The VanLeer-Black House
This house built in 1756 was home to many great Grand Fathers of mine. Left two of my sisters visited in 1965. Center Great Grandfather visited in 1936. Right Oil painting of same, Painted in late 1700's Artist unknown. Story has it was a travelling artist that came up the Raccoon creek.
"The VanLeer-Black House or "Grand Sprute" was built in 1756 along a horseshoe curve of the Raccoon Creek. For many years it was used as a trading post for Indians and settlers. Old wharf pilings are still evident in the meadows where once canoes, barges and small boats landed to exchange provisions."
Hewes VanLeer Black .My great great Grandfather.
"The exterior brick that was used to build this house was burned in local kilns and is now painted white. The outer walls are fourteen inches thick with the plaster inside applied directly to the brick. The rear addition was built in 1907."
"The interior plan of the original part consists of four small rooms with a hall and a stairway. Corner fireplaces back-to-back at the outer walls, serve each room. The second floor plan is the same although fireplaces were removed and closets added. Notice the simply turned balusters on the stairway with plain panelling over closed stringers. The closet, under the stairs, retains it's original HL hinges. "
"The Mortonson-Schorn Log Cabin, one of the oldest in the United States, was built by Morton Mortonson, the Grandfather of John Morton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. "
"The cabin is of Finnish design, made of hand-hewn cedar logs, fifteen squared logs high. Each log is dovetailed at the corners and set without nails or pegs. The crevices were caulked during the winter with a mixture of clay and grass, which was removed in the summer for ventilation. Original hardware may still be seen on the three-foot planked door."
My great Grandfather revisits the old cabin that was used as a chicken coop.
ALL PICTURES ARE
FROM FAMILY ALBUM.
From Open House in Gloucester County, May 9.1970, sponsored by the Gloucester County Historical Society, Woodbury NJ. Printed by the Mobil Research and Development Corporation.
This is the restored cabin dedicated in 1989, it was moved to it's new location at Trinity Church in Swedesboro N.J.
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