Van Campen's Inn facts for kids
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Isaac Van Campen Inn
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Van Campen Inn in 2009
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 Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old Mine Road Walpack Township |
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| Part of | Old Mine Road Historic District (ID80000410) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | December 3, 1980 |
The Van Campen's Inn, also called the Isaac Van Campen Inn, is an old stone house. It was used as a "yaugh house" during the American colonial period. A yaugh house was like a guesthouse in a faraway area. It offered food and a place to sleep for travelers.
This historic building is in Walpack Township, New Jersey. It sits in Sussex County, right along the Delaware River. The inn is part of the Old Mine Road, which is a historic route. It is also located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Today, the National Park Service and the Walpack Historical Society work together to manage it.
Contents
History of the Van Campen Inn
Early Beginnings: The Rosenkrans Family
The Rosenkrans family, who were Dutch, moved to the Minisink area around 1730. They bought a large piece of land near the Delaware River in 1742. People believe Harmon Rosenkrans built the first part of the house soon after, probably in 1746. This first section was called the "kitchen wing." It was on the north side of the house.
Isaac Van Campen Takes Over
In 1754, Harmon Rosenkrans sold the property. He sold it to his brother-in-law, Isaac Van Campen. Isaac had married Harmon's sister, Magdalena Rosenkrans. Isaac then built the larger main part of the house. This is the part of the building that still stands today. The older "kitchen wing" was taken down in 1917.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is a very important historic site. It is part of the Old Mine Road Historic District. The National Park Service started a big project to fix up the Van Campen Inn in 1981.
This restoration work was a huge job. Workers carefully took apart two-thirds of the front and side walls. They built new foundations and made the back walls strong. They also replaced the wooden beams inside the house. Local stonemason Clarence Sharp finished the work in 1984.
A Safe Place During Wars
Even though it's called an "inn," it was really a "yaugh house." It was a licensed place in the countryside that offered food and shelter. During the French & Indian War (1754–1763), the Van Campen's Inn was a safe place. Settlers would go there to protect themselves from attacks.
In November 1763, about 150 settlers found shelter there. They felt safe within the house's strong walls. During the American Revolution, an important leader named John Adams is said to have stayed there. He was traveling from Massachusetts to Philadelphia for the Continental Congress.
In December 1776, during a snowstorm, soldiers marched past the inn. Several groups led by General Horatio Gates camped nearby. They were on their way to join General Washington at the Battle of Trenton. Later, in 1778, a Polish count named Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski and his 250 cavalry soldiers stayed there for the winter. Isaac Van Campen himself served in the state government from 1782 to 1785.
The Old Barn and Fort Johns
There used to be a Dutch colonial-style barn across the road from the inn. It was built around 1811. This barn had large, steep roofs and big double doors that swung inward. It also had smaller doors for animals like horses and cows. Sadly, this barn was destroyed by fire in 1971.
The remains of Fort Johns are on a nearby hillside. This fort was built during the French & Indian War. It was the main base for the New Jersey Frontier Guard. Fort Johns was the largest of about twelve forts. These forts were built to protect settlers along the Delaware River during the war (1754–1763).
Fort Johns was at the end of Jonathan Hampton's Military Road. This road was built in 1755–1756. It connected the colony's capital, Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth, New Jersey), to Morristown. The road helped supply the forts in the Minisink area. Today, a part of the Military Road has been restored. It is now called the "Military Trail." It ends near the Old Mine Road, about half a mile north of Van Campen's Inn.
See also
- Tocks Island Dam Controversy
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
