Wallace House (Somerville, New Jersey) facts for kids
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Wallace House
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Wallace House, 2018
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 Wallace House
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Wallace House
Location in New Jersey
Wallace House
Location in the United States
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| Location | 38 Washington Place Parking: 71 Somerset Street Somerville, New Jersey |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1776 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000395 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1970 |
The Wallace House is a special old house in Somerville, New Jersey. It is famous because General George Washington used it as his main office. This happened during the American Revolutionary War, in the winter of 1778-1779. The house is built in a style called Georgian architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This means it is an important historical site in the United States.
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History of the Wallace House
Building Hope Farm
A man named John Wallace was a merchant from Philadelphia. He bought land in New Jersey and built a large house there in 1776. This house had eight rooms and was built in the Georgian style. John Wallace named his new home "Hope Farm." He planned to live there when he retired.
Washington's Headquarters
During the winter of 1778-1779, the Continental Army camped nearby. This camp was at Middlebrook, about three miles from Hope Farm. General George Washington chose the Wallace House to be his headquarters. A headquarters is like a main office for a military leader.
Washington first stayed there for only 11 days. Then he left to attend a meeting in Philadelphia. He returned in February 1779, bringing his wife, Martha Washington. The Washingtons used half of the house for their living space.
Planning and Parties
General Washington used the house to meet with important people. He also hosted official dinners there. It was a place where he planned military strategies. One important plan made here was for the 1779 campaign. This campaign was against the Iroquois League, known as the Sullivan Expedition.
Many famous people visited the Wallace House. Guests included Benedict Arnold, Nathanael Greene, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Baron Steuben.
After the War
Washington left the house on June 3, 1779. He paid John Wallace $1,000 for using his home. After Washington left, the Wallace family returned to their normal lives in the house.
John Wallace and his family members passed away a few years later. His youngest son, William, inherited Hope Farm. William lived there until he died in 1796. In 1801, the house was sold to Dickinson Miller.
Later, in 1896, a group called the Revolutionary Memorial Society bought the house. They worked to preserve it. In 1947, they gave the Wallace House to the State of New Jersey. Today, it is a museum that people can visit.
Other Historic Places Nearby
- List of museums in New Jersey
- List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War
- Other houses used as headquarters during the second Middlebrook encampment (1778–79):
- Van Veghten House – General Nathanael Greene
- Van Horne House – General William Alexander, Lord Stirling
- Staats House – General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
- Jacobus Vanderveer House – General Henry Knox
