To Know a Vail, Part 2

Today we’ll delve a bit more into George’s personal life. George had three different marriages, all to women named Mary; so pay attention, this may get confusing.

George’s first wife was Mary Ann Wilson. They had four children together; the first two died in infancy but their daughters Frances Georgiana and Mary Louise survived to adulthood. This first marriage lasted 25 years until Mary Ann died.

A year later George married his second wife, Mary Lewis Lightfoot. The couple had no children together and the marriage ended in divorce a year later. According to George’s father, George believed Mary Lewis was insane.

George’s married his third wife, Mary Tichenor Lyman, five years after the divorce to Mary Lewis. Mary Lewis outlived George but left Willow Hall after his death because the manor was left to George’s daughter Frances Georgiana.

More on the Vail family tree later this week.

Find of the Week

This week's Willow Hall Find is brought to you by one of several dump sites in the back of our property. It's an old bracket from one of the house's window lintels which are made of iron. You can compare it to a bracket that is still on the house. While we're not 100% sure, it's possible these decorative pieces were made at Speedwell Ironworks.

Public Question #1: Vote Yes

In the early 1990’s, the Passaic River Coalition (PRC) Board of Trustees established a Land Trust, and began acquiring land that contributed to the better management of the water resources in the Passaic River Watershed, protected endangered species, and preserved historic sites. Our first purchase was a 3.5 acres site in Rockaway Township by the Hibernia Bat Cave, which was the second largest hibernaculum on the East Coast. Since our establishment of the PRC’s Land Trust, we have acquired over 1,020 acres. Most of our properties were made possible by a 50 percent contribution from the Green Acres Program.

While we value each and every property we acquire, perhaps the most important was the purchase of historic Willow Hall in Morristown. This magnificent property had been under contract for the development of condominiums along Speedwell Lake. After local citizens opposed the development in Superior Court and won, the PRC made an offer and was able to purchase the entire property and dedicate it as an historic site and open space in perpetuity. Many people have told us how pleased they are that we were able to save Willow Hall in its historic setting. This acquisition could not have been made without the support of the New Jersey Green Acres Program and the Morris County Historic Trust and Open Space and Recreation Trust.

This November Ballot Question #1 asks the citizens of New Jersey to renew this valuable program. The preservation of open space, deed restricted, establishes a legacy for the future that will increase in both economic and ecological value. We will find a way to have a sustainable source to finance this program, but now is not the time to stop funding Green Acres. Vote “YES” on Ballot Question #1 --- it’s your future too!

Fall Foliage

Willow Hall's backyard.

Photo Courtesy of Dana, volunteer librarian.

Getting the Dirt on Willow Hall

No, not the gossip kind of dirt. We're talking about actual dirt and the historic artifacts that might be hiding in it.

As part of the PRC's grant through the New Jersey Historic Trust, we have contracted Hunter Research Inc. to conduct an archaeological survey of the grounds surrounding Willow Hall.

The archaeologists are looking to answer many questions, including:
-Where was the previous house located?
-How were the historic gardens configured?
-Was there a fountain ever built near the house (as historic pictures show)?
-Where did people use the bathroom and dump their garbage?

The results of the survey will also help us make sure future activities on the property won't damage archaeological resources.

Glenn and Josh sift through dirt in the backyard.

To Know a Vail, Part 1

The original owner of Willow Hall was a self-described “blacksmith, engineer, and manufacturer”, but George Vail was also a businessman, politician, diplomat and judge. George seems to have inherited these traits from his industrious father Stephen Vail, founder of the Speedwell Iron Works. Stephen passed on the Iron Works business to George in 1844 who continued his father’s tradition of hardworking and innovative industrialism.

George’s life extended far beyond his home in Speedwell as he became a member of the New Jersey Legislature in 1843 and a U.S. Congressman in 1852. He was also a New Jersey Delegate to the World’s Fair in London, a member of the U.S. Consulate in 1858, a Judge in the Court of Errors and Appeals and a founder of the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.

To give credit where credit is due, this clever title was borrowed from an article run in the Star Ledger several years ago.

Gusty day

We lost an attic window on Wednesday with the all the wind. The window was on a door leading to the Juliet balcony and the latch wasn't strong enough to keep the door shut.

Fortunately House Manager Joe Filippone came to the rescue and has already repaired and secured the window and door. This is good because the last thing this house needs is another drafty window.

The Fast Facts

Willow Hall
Circa 1848
330 Speedwell Ave, Morristown, NJ

Original Owner: George Vail
Property: 6.2 acres
Also has a guest cottage and 4 bay garage
Height: Two floors plus full attic
Rooms: 23
Current Owner: Passaic River Coalition
Purchased: January 15, 2009
Funding sources: New Jersey Garden State Preservation Trust Fund
Morris County Open Space Preservation Fund
Morris County Historic Preservation Fund