Livingston's Force Homestead Museum To Open For Free Tours

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Livingston Township. Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

The Force Homestead Museum, located at 366 S. Livingston Ave. in Livingston, will be open to the public on Sunday, October 8, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Originally built in 1745 by Theophilus Ward as a one-room house with a loft, the architecture of this historic house reflects the daily lives of the early settlers. In 1777, Samuel Force purchased the farm. He gave it to his son, Thomas Force, who served in the Revolutionary War and settled into the house with his wife, Hannah Smith, after the war. Thomas and Hannah had ten children and, over the years, added a larger section to the one-room house.

When the Township of Livingston purchased the Force Home in 1962, the inside of the house was badly in need of repair and the entire house had to be shored up. Restoring the Home became the purpose of the newly formed Livingston Historical Society.

Members of the Society located and preserved numerous items of historical significance which are now on display. The Dutch kas is the large cabinet in the dining room, built between the 17th and 18th centuries, with two elaborately decorated doors and a heavy cornice. It holds many of the gadgets used by women who lived in the Force Home’s era.

Above, S. Kurvathi, Livingston Historical Society Docent Lorraine Palmer, Siri Patil, and Rohin Patil (L-R) explore items in the Dutch kas.

Also on display are a grandfather clock from the Edison Foundation, an original Hitchcock rocking bench, Victorian pieces, spinning wheels, a large mirrored clothes rack that belonged to General McClellan, and a large original desk used in Livingston’s first Post Office. In the front of the building is an old Indian stone that was used to grind corn.

Docents from the Livingston Historical Society will lead free tours of the Force Homestead on the second Sunday of the month during September, October, November, April, May, and June from 2 pm to 4 pm. In addition, private tours may be arranged by contacting Lorraine Palmer at 973-992-6896.

Learn more about the Livingston Historical Society and the Force Homestead Museum here.

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