The Ayers–Allen House is located at 16 Durham Avenue in the Borough of Metuchen in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1985, for its significance in architecture.[3] The c. 1740 building, also known as Allen House Tavern, for its previous function,[4] was built by descendants of early settlers to Woodbridge Township and remained in the family for many generations.

Ayers–Allen House
Ayers–Allen House is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Ayers–Allen House
Ayers–Allen House is located in New Jersey
Ayers–Allen House
Ayers–Allen House is located in the United States
Ayers–Allen House
Location16 Durham Avenue
Metuchen, New Jersey
Coordinates40°32′40″N 74°21′52″W / 40.54444°N 74.36444°W / 40.54444; -74.36444
Builtc. 1740
NRHP reference No.85002002[1]
NJRHP No.1844[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 5, 1985
Designated NJRHPJuly 7, 1985

History and description

edit

The frame house was built c. 1740, likely by Jonathan Ayers. The house and property remained in the ownership of the descendants of Obadiah Ayers and his wife Hannah Pike for 184 years. According to the nomination form, it is believed to be the oldest structure in the borough.[3] It is located yards from the site of American Revolutionary War skirmishes. It is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad and to be haunted.[5][6]

 
Friedrich Adam Julius von Wangenheim: Map of the area 1777

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#85002002)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Middlesex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. July 15, 2022. p. 4.
  3. ^ a b Stone, Marian C. (1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ayers–Allen House". National Park Service. With accompanying 7 photos
  4. ^ Spies, Stacy E. (2000), Metuchen, Arcadia Publishing, p. 64
  5. ^ "Ayers–Allen House Metuchen Matters October 30, 2008". Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  6. ^ Ayers–Allen House Metuchen-Edison History
edit