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1743
Isaac Drake purchases the 111 acres that the house is to be built on from Judge Samuel Neville. Isaac, his sons Nathaniel, Isaac, and Samuel, and their slaves, Tone, Tom, and Caesar begin construction. 1746 Construction on the Drake House is complete. It is a one-and-a-half story, four-room farm house with a loft upstairs. Nathaniel moves in shortly after his 21st birthday. 1759 Isaac Drake dies and in his will frees his slave Cate. The other three slaves, Tom, Tone, and Cesar, are to be freed 10 years after his death. 1769 Tom, Tone, and Cesar are freed. June 25, 1777 General George Washington holds a Council of War at the Drake House. June 25-27, 1777 General George Washington meets with scouts and commands his troops from the Drake House. The Battle of Short Hills is fought. May, 1788 Three of the Nathaniel Drake’s sons, Cornelius, Abraham and Isaac, depart from New Jersey with their families and head to the western territory, eventually settling in Mays Lick, Kentucky. September 22, 1864 Daniel Drake sells the house and 6.41 acres of land to wealthy New York businessman John S. Harberger for $5,000. (Approximately $81,838.85 today) 1865 John S. Harberger begins to modernize the house and adds a new second story with mansard roof and dormers, projecting bays and kitchen stairs and installs the main stairs. |
1875
The tower is added and replaces the rear lean-to. The port-cochere entrance and turret tower are added. April 26, 1917 John S. Harberger’s heirs sell the house to Rosa and Siegmund Frucht who made it into a boarding house. January 2, 1920 During WWI, the Drake House was occupied by a group against the Allied cause, and seditious literature was found when the house was raided. Nicholas Balsun was arrested and sent to Ellis Island, eventually deported. Plainfield was one of 25 municipalities that were raided during the Palmer Raids. The house was then abandoned. June 24, 1920 The house is bought by Bertram F. Tallamy, who conveys it to the West End Civic Association of Plainfield for $15,000. (Approximately $180,722.89 today) 1921 The first meeting of the Historical Society of Plainfield and North Plainfield is held and the Drake House becomes a museum for the citizens of Plainfield. 2002-2006 The Historical Society of Plainfield is able to start and complete a restoration plan for the house costing approximately $1.2 million. 2014-2015 The Historical Society of Plainfield completes upgrades to security, fire alarm system, and exterior lighting. 2015 The Historical Society of Plainfield receives assistance from the City of Plainfield Shade Tree Commission for exterior landscaping. 2020-2023 Due to COVID-19. the Drake House was closed. In partnership with the Plainfield Public Library, educational Zoom programs were provided to the community. Local group of historians established a Fort research team to locate the boundaries of the Blue Hills Militia Post. 2024-2026 Preparations are being made for the 250th Anniversary. Roofing, flashing, window and door are undergoing restoration and preservation efforts. |