About the
Washington Association
of New Jersey
The Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) was founded to acquire and preserve Washington’s Headquarters at the Jacob Ford Mansion. It was chartered by the New Jersey legislature in 1874 and is the not-for-profit advisory and fundraising body for the Morristown National Historical Park (MNHP). The main structure in the park is the Jacob Ford Mansion, where Washington headquartered in the winter of 1779-1780.
In 1933, the WANJ conveyed the headquarters, Jockey Hollow and Fort Nonsense to the federal government, and Congress established the MNHP as the country’s first national historical park. John Russell Pope (architect of the National Gallery of Art and the Jefferson Memorial) was commissioned to design a museum building, which was erected in 1935. The Washington Association of New Jersey (WANJ) is one of the oldest historic preservation organizations in the nation.
The Objectives Of This Association Are:
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Construction of the mansion started by Jacob Ford, Jr – 1772
May 6, 1772
First Continental Army encampment in Morristown – 1777
May 6, 1777
NJ Militia Colonel Jacob Ford, Jr dies – 1777
May 6, 1777
General George Washington and his staff headquarter at the Ford Mansion – 1779-80
May 7, 1779
The mansion continues as the home of Theodosia Ford, her son Gabriel and her grandson Henry – 1780-1872
May 7, 1780
The mansion is sold under the terms of Henry Ford’s will and is purchased for $25,000 by: Thomas Randolph, William Lidgerwood, George Halsey, and Nathaniel Halsted – 1873
May 7, 1873
The Washington Association of NJ is incorporated – 1874
May 7, 1874
First of the Washington’s Birthday talks is given – 1887
May 7, 1887
Morristown National Historical Park is created – 1933
May 7, 1933
The museum building, designed by John Russell Pope, opens to the public – 1937
May 7, 1937
The New Jersey Brigade area is added to the park – 1969
May 7, 1969
WANJ History
From December 1779 to June 1780, during the American Revolution, the Jacob Ford, Jr. mansion in Morristown served as the military headquarters of General George Washington and his aides-de-camp. It was the second winter encampment of the Continental Army in Morristown. The first encampment took place during the winter and spring of 1777 at the Arnold Tavern on the Morristown Green.
On June 25, 1873, ex-New Jersey Governor Theodore Randolph, William Van Vleck Lidgerwood, General Nathaniel Norris Halsted, and Hon. George A. Halsey (“the founding four”) purchased the Ford mansion at auction from the heirs of Jacob Ford’s grandson. Their purpose was to preserve the building and its surrounding lands as a monument to the heroism and fortitude of General Washington and the Continental Army.
On March 30, 1874, the Washington Association of New Jersey was incorporated to oversee the preservation, maintenance, and interpretation of the site. The Ford family donated some of the furniture used by Washington at the mansion, and over the years, the Association acquired an extraordinary collection of books, documents, paintings, prints, maps and other artifacts. In addition, Lloyd Waddell Smith, a former president of the Association, acquired the greater part of Jockey Hollow (the soldier encampment) and Clyde Potts, Mayor of Morristown, was instrumental in purchasing Fort Nonsense (the battlement foundation and upper redoubt).
In 1933, when Morristown National Historical Park, the nation’s first national historical park, was created by Congress, the Washington Association gave the mansion, Jockey Hollow, Fort Nonsense and its vast historic collections to the federal government. President Herbert Hoover signed legislation on March 3, 1933 that established the Park, provided for its administration by the National Park Service, and identified the Washington Association as its advisory body (16 USCA s409). It was soon determined that a new museum building should be constructed on the site. John Russell Pope (1874-1937), the nation’s most famous museum architect of the period, was chosen to design the building.
WANJ’s Role in the Development of the Park
The Ford Family Home
Jacob Ford, Jr began work on his Morristown home in 1772. The house design conformed to the Early Georgian style, featuring a symmetrical facade and room arrangement, with a spacious central hall, extending front to rear. Colonel+ Ford did not live to enjoy his fine home as he died in January 1777 having contracted pneumonia while serving with the NJ Militia.
When Washington took up his quarters at the Ford Mansion from December 1, 1779, to June 23, 1780, the military party took over approximately three-fourths of the house, with the remainder housing Theodosia Ford, the Colonel’ s widow, and her four children. In early 1780, Washington had a separate log kitchen annex constructed on the east side to expand the cooking space.
As Henry A. Ford (1793-1872), a Morristown, New Jersey, lawyer approached the end of his life, he faced a dilemma. What was to become of his ancestral home (Fig. 1), the place that had served as George Washington’s military headquarters during, the Continental army’s 1779-1780 encampment at Morristown? Built in 1774 by his grandfather, Jacob Ford, Jr. (1738-1777), owner of a local forge, iron mine, and powder mill, the venerable old Georgian-style house held little interest for Henry’s surviving children.’ As a result, he was compelled to direct that the property be sold at public auction after his death.
The Fords Sell the Mansion at Auction
Historic preservationists might. expect to discover reports of public outrage at a plan to dispose of Washington’s headquarters-with the 100th anniversary of the house approaching and the attendant risk damage to its historic character-but public response was muted. When Henry A. Ford died in 1872, Americas 1876 centennial celebration, which was to inspire the patriotism and nationalism that would support a movement to preserve the nation’s historic sites, was still four years away.
On the other hand, contemporary reporters did find the story newsworthy, one going so far as to declare that selling the house at auction was “a desecration, almost a sacrilege.” Nevertheless, the auction firm in charge, Betts, Bumett and Co., was not concerned with preservation issues and simply proceeded to capitalize on the history of the “magnificent site … known as the headquarters of the late General Washington,” to achieve the highest possible sale price. Auction day, June 25, 1873, arrived. Those in attendance were treated to a display of patriotism provided by festooned flags, a portrait of Washington, and other historic artifacts. After the sale of individual building lots on the property, the house, together it the 253 by 535-Root lot on which it stood, was opened for bids.
The successful purchasers were four men of political and military backgrounds (subsequently referred to as the “Founding Four”), who recognized the importance of the site and were united in their resolve to save the house for posterity. Ex-New Jersey Governor Theodore Randolph, William Van Vleck – Lidgerwood, General Nathaniel Norris Halsted, and Hon. George A. Halsey purchased the estate hoping (in vain) that the state of New Jersey would take it over “at cost.”
Creation of WANJ
After their purchase of Washington’ s Headquarters, the four founders sought unsuccessfully to have the state of New Jersey assume ownership of the historic site. Their alternative approach became the formation of the Association as a stock-holding corporation dedicated to the preservation of the residence. On March 20, 1874, The Washington Association of New Jersey was incorporated and on May 5, a board of trustees and slate of officers, which included the founding four, was elected.
The following July, the association’s newly created charter and by-laws established that the house be ‘ opened to the public free of charge. It also stated that “the object of this Association is to carry into effect the aim and intention of the purchasers of the property known as the ‘Washington headquarters,’… to memorialize George Washington; to commemorate the heroism and fortitude of the Continental Army; and to collect and preserve Revolutionary War documents, relics and – other objects of interest connected to the Revolutionary War.”
To finance these activities, it was decided that stock would be issued for purchase by shareholders. The state legislature provided an annual appropriation and freed it from taxation.’ Membership in the association soon began to grow, and by 1887, after the roster had reached 241, a tradition of major addresses at stockholder’s gatherings began. The first annual Washington’s Birthday meeting was held in 1888. From that date until the present, scholars, authors, jurists, clergymen, and several nationally known public figures have been among the speakers, including, in 1903, Woodrow Wilson, then president of Princeton University.
When the Washington Association took over the Mansion in 1874, much of it needed to be repaired and furnished, and a new roof and added utilities were necessary. The kitchen wing was closed to visitors initially as it was used for the caretaker’ s apartment. The Trustees embarked on a vigorous campaign to obtain donations of furniture and Revolutionary-period artifacts to build a museum collection. The newspapers were used to solicit gifts and loans; additions were made by the legislature as well.
Thomas Randolph, the first president of the Washington Association, was born in 1826 in New Brunswick. In 1866, he moved to Morristown. He served three years as governor of the state starting in 1869, and later became a U.S. senator.
William Van Vleck Lidgerwood, born in Morristown, was a stepson of the locally well-known owner of the Speedwell Iron Works, Judge Stephen Vail. For several years, he was United States Consul General in Rio de Janeiro.
George Halsey, who succeeded Randolph as president of the Washington Association, was born in Springfield, New Jersey. Halsey’s historical interests were apparent prior to his Washington Association involvement, as he was already active in the New Jersey Historical Society and the sons of the American Revolution. During his career, Halsey served in Congress.
Nathaniel Norris Halsted served in the State Militia and was involved with the New Jersey military camps during the Civil War. Halsted interest in WANJ was undoubtedly influenced by his wife, a Vice-regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, which had acquired Washington’s estate twenty years previously.
A National Historical Park
During the 1920s, the Washington Association began to experience financial difficulties. Though the automobile helped raise attendance nearly three times between 1920 and 1930 at Headquarters, the increased visitations strained the Association’ s finances. No admission was, or could, by the charter, be charged, while employee hours, salaries, and maintenance costs increased.
By 1931, there was interest in having a National Historical Park in Morristown, and, by the end of 1932, the Association Trustees supported the idea of adding the Headquarters to the proposed Park. The legislation to accept the Washington Association properties, along with Jockey Hollow and Fort Nonsense lands, was signed by Herbert Hoover on March 3, 1933. On July 4, 1933, the Washington Association with the Town of Morristown held an impressive ceremony in which deeds were formally turned over the United States representative, Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, forming the first national historical park.
Above is the invitation to the historic event.
The Morristown Record reported the next day, July 5, 1933:
“The first national historical park in the United States became a reality yesterday when under ideal conditions and with perfect weather, the program of dedication of important historical buildings and 1,500 acres of land for federal park purposes took place as part of the celebration of Independence Day…the ceremonies… took place on the grounds of Washington Headquarters with 3,000 people in attendance…Following the series of addresses, three volleys were fired and taps sounded after which the Rev. Father M.J. Toohey pronounced the benediction…”
July 4, 1933, dedication of Morristown National Historical Park. Pictured left to right are U.S. Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes; New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore; unknown; Morristown Mayor Clyde Potts; Lloyd Smith, park benefactor and Washington Association of New Jersey member; and Frank L. Bergen, President of the Washington Association of New Jersey. Also present at the dedication ceremony was Horace Albright, Director of the National Park Service.
After the establishment of the historical park, a new museum was designed by the famous architect John Russell Pope (1874 – 1937) and completed in 1938 (Fig. 2), providing additional space to the already existing separate structure, Lafayette Hall, built in 1894. Known as the Headquarters Museum, Pope’s building contains an auditorium and a major library of Revolutionary war interest, that has attracted scholars from around the nation.
The Washington Association
of NJ Today
Today, the Washington Association sponsors an array of public programs including scholarly conferences, receptions, and educational activities. In addition to an annual luncheon, an event devoted to the memory of Martha Washington is held each autumn. The WANJ has taken a major role in efforts to maintain the park facilities at the highest level including the recent construction of the Discovery History Center in the lower level of the museum.
For nearly 150 years, the Washington Association has continued its mission to assist Morristown National Historical Park and to preserve the memory of George Washington and New Jersey’s Revolutionary heritage.
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