The House Where Washington Stayed (Twice): The Dey Mansion
If you are golfing at the Preakness Valley Golf Course in Wayne, New Jersey, you might notice a stately brick building looming in the background, seemingly out of place among the sand traps and putting greens.
This is the Dey Mansion. While it now sits on a manicured patch of county parkland, it was once the heart of a 600-acre estate known as “Bloomsbury.” And for several critical months in 1780, it was the center of the American Revolution.
While many places claim “Washington Slept Here,” the Dey Mansion holds the distinction of serving as General George Washington’s headquarters not once, but twice.
A Dutch-Georgian Masterpiece
The house is a stunning example of how wealthy colonial New Jerseyans lived. Construction began between 1740 and 1750 by Dirck Dey, a Dutch carpenter and politician, and was completed by his son, Colonel Theunis Dey.
The architecture is a fascinating blend of English style and Dutch practicality:
- The Style: It is a classic Georgian manor (symmetrical, dignified) but topped with a Dutch gambrel roof (the barn-like roof with two slopes on each side).
- The Curb Appeal: The front facade is built of brick laid in a Flemish bond pattern, accented with sandstone quoins (corner blocks). However, to save money, the sides and rear are built of cheaper split quarry stone and fieldstone.
- The “Hidden” Stairs: Unlike most Georgian homes where the grand staircase is the first thing you see in the center hall, the stairs here are hidden behind a wall to the left. This maximized the space in the center hall, allowing it to be used as a summer dining room.
The Strategic Haven
Why did Washington choose this specific house in Wayne, NJ? In a word: Geography.
Located in the Preakness Valley, the mansion was protected by the Watchung Mountains, shielding the Continental Army from the British forces in New York. Yet, it was close enough to the Hudson River to monitor enemy movements.
Washington’s Two Stays:
- July 1780: Washington arrived with 4,000 troops. He used the southeast room on the first floor as his office and the center hall for dining.
- October–November 1780: Washington returned for a second stay to avoid British attempts to capture him following the hanging of British spy Major John André.
During these stays, the house was a hive of activity. Guests included Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, and General Anthony Wayne. Legend says Washington paid to have his four rooms wallpapered at his own expense, though no physical evidence of this remains.
The Restoration
After the Dey family sold the estate in 1801, the house passed through 17 different owners and slowly fell into disrepair. By 1930, it was derelict.
The Passaic County Park Commission stepped in to save it. Under the direction of Charles O. Cornelius (formerly of the Metropolitan Museum of Art), the house underwent a meticulous restoration.
- The Roof: Victorian-era dormers were removed to restore the original 18th-century roofline.
- The Kitchen: The original kitchen wing had been destroyed by fire years earlier. Using the original foundation, a historically accurate replica was built in 1938.
If You Visit
Today, the Dey Mansion is owned and operated by the County of Passaic. It remains one of the best-preserved examples of 18th-century life in New Jersey.
- Location: 199 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.
- Tours: The mansion is open to the public for guided tours. The interior is furnished to reflect the period of Washington’s stay.
- Don’t Miss: The kitchen garden and the reconstructed outbuildings, which give a sense of the self-sufficient nature of a colonial Dutch estate.
For More Information
Dey Mansion Washington’s Headquarters (www.deymansion.org)
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