History Of Joyce Kilmer's 'House' Poem Examined At Annual Celebration

MAHWAH, N.J. — The genesis of one of Joyce Kilmer's most beloved poems, "House With Nobody In It," it was thought could be traced back the old Nobody's Inn.

But that it not true.

Kilmer stumbled across the deserted house on Franklin Turnpike during a walk while he was visiting his mother. The house formerly housed several several taverns and an Inn. It never fell into disrepair and was never vacant. It was one of the finer homes in Mahwah.

The house and its role in Kilmer creating were discussed at the Joyce Klimer Society's annual Joyce Kilmer Day Sunday.

It was long since thought that Nobody's Inn owner George Fusiek put the poem on menus in the inn.

The house that Kilmer "undoubtedly" was inspired by was "the old Christie house" on the east side of Franklin Turnpike, farther north, which was torn down.

John Christie, a Revolutionary War veterans, also lived in the house at one point. He died in 1836.

Alex Michelini founded the Joyce Kilmer Society in 2013. Kilmer wrote "Trees," one of the most beloved poems of all time, while living in Mahwah 100 years prior.

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Photo: Joyce Kilmer — Public domain image