Conserving the Victorian Era at Acorn Hall
Stepping into Acorn Hall in Morristown, New Jersey, is the closest one can get to traveling through a time capsule. This stately Italianate Villa, named for a 300-year-old oak tree that once graced the grounds, is one of the best-preserved mid-Victorian homes in the state.
Because the house remained in the hands of a single family for over a century, Acorn Hall serves as a rare repository of Gilded Age wealth. Today, it presents a fascinating challenge to conservators who work meticulously to protect its original 19th-century carpeting, wall coverings, and hand-painted finishes.
From Farmhouse to Italianate Villa
Acorn Hall began its life in 1853 as a relatively simple, square Georgian-style farmhouse built by Dr. John P. Schermerhorn. However, the doctor’s time at the estate was short; following the tragic death of his wife in 1854, he sold the eight-acre property and all its contents.
In 1857, the estate was purchased by Augustus Crane, a wealthy New York merchant. It was Crane who transformed the modest house into the architectural masterpiece we see today.
- The Remodel (1860): Crane expanded the home in the Italianate Villa style, adding a master suite, a formal dining room, and a rare octagonal tower. While square towers were common in Victorian architecture, the octagonal shape added a unique level of prestige.
- Victorian Flourishes: The house features the hallmark “gingerbread” trim, varied roof levels, and deep eaves with decorative brackets that define high-Victorian taste.
A Showcase of Opulence
Inside, the Crane family spared no expense to impress their guests. The interior remains a masterclass in 19th-century design and “trick of the eye” artistry.
- Trompe l’oeil: The front parlor and center hall feature extensive Trompe l’oeil (French for “deceive the eye”) paintings. These murals make the plaster walls appear to be solid marble and create the illusion of deep, tiered ceiling moldings.
- The Crystal Palace Rug: The formal parlor houses a velvet rug identical to the one displayed at the world-famous Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851.
- The Servant’s World: The third floor housed the staff, accessible by a discrete rear stairwell. The house still features its original mechanical buzzer system, which allowed the Cranes to summon servants from across the estate.
The Preservationist: Mary Crane Hone
In 1935, Augustus Crane’s descendants, the Hone family, moved into the home. While they added modern necessities like electricity and an elevator (installed by Mr. Hone due to a heart condition), they were careful to preserve the home’s historic character.
The home’s survival is due almost entirely to Mary Crane Hone, a Broadway actress turned activist. Mary was an only child who recognized that Acorn Hall was a treasure that “must be preserved.”
- The Steamroller Protest: Mary was a fierce advocate for Morristown’s history. When construction began on Interstate 287, she was so outraged by the destruction of historic lands that she and a friend famously sat on a steamroller to protest the highway’s path through areas steeped in Revolutionary War history.
- The Gift: In 1971, Mary practiced what she preached by donating Acorn Hall and its vast collection of family heirlooms to the Morris County Historical Society.
If You Visit
Acorn Hall is a National Register site and serves as the headquarters of the Morris County Historical Society.
- Location: 68 Morris Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960.
- The Interiors: Tours offer a look at the original 1860 “acorn-themed” wallpaper in the master bedroom and the imported rose marble fireplace in the dining room.
- The Gardens: The grounds feature a Victorian gazebo and gardens maintained by the Home Garden Club of Morristown, showcasing plantings popular between 1853 and 1888.
- The Museum: The carriage shed and art gallery (the former rear parlor addition) host rotating exhibits on New Jersey history and Victorian life.
For More Information:
- Morris County Historical Society at Acorn Hall (www.mchsnj.org)
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