William Green Farmhouse

William Green Farmhouse,
circa 1920s, from Green Lane view.

William Green Farmhouse,
2008, TCNJ Side

HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS OF THE

WILLIAM GREEN FARMHOUSE

The William Green House, listed on the state and national registers of historic places since the 1970s, is a significant example of colonial farmhouse architecture. This historic treasure, dating from ca. 1730, is located on the campus of The College of New Jersey in Ewing Township, NJ. An earlier house, to which the current house was attached, stood on the site circa 1700. Its roofline is preserved and visible from the 1830 portion of the house. In 2007, TCNJ funded a mothballing and stabilization of the house to ensure that no further deterioration occurs while funds are being raised. For several years the Friends, in partnership with TCNJ, were raising funds for a full restoration so the house can be used as an alumni house with a museum function; however, the college recently announced they will not sanction a use or help us to restore or maintain the house, despite the longstanding fact that they own the house. Due to their lack of commitment to maintaining a house that once was in livable condition, the house has been placed on the Preservation New Jersey 2015 list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites.

THROUGH THE YEARS - A TIMELINE OF THE WILLIAM GREEN FARMHOUSE FROM 1712-1973

1712 -The land on which the farmhouse stands was deeded to William Green in 1712 by Daniel Coxe.

1717-Some people date the house to 1717, but Short and Ford prefer a date 1730. The roofline of an older structure probably dating to 1717 is part of the current farmhouse.

Circa 1717 to 1730-The oldest remaining section of the house was built using fine Flemish bond brickwork.

Circa 1776-Washington’s troops slept here. Historic documents state that at various times during the American War the Light Horse of Washington’s Army billeted on the Green plantation.

Circa 1750 to 1790-The second oldest section of the house was added as the Green family grew.

Circa 1830-The third building stage, a two-room-deep brick addition to the west, nearly doubled the size of the house.
July 1960-The Green Farmhouse and land (Block 215, Lot 155) was purchased by TCNJ (then Trenton State College) from the Green family (Blackwell or Arendt). It was the understanding of the family that the College would preserve the farmhouse although this was not written into the deed.
1970s-The farmhouse was last used in the 1970s by tenants of TCNJ, then closed and not maintained.
1973-The Green Farmhouse was named to both the State and National Register of Historic Places.

PHOTOS OF THE WILLIAM GREEN FARMHOUSE FROM 1920-2008