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MANSGROVE - Circa 1722
Recognized as an important historic property in Princeton, Mansgrove is noted in Architecture of Princeton by Constance Greiff, Mary W. Gibbons, and Elizabeth G. C. Menzies (Princeton University Press, 1967). Its significance arises both from the notable individuals associated with the property and the architecture that has been created, adapted, and preserved over more than three centuries.
The Property: Mansgrove once encompassed approximately 160 acres. By 1795, it had been reduced to 50 acres; by 1925, it had decreased further to 25 acres due to additional land sales. By 1980, approximately 3 acres remained, and today the property consists of 2.7 acres. In recognition of its historical and architectural significance, Mansgrove was designated a historic district by the Princeton Township Historic Sites Commission (now the Historic Preservation Commission). A commemorative plaque at the base of the front column acknowledges the property's presence during the Revolutionary era. Mansgrove is also featured in Robert Gambee's Princeton.
The Structure :Mansgrove is unusual as a surviving example of a wooden structure combining late Georgian and early Federal design elements, sustained through centuries of use, including multiple interior fireplaces. The earliest portion--the kitchen wing--was originally a simple four-room farmstead facing Mt. Lucas Road, the principal route between Princeton and Somerville. It was built in an expanded form of the New England saltbox tradition. The keeping room door is believed to be original and opens onto an early stone threshold. Portions of the keeping room walls are constructed of stone with deep window sills, and the walk-in fireplace hearth is of considerable age. The basement beneath the kitchen contains rafters formed from bark-covered tree trunks, characteristic of early colonial construction (later reinforced in the modern era). In 1795, shortly after the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States Constitution, either the Stocktons or Bonnet constructed the formal "five-over-four-and-a-door" Federal center hall structure. The facade features beaded clapboard, refined cornice work, plain lintels and shutters, and a six-paneled front door. A subtle star motif--interpreted as a nod to the Revolution--appears beside the Federal fanlight and triangular pediment. Inside, the central hall retains an original pendant light fixture and decorative plaster ceiling trim. A keystone arch frames a view through to the original rear door, which historically allowed for cross ventilation during Princeton's summers. Both front and rear interior doors retain original Federal hardware. The staircase features a spiral banister with a peace button and heart-shaped spandrels. The morning room contains decorative plaster cornices, with mirrored paneling beneath the windows, and a delicate period Adam-style mantel. The dining room includes a rare New Jersey punchwork/gougework mantel. Built-in cabinets flanking the fireplace likely served as food warmers or storage during the Federal period. The parlor behind the morning room was expanded during the Victorian era to serve as a kitchen and dining space for farmhands, likely accessed via a side Dutch door. During the 1925 restoration, this large room was converted into a ballroom and its fireplace restored. A small rear addition was added in the 1980s. The room behind the dining room originally served as a children's room and was later used as a library. It features a Franklin-style fireplace and a simple mantel. Upstairs, bedroom sizes mirror those of the main floor, and three of the four bedrooms in this section include fireplaces. In 2001-2002, further renovations were completed in the kitchen, breakfast room, mudroom, and powder room areas, based on designs by architect Max Hayden.
