Ford Mansion Added to NJ Village Collection

The Mayor of New Jersey’s Historic Village has decreed two icons be added to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection recently in a bold move to expand the only set of New Jersey collectible icons.

Produced in conjunction with the Mr. Local History Project in conjunction with the Cat’s Meow Village, a small company in Ohio who for decades have produced wooden painted collectibles known around the world. You might know them when you travel to gift shops and see local keepsakes with the little black cat, known as Casper.

Ford Mansion – Morristown, New Jersey

The Ford Mansion, a Georgian style home, was built in the 1770’s for Jacob Ford, Jr., and his family.  He was an iron manufacturer and later a colonel in the Morris County Militia during the Revolutionary War.  After his death in 1777, his widow, Theodosia, permitted General George Washington to use their home as his headquarters during the winter of 1779-1780.

During that winter the home was bustling with people.  Washington was accompanied by his wife, Martha, five aides-de-camp, including Alexander Hamilton, eighteen servants, guards, and several visiting dignitaries.  Washington stayed for six months and the Ford family lived at the home until the 1870’s when it was auctioned off to become one of the first house museums of the United States.

See the Entire Historic Keepsake Collection