THE
FORCE HOUSE & HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The
early American house was built by simple hard working people who
had neither the time nor the inclination to build a house for
anything but shelter. They were constructed almost entirely of
wood, a plentiful commodity, which the builders cut and prepared
themselves.
The architecture reflected the daily lives of the people. A structure
was built solid and tight, with strong beams and thick walls to
keep out extreme cold in the winter and excessive heat during
summer.
The shingles were handmade from the heart of the oak and the timbers
were six inches square. They were tongued deep and beveled off
with a chisel, and fastened with wooden pins or pegs. Iron nails,
hand drawn and expensive, were used only on the outside.
Most
early homes started with one large room which contained a large
cooking fireplace. The outside doors faced the south and were
farthest from the fireplace. This was to spare those-about the
hearth from the cold winters blasts of air.
The architecture of the homes in Livingston was New England Colonial
in form, but marked by Dutch characteristics, such as overhanging
eaves which served as partial awnings over the windows, shading
them in summer and keeping the snow and sleet off of the threshold
in winter. Dutch ovens were introduced by early settlers from
Manhattan and Long Island. There was a tendency to disregard the
road completely so the front of the house could face the south.
Porches were added only after the war between the States and were
a direct influence of the leisurely South.
The Force House, as it is now known, was originally built in 1745
by Theophelous Ward. The large room with the area above was the
entire house.
Samuel Force, of French Huguenot origin, purchased the house in
1777 for his son Thomas, who was born in 1758 and served in the
Revolutionary War. He was captured and held a prisoner of war
on the British ship "Jersey". After the war, he and
his wife, the former Hannah Smith, settled in the house and became
the parents of ten children.
As the family increased in number and Thomas became more affluent,
he added the larger section of the home.
Thomas operated a saw mill across the street until May, 1816,
when his eighteen month old grandson, John Anderson, died as a
result of a fall through the mill. The mill was never used again.
The ruins of its foundation are still visible.
The Township of Livingston purchased the Force Home in 1962. The
outside was in fairly good condition, however, the inside was
badly in need of repair.
The entire house had to be shored up and all of the electric wiring
had to be replaced. The steel casement cathedral windows were
in poor condition and had to be replaced with custom made six
over six sash. All light fixtures were missing and every wall
in the house had to be re-plastered and painted.
The center hall was in the worst condition. There were several
layers of dirty, dark paper. The floor was in poor condition with
worn black and white block linoleum around the outer edges and
a lavatory had been built in one corner.
The hall was completely restored with money donated by the Women's
Club of Livingston. The Historical Society received permission
to take the floor boards from the old Parker Teed house, which
stood near East Mount Pleasant Avenue, and was being torn down.
The boards were reversed and laid in the hallway.
The Grandfather's clock came from the Edison Foundation. The rugs
were purchased with funds from the Women's Club and the original
etchings were donated by Mrs. Frank Stover. The original Hitchcock
rocking bench was purchased with a donation from Frank Rossback
of Staten Island, in memory of his mother who was born in Livingston.
The museum room, part of the original house, contains articles
of interest, donated by many citizens of the area, too numerous
to mention.
The buttery, restored with funds given by the Strahman family
in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Strahman Sr., contains many interesting
articles of yesteryear.
Near the back door is a mounting block, a relic of bygone horse
and buggy days. The lower kitchen has been authentically restored
in keeping with the rest of the house and is used for social affairs
held at the Force Home.
The third floor which is furnished with Victorian pieces, and
contains two interesting items. The large mirrored clothes rack
belonged to General McClellan of Civil War fame, and the large
desk is the original one used in Livingston's first Post Office.
The Barn Museum contains many interesting tools and artifacts
used in bygone days. Among them are many carpenter tools, a grain
barrel hollowed out of a tree, an old sleigh, a broom machine,
farm implements, an oxen yoke, a cobbler's bench, a wind scoop
and other items.
The smaller Cook house, now set across the main house, was moved
from South Orange Avenue where it stood for many years on the
former Ira Condit Farm, now the Livingston Mall. It is one of
the oldest buildings in Livingston and was completely restored
by the Kiwanis Club of Livingston. In the front of the building
is an old Indian stone used to grind corn.
Outside the Force Home, next to the Cook house, volunteers created
a “Memorial Garden” provided with seating benches,
and also an “Herb Garden” located back of the main
house.
Free of charge docent tours of the Home, Museum and grounds are
conducted by members of the Society. They are usually offered
on given Sunday afternoons, or by appointment.
For information call Helen Shumsky at 973-992-3017, or write to:
The Livingston Historical Society, P.O. Box 220, Livingston, NJ
07039