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The Hermitage (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
The Hermitage, located in Ho-Ho-Kus
, New Jersey
, is a fourteen-room Gothic Revival home built in 1847-48 from designs by William H. Ranlett
for Elijah Rosencrantz, Jr. Members of the Rosencrantz family owned The Hermitage estate from 1807 to 1970. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark for the excellence of its architecture and added to National Register of Historic Places in 1970. In 1971 is was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
with five children. One of Ann's daughters, Theodosia Bartow Prevost, and her husband James Marcus Prevost, occupied another house on the property, downhill from the present structure, nearer to the mill ponds. During the American Revolutionary War
, while Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) Prevost was fighting for the British
in Georgia and South Carolina
, the women and children were left alone in Ho-Ho-Kus.
In July 1778, word reached Theodosia that George Washington
and his troops would be passing through Ho-Ho-Kus on their way from the recent battle at Monmouth Courthouse
to White Plains
in Westchester County, New York
. When the General and his entourage stopped at a local house, Theodosia sent an invitation to Washington for him and his men to come and stay at The Hermitage.
Visitors to the house during the Revolution included James Monroe
, William Paterson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton
, Lord Stirling and Aaron Burr
. In 1782, after her husband was killed during the War, Theodosia Prevost married Burr at The Hermitage. For a period of time they lived in a small house adjacent to The Hermitage.
In 1845, the house was remodeled in the Gothic Revival style by architect William H. Ranlett.
The Hermitage is owned by the State of New Jersey and is a museum, open to the public year-round, financed and operated by The Friends of the Hermitage, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey
Ho-Ho-Kus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 4,078. It is the home of several historical landmarks, including the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn and The Hermitage....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, is a fourteen-room Gothic Revival home built in 1847-48 from designs by William H. Ranlett
William H. Ranlett
William H. Ranlett was a prominent American architect.Some of Ranlett's architectural designs were published in Godey's Lady's Book, the influential fashion guide.-Works:*Tudor Hall...
for Elijah Rosencrantz, Jr. Members of the Rosencrantz family owned The Hermitage estate from 1807 to 1970. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark for the excellence of its architecture and added to National Register of Historic Places in 1970. In 1971 is was added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
History
In 1767, the original colonial estate was purchased by Ann Bartow DeVisme who moved to Ho-Ho-Kus from ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
with five children. One of Ann's daughters, Theodosia Bartow Prevost, and her husband James Marcus Prevost, occupied another house on the property, downhill from the present structure, nearer to the mill ponds. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, while Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) Prevost was fighting for the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
in Georgia and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, the women and children were left alone in Ho-Ho-Kus.
In July 1778, word reached Theodosia that George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and his troops would be passing through Ho-Ho-Kus on their way from the recent battle at Monmouth Courthouse
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
to White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. When the General and his entourage stopped at a local house, Theodosia sent an invitation to Washington for him and his men to come and stay at The Hermitage.
Visitors to the house during the Revolution included James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
, William Paterson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
, Lord Stirling and Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
. In 1782, after her husband was killed during the War, Theodosia Prevost married Burr at The Hermitage. For a period of time they lived in a small house adjacent to The Hermitage.
In 1845, the house was remodeled in the Gothic Revival style by architect William H. Ranlett.
The Hermitage is owned by the State of New Jersey and is a museum, open to the public year-round, financed and operated by The Friends of the Hermitage, Inc., a non-profit organization.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Bergen County, New Jersey
- List of museums in New Jersey