Nestled in the scenic state park located in Ringwood, New Jersey the Manor House at Ringwood is one of the most historic and important locations on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1739, Ringwood Manor has a long history that helped shape the course of the Revolutionary War.The historic manor at Ringwood now sits on 582 acres of its original 38,000 acres that served many purposes throughout its existence. The property’s various functions included: the center of an iron mining empire, a strategic location during the American Revolution, extravagant summer home, and finally a historic state park. The land that makes up what is known as Ringwood Manor gives extensive insight into how the steep cultural, political, and industrial history has evolved over the many decades.
Years before settlers came to the Ringwood area in hopes of a new, prosperous life, the land was home to the Native American people. According to artifacts that were found in the area, tribes occupied the area dating back to the Archaic and Woodlands period. Lenape tribes lived near the head of the
Ringwood River Valley in their traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle. To the many Native Americans, this area was considered sacred due to what they felt was earth’s “special forces”. By 1740, however, colonial settlers also found the land an interesting prospect. Attracted by the rich iron ore, a man by the name of Cornelius Board settled near the site in the year 1739. Board was the first to utilize the area for mining the iron ore. Following in Board’s footsteps, the
Ogden family established the Ringwood Company and built the very first blast furnace in 1742. Although early in its history, Ringwood was already on the map as an iron ore paradise. In 1765, a German immigrant Peter Hasenclever bought the property from the
Ogden’s and established the American Iron Company. By this time Hasenclever’s company owned 150,000 acres in
New Jersey,
New York, as well as
Nova Scotia. Eventually Robert Erskine became the ironmaster and was sent from
England in 1771 to take control of the area. Erskine would go on to serve and manage the company during the American Revolution. He would prove to be a powerful and successful ally of General George Washington and the Continental Army.
For nine years during the Revolutionary War, Robert Erskine managed three iron plantations from his headquarters at Ringwood. The iron that was mined at these plantations was used to help supply the Continental Army. Components of the chain system used to defend the
Hudson River from the British Army, domestic tools, and hardware were all things that were created using iron from Ringwood. In addition, the military supply route from
Morristown,
NJ to
West Point, NY passed through the site. As an ally of the Patriot cause, Erskine was a principle player in the war for American Independence. While residing as ironmaster, Erskine served General Washington as his personal map drawer as well as using his engineering skills to help the Continental Army. Erskine thus became the army’s first geographer and Surveyor-General and produced more than two-hundred highly accurate maps. General George Washington made frequent (about five) visits to the Colonial Manor House. In fact, General Washington was at Ringwood on April 19, 1783 when a cessation of hostilities between the Patriots and the British was declared. In 1780 Erskine died at the age of 45 and is buried in the old cemetery on the grounds at Ringwood Manor. Buried alongside Erskine are 150 pioneers, iron workers, and soldiers who died marching through the area. When Erskine passed away, his wife remarried and took control of the property.
The current manor house was a project started by Martin J. Ryerson around 1807. The Ryerson family controlled the iron mines and forges on the property as well as at four other locations in the general area. For almost fifty years, the Ryerson’s called their 10-room Federal style home. At one point during their residence and operations at Ringwood, the Ryerson’s made ammunition for the American army during the War of 1812. In fact, the Ryerson Steel Company is still in operation today.
By 1853, the Ryerson House and property were purchased by two business partners Peter Cooper and Abram S. Hewitt, Cooper’s son-in-law. The Cooper-Hewitt family purchased the 22,000 acre ironworks for a sum of $100,000 and decided to make the site their summer home, renaming it The Forges and Manor of Ringwood. Throughout their years of ownership, they built on the Ryerson house with major renovations in 1864, 1875, 1900, and 1910. Eventually they completed the house and made it what it is today: A 51-room house that is 226.5 feet long and has 28 bedrooms, 24 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, and more than 50 windows that was built in a typical Victorian period style. By 1900, Hewitt had changed the exterior appearance to the present adding neo-classical portico and columns on the front porch and putting white stucco on the exterior walls. The gardens that surround the Manor House were developed by Mrs. Hewitt and her daughter Eleanor in 1900.
The Cooper-Hewitt family was one of prominence and fame. Peter Cooper rose to fame through his successful time as a businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He is often credited with building the “Tom Thumb” locomotive as well as being the oldest person to run for President of the
United States. Cooper’s son-in-law Abram S. Hewitt first met Peter’s son Edward at
Columbia University who introduced him to Peter. He eventually married Edward’s sister Sarah Amelia and became a prominent politician being elected Mayor of New York City in 1887 as well as a New York Congressman. Abram and Sarah had six children who all called Ringwood home. However, in 1936 the new generation of the Hewitt family became disinterested in the iron industry and found little use for such a large estate and gave the state of New Jersey Ringwood Manor. Thankfully enough the state did not decide to develop the land and instead turned it into a historic landmark as well as an ideal hiking area. Quite often, new previously undiscovered roads and pathways are found that hold great historic significance. These roads run past 18
th century mines, 19
th century home foundations, prehistoric Native.
The historic Manor property at Ringwood is an important site historically but it is also important to me personally. The property itself is so very peaceful and serene. I can imagine that this feeling of serenity was nearly the same throughout the history of the property. Since the land is protected by the state, it cannot be developed. Since that is the case, the Ringwood Manor and its property is virtually the same aside from the different owners renovating/building on to the original home. The Manor House helps add to the sense of peace felt when walking the grounds. Its architecture also gives the home a feeling of nobility and upper-class society. In my opinion these royal leanings are given off by the sheer size and breath-taking beauty of the home. When standing on the front porch of the home, you can see a large pond and rolling hills of grass. You can often see swans swimming on the pond. In the rear, the gardens grace visitors with their stunning array of colorful flowers and plants. Past the gardens is a path that leads to both the old cemetery and various hiking trails. While walking to the cemetery, there is a small bridge over a flowing brook that leads into the pond. As you approach the old cemetery you are greeted by a lone gate that quite literally leads to no where. Through the gate there are countless grave markers and a few readable headstones. Further down in the cemetery you will find two tombs, one of which belongs to Robert Erskine. There are also three tombs over looking the pond with three members of the Hewitt family buried there.
Inside the manor, the furnishings and the architecture is just as flawless as the outside. Hundreds of paintings and pictures hang throughout the house, including original maps drawn by Robert Erskine. The Great Hall, used as an entrance during the Hewitt years, is built entirely from dark, rich wood. In Great Hall, the walls are filled with hunting trophies and rifles from various periods in American history. The dining room was also made famous in the Hewitt years, where Abram Hewitt entertained numerous dignitaries. It was because of this that Ringwood Manor earned the nickname the “Little White House”.
As a state park and historic site, Ringwood Manor is a crucial part in brining the community of
New Jersey together. In every season, the Manor hosts various events that range from arts and crafts to an annual Victorian Christmas celebration. Free tours of the Manor House are offered year-round Wednesdays to Sundays. Another event that is important for the Manor as well as the community is Independence Day at Ringwood Manor. Every year on July 4
th, the Declaration of Independence is read and people come together to relive the greatest day in American History. They offer colonial games for the children, food, militia drill, and so many other patriotic themed events.
Events like these at Ringwood Manor help to show the community how important it is to preserve and save sites such as Ringwood. Not enough people realize how crucial places like these were and still are to American society. Ringwood Manor symbolizes so many different aspects of American culture. Through its history of iron mining it represents the entrepreneurial, capitalist spirit that
America is founded on. By serving as a base for supplying the Continental Army in the American Revolution it symbolizes the struggle and success in achieving our independence from
Great Britain. Most importantly, however, Ringwood Manor has survived and continues to serve as a focal point of American history and place where people from all over can come to appreciate the beauty and magnificence of culture, and society in the greatest nation on the planet.
