THE POLHEMUS HOUSE THE POLHEMUS HOUSE Former Site of a 19th Century Town House ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW The Polhemus House was built in the Italianate style, fashionable The Polhemus House formerly between 1840 and 1870. It is stood here on The Newark Museum characterized by elaborate, bold, of Art’s campus. It was part of the projecting exterior ornament, with an emphasis on repetitive James Street Commons Historic forms. Victorian-era homes District and listed in the New Jersey such as this were organized National Registers of Historic into public and private zones. MAP Places. From its completion in 1863 Public areas were typically the DETAIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW most elaborately designed, while JERSEY. JAMES STREET COMMONS until 1948, the house was owned by HISTORIC DISTRICT IS OUTLINED. the private spaces, accessible (HAGSTROM MAP COMPANY, INC., 2004) the Polhemus family. Upon its sale only to the family and servants for commercial use, it was the last were far less extravagant. These remaining 19th century town house included bedrooms, bathrooms, on Washington Park. and kitchens. The Parlor or first- HOUSE WASHINGTON ST. floor level was intended to be the EAST ELEVATION, 1948. (COURTESY BCA) RESIDENCES ALONG WASHINGTON STREET, 1891. THE POLHEMUS HOUSE IS AT most public space in the house. THE FAR LEFT. (COLLECTION OF THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY) HOUSE & FAMILY The Polhemus House was constructed between 1860 and 1863 for Eliza Polhemus, the widow of Abraham Polhemus. She raised seven of her nine children there. In 1883 Eliza sold the house to doctor and merchant Charles K. Wagner and his wife Elizabeth Callen Wagner. The Wagner’s daughter, Ida Bell Wagner, shortly thereafter ELIZA BRODHEAD HEYER POLHEMUS PARLOR ROOM DINING ROOM PARLOR ROOM married Eliza’s son James Suydam Polhemus, 1815-1901. 1863-1883 WIDOW OF REV. PARLOR, LOOKING EAST TOWARDS FRONT OF HOUSE, DINING ROOM, LOOKING WEST, 1948. (HALSEY DOUGLAS; PHOTO PARLOR LOOKING WEST TOWARDS DINING ROOM, ABRAHAM POLHEMUS. (CREDIT?) 1948. (HALSEY DOUGLAS; COLLECTION OF THE NEWARK COLLECTION OF THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART) 1948. (HALSEY DOUGLAS; COLLECTION OF THE NEWARK thereby keeping the house in the family name. MUSEUM OF ART) MUSEUM OF ART) LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POLHEMUS HOUSE AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD | NEWARKMUSEUMART.ORG/NEIGHBORHOOD .