Friends of Jacobus Vanderveer House & Bedminster Twp
Celebrate Historic Milestones in 2009
2009 marks the anniversary of two important events for the historic Vanderveer/Knox House and Museum. Twenty years ago this year, Bedminster Township acquired a decrepid house and 208 acres dedicated for open space for parks and preservation.
In addition, 2009 also marks the 10th anniversary that the Friends of the Vanderveer/Knox House has served as tenants to the historic home that once served General Knox and his family during the Revolutionary War's Pluckemin Artillery Encampment of 1778-1779.
Vanderveer/Knox House - Then (1988) and Now (2008)
Bedminster Acquisition
20th Anniversary of Bedminster Township purchasing
the Vanderveer house and property.
The Jacobus Vanderveer House, known also as the Vanderveer/Knox House, was acquired by Bedminster Township as part of the 208 (207.767 to be exact) acre River Road Park tract, a Green Acres acquisition that allowed the preservation of visible and desirable piece of open space land. Included in the land acquisition were a number of structures including an old house and outbuildings. Because the house was believed to be the residence of General Knox when he commanded the Pluckemin Artillery Park and academy during 1778-1779, the Township deferred to the Bedminster Historic Commission regarding decisions related to its restoration and development.
First, a bit of history. The title to the 208 acres which comprise of the River Road Park and Vanderveer House area was acquired from the Kenneth B. Schley, Jr and family estate on May 24, 1989 and the deed was formally filed on behalf of Bedminster Twp on June 19th of the same year. The property, which comprised of two blocks of land, was almost lost to a the Colfax Homes who had been in contract to build between 120-130 homes on the site. After deep negotiation and condemnation of the land, the Twp. acquired the open space for $7,441,000 utilizing a $7.5 million bond resolution comprising 1/2 from a Green Acres grant and the remainder from a Green Acres loan.
New Ownership
Two Bedminster Township Historic Preservation Commission members, Prich Matthews and Dutzie Robbie, assumed leadership roles during the acquisition period. In late 1997 and early 1998, the Bedminster Township Historic Commission enlisted the support of Bill Halsey, a Basking Ridge architect with an interest in historic houses who worked with the Bedminster Historic Commission. Halsey prepared a brief report, which included a plan and architectural drawings for a proposed restoration.
Prich Matthews also contacted Cliff Sekel, who had been the researcher for the Pluckemin Archaeological Project (artillery park and academy on Schley Mt.), who confirmed his belief that the house was indeed the headquarters and residence of General and Mrs. Henry Knox during the historic Pluckemin Artillery Encampment of 1779-1779.
in 1998, the Bedminster Historic Commission realized that they would need help with fundraising for the restoration, and they organized the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House to undertake fundraising. The Friends filed for their Certificate-of-Incorporation on March 17, 1998.
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House
2009 - 10th Anniversary -
Bedminster leases property to Friends of Vanderveer/Knox
In late 1998, two members of the Friends, Bunny Price and Ryder Ziebarth, approached Linda McTeague, a consultant in preservation planning and museum development. Bunny and Ryder felt that the Commission and the Friends would benefit from professional planning and direction, and asked McTeague to meet with members of the Commission and the Friends. As a result of that meeting, McTeague was engaged to conduct a series of planning workshops and meetings.
In February and March of 1999, Linda McTeague conducted a series of sessions to address the creation of a mission, bylaws, board composition, the role of the Friends, and long-range planning and fundraising options. The by-laws of the Friends were formally adopted on March 29, 1999.
It was determined that the Friends, not the Bedminster Historic Commission, should assume full responsibility for the restoration, interpretation, funding and administration of the Vanderveer/Knox House, the name by which it was known at that time. It was also agreed that the board would always include at least one member of the Historic Commission, along with a member of the Township Committee. On June 21, 1999 the Township committee formally granted a lease contract with the Friends of Jacobus Vanderveer House a twenty-five year lease agreement with the house and approximately 3 acres around the house.
The First Friends Board
Grania Allport was elected the first president of the Friends of the Vanderveer/Knox House in 1999. Joe Metelski represented the Township Committee and Prich Matthews and Dutzie Robbie represented the Historic Commission. Other board members included Bunny Price, 1st vice president; Ryder Ziebarth, 2nd vice president; Mary Bittrich, secretary; David Weiss, treasurer; Moira Filley; and Jack Ewing. Christopher Forbes was honorary chairman. By the following year, several more board members were added, including Claire Eckert, Charles Reid, Laurie Brueckner, Patty Dillon, Charles Hance, Lindsay Harms, Helen Marx, and Milly Romanzi. The JVH By-Laws were adopted on March 29, 1999.
The Friends then signed a twenty-five year lease agreement with Bedminster Twp. for the site on June 21, 1999 commencing two important areas of historic interpretation:
The Revolutionary War in New Jersey, more specifically the Pluckemin artillery park and academy, General Henry Knox and his contributions to United States military history, the Vanderveer family’s associations with Knox and the war, and the impact of the Revolution on the local community and the Vanderveer family.
The Vanderveers and the settlement of Bedminster (mills, Dutch/Anglo architecture, etc.)
Non-Profit Incorporation
The Friends of the Vanderveer/Knox House filed for incorporation as a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation. The application was approved by New Jersey Secretary of State Lonna R. Hooks on March 17, 1998.
The Friends of the Vanderveer/Knox House Lease Contract with Bedminster Township on June 21, 1999.
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House applied for and received it's first public grant from the Somerset County Historic Trust Fund in 1999 for $261,120 to commence their restoration efforts.
Groundbreaking Ceremony - 2002
Above are some of the key people responsible for the successes we get to celebrate today. The Friends of JVH wish to personally thank them for all of their efforts.
L to R Front:
Linda McTeague (former Friends consultant )
Ellen Vreeland (Former Friends President),
Grania Allport (Former Friends President)
Rear: Jay Petrillo (current Friends President)
Robert Holtaway (Bedminster Twp Mayor)
Joe Metelski (Former Bedminster Twp Mayor)
Submitted: Brooks Betz
Last Updated : March 13, 2009
Photos/Images: Marthe Smith/ Brooks Betz/Bernardsville News
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About the Vanderveer/Knox House & Museum
& the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment
For over two centuries, the Jacobus Vanderveer House has been at the center of Bedminster Township’s rich and colorful history. The house is the last surviving building in Bedminster associated with the Vanderveer's, a family prominent in Bedminster Township history from its earliest settlement through the mid 19th century.
The Vanderveer house served as headquarters for General Henry Knox during the winter of 1778-79, when the Continental Army artillery was located in the village of Pluckemin during the Revolutionary War's Second Middlebrook Encampment. The house is the only known building still standing that was associated with the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment. The artillery park and military academy is considered to be the first installation in America to train officers in engineering and artillery and predates the United States Military Academy at West Point (est.1802) by twenty four years.
The Vanderveer family house was later enlarged with two additions in the nineteenth century, remodeled in the twentieth century, and subsequently abandoned. The Township of Bedminster purchased the home and the surrounding area as part of River Road Park in 1989. The home has been restored by The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, a non-profit group of inspired volunteers dedicated to use the home as a museum and educational center.
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House
P.O. Box 723, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921-0723
908 - 212 - 7000 ext. 611
The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House received
an operating support grant from the New
Jersey Historical Commission, division of the Department
of State.
In late 1998, two members of the Friends, Bunny Price and Ryder Ziebarth, approached Linda McTeague, a consultant in preservation planning and museum development. Bunny and Ryder felt that the Commission and the Friends would benefit from professional planning and direction, and asked McTeague to meet with members of the Commission and the Friends. As a result of that meeting, McTeague was engaged to conduct a series of planning workshops and meetings.
Non-Profit Incorporation 
