Thursday, December 27, 2007

The Gibbon House, Greenwich, New Jersey

The Gibbon House is located in Greenwich, Cumberland County, New Jersey. It was built about 1730 by Leonard Gibbon and is a two and one-half brick house.

The plaque on the gable of the south elevation bears the date 1730. It was occupied by Nicholas Gibbon from 1730 to 1740, and then he moved to what is known as the Alexander Grant House in Salem NJ. The bricks are laid in checker pattern.

The red bricks are said to be imported from England, and the lighter colored ones were made from clay found on the grounds where the house sits.

Additional data and drawings of the house can be found at "American Memory." The house is open to the public during posted months and hours.

Burlington County Prison, Mt. Holly, New Jersey


The Burlington County Prison, located in Mt. Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, was erected (completed) in 1810. The architect was Rober Mills, one of America's first native-born and trained architect, of Philadelphia.

The builders were Caleb Newbold, George Hancock and John Bispham - commissioners in charge of building for the County Freeholders. The land was purchased from Zachariah Rossell and adjoined the county court house property.

The original building recommendations included a basement or office story to consist of a kitchen, washing room, felons eating room, ten factory or work shops and other shops. The principal or ground level story to consist of keeper's office, sitting and lodging rooms, debtors common hall and 8 cells. The second story was to include 4 debtors rooms, and 8 cells together with a dungeon which is placed directly over the keeper's office. The windows of the hall and debtors chambers were to be secured with iron bars.
The toal cost of the building was $24,201.15

The prison is a National Historic Landmark, and is open to the public.

Additional photographs, drawings and data pages are available on "American Memory."

Some say it is haunted.