned land between Parker's Creek and Little Silver Creek. They named their new home "Little Silver" after their father's estate in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The Parker family lived on this farm for a very long time. The last family member, Julia Parker, passed away in 1995.
Saving the Parker Homestead
After Julia Parker died, the town of Little Silver received the homestead. She wanted it to be saved and kept as a historic site. Now, experts are studying how to restore the property.
The Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund gave a grant of $44,625 for the site. This money is being used to plan how to fix and use the historic property. The buildings are in a fragile state, so making them stable is a top priority.
In 2013, a Boy Scout project helped clear out unwanted plants around the pond near the house. This was an important step in caring for the property.
