Fosterfields

Circa 1000, the land was inhabited by Munsee Lenape people. Circa 1500, Morris County was part of the Lenapehoking.[13] Arrowheads found in Munsee encampments throughout the Washington Valley suggest that they hunted wolf, elk, and wild turkey for game. They likely ate mussels from the Whippany River.[14]

In the 17th century, Munsee fishermen made an annual pilgrimage from the Washington Valley to the Minisink Island on the Delaware River, in part to procure shellfish. Caroline Foster has said it is likely that Munsee farmers cultivated corn in the summertime in the fields of the Washington Valley.[14]

In 1757, white colonists of the "New Jersey Association for Helping the Indians" forcibly relocated roughly 200 Lenape to Brotherton, New Jersey.[15] In 1801, some members of the tribe voluntarily traveled to join the Oneidas' reservation in Stockbridge, New York after receiving an invitation from the Oneidas.[16][6][17] However, colonists again expelled Lenape families in Stockbridge to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1822.[6]

Circa the 1750s, Samuel Roberts had purchased over 150 acres (61 ha) of land in Washington Valley, including what became Fosterfields and the nearby Ranney farm.[14]

In 1774, Samuel Roberts's stepson Jonathan Ogden married Abigail Gardiner.[14] Roberts gave him 150 acres, presumably as a wedding gift.[18] A farmhouse was built to house Ogden, possibly by enslaved carpenters. Although the farmhouse burned down in 1915, the original 1-story foundation still remains.

In 1776, Ogden was listed as a landowner in Morristown. He was a county judge, and from 1802 to 1804, represented Morris County in New Jersey Legislature. He invested in the First Presbyterian Church's purchase of the Morristown Green.[14]

During the Revolutionary War winter of 1779–1780, General Washington stationed four regiments of artillery, field pieces, forges, and machine shops in nearby Burnham Park. Washington directed Henry Knox, Continental Brigadier general, to be in the proximity of the artillery park.[6] Knox either used the Ogden farmhouse or the Samuel Roberts house as his home and headquarters.[19]

Thomas, Neal, and Ibbe[14] were Black persons on the plantation who were enslaved by Ogden circa 1825. Ogden died in 1825 at the age of 82.[20] Jonathan Ogden put his wife Abigail and son Charles in charge of enforcing his will. In his will, Ogden stipulated "my wife Abigail have the time and services of my three blacks - Thomas, Neal, and Ibbe[Note 1] - during her life."[21] It is unclear whether Thomas, Neal, and/or Ibbe were freed after the death of Abigail Ogden. Sources do not indicate when the farm discontinued use of enslaved labor.

The 1851 issue of The Jerseyman featured a real estate advertisement for the plantation:[22][23]

Very desirable farm known as the 'Ogden Farm,' lying about one mile west of Morristown upon the Morris turnpike and Eastern turnpike is offered for sale. Pleasantly situated with fine southern exposure and contains 88 acres (36 ha) of land. There is upon it an excellent two-storey dwelling house with kitchen attached; good barn, cow house, wagon house, and other outbuildings; never failing spring run of water passing near the house and through lawn; wood land. Title indisputable.

In 1852, Revere purchased the farmland from landowner Platt Rogers for $6,000.[22] Revere was a naval officer and the grandson of Paul Revere who was best known for his role in the American Revolutionary War.[22] General Revere had visited California and Mexico, where he suppressed Californios during America's California conquest, before returning east to New Jersey.

Joseph Warren Revere lived in The Willows at the time this picture was taken (1864).

Revere planned to construct a new, customized mansion, later named The Willows due to the large grove of willows in the woods surrounding the property.[14] Revere chose a site about 700 feet (210 m) west of the Ogden house. He contracted local master carpenter Ashbel Bruen of Chatham to construct the home.[24][25] The house is built on a picturesque slope overlooking the farm, with deeply pitched crossing gabled roofs. Its front door faces southeast.[22]

Revere directed much of the elaborate design despite his lack of architectural background, and the result reflected Gothic Revival style - specifically, Carpenter Gothic.[5] Revere hoped to retire on the estate.[5] The design of The Willows resembles Wheeler's 1849 Olmstead House; in his pattern book Rural Homes of 1851, British architect Gervase Wheeler published his pattern for Henry Olmstead's then-$3,000 house in East Hartford, Connecticut.[22] Historian Renée Elizabeth Tribert argues that either Revere or Bruen undoubtedly owned a copy of the book and based it on Wheeler's design.[26]

While Bruen constructed the Willows from 1852 to 1854, the Revere family temporarily lived in the Ogden house. During this time, Thomas Duncan Revere was born, on November 22, 1853.[24]

Written on August 7, 1854, Bruen's construction contract stated:[24]

[Bruen] shall and will on or before the first day of February erect, build, setup, and finish one dwelling house [for $7,125.15].

Bruen's construction of The Willows was completed in 1854, when the Reveres moved in.[5][24] Norway spruces were planted around the mansion.[14]

A self-taught artist, Revere likely painted the elaborate tromp l'oeil murals in the dining room, which were later maintained by the Foster family. The dining room murals include still lives, the Revere family crest, and a bouquet of baguettes. Revere also painted what appear to be wooden Gothic arches onto many of the walls.[5][27]

In 1861, the Civil War prompted Revere to voluntarily join the Union military. Revere became Union Army General of the Civil War; he was commander of the 7th New Jersey Infantry Regiment and 2nd New Jersey Infantry Regiment. In 1872, injuries forced Revere to move to Morristown.[28]

Author Bret Harte rented The Willows.

For the next nine years, the Reveres rented The Willows out to tenants. One tenant was the author Bret Harte. Harte drew inspiration from his time in Morristown to write 1877 historical romance novel Thankful Blossom, which takes place in Morristown.[29]

On April 20, 1880, Revere died of a heart attack[14] while on a ferry to New York.[30]

From 1878 to 1880, Brooklyn Heights-based commodity broker Charles Grant Foster (1843–1927) rented The Willows, possibly in order to provide his wife with medical care for tuberculosis.[31]

In 1881, following Revere's death, Charles Foster purchased the entire property. It was later known as Foster Farms and Fosterfields. In 1882, Foster purchased two adjoining farms: the Gribbon Farm on the east and the Nathaniel Wilson Farm on the west.

He managed the farm while continuing to work in New York City and Morristown, as a gentleman farmer. His family lived and entertained guests in The Willows, Revere's former estate. Foster employed farmhands and coachmen to work on the property, including European immigrants and Irish immigrants. An example of Foster's employees were the Woods family, who lived in the Ogden House during this time; Edward Woods managed the farmhands and Agnes Woods provided food for them.

To establish his dairy farm, Foster and his brother imported purebred Jersey cows from the British Isle of Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands. Charles Foster participated in the American Jersey cattle trading industry, as evident by journal advertisements. An August 1900 advertisement in The Country Gentleman reads:[32]

FOSTERFIELD'S HERD JERSEYS.

FOR SALE—COWS and HEIFERS, all my own breeding, and a choice lot in every way. Nearly every one sired by bulls...with butter tests of 14 lb. and upward, and served by bulls of the same standard. Will sell singly or a carload. Also for Sale, Bulls out of Tested Cows. Address CHARLES G. FOSTER

Post-Office Box 173, Morristown, Morris Co., N.J.

Purebred Jersey cows were integral to Charles G. Foster's management of Fosterfields. The farm profited from sales of their butter, bulls, cows, and calves.

A similar September 1919 advertisement was posted in Home and Field Illustrated:[33]

Fosterfield's Herd Registered Jerseys.

FOR SALE—Young Cows. Heifers, due to be fresh this summer and later. Calves, both sexes, very attractive. Come and see them or write CHARLES G. FOSTER

P. O. Box 173, Morristown, Morris Co., N.J.

In 1974, farmer and philanthropist Caroline Rose Foster (1877–1979), bequeathed the estate to the Morris County Park Commission to preserve the farm.[11][34][35]

The property is an open-air museum of farm life as it was in the early 20th century. Pamphlets of the museum state that it specifically focuses on Fosterfields during the 1880s to 1930s. It specifically depicts the Fosters' life in The Willows and the Woods family's life in the Ogden House. Antique machinery is on display and part of demonstrations, including an early 20th century corn sheller, icebox, wood stove, and barrel butter churns.

Visitors can see farm animals, farmers caring for animals and plowing and planting fields, and historical tour guides. Guests help perform daily farm tasks like collecting eggs, cleaning the horse harness, and grinding feed corn for the chickens.[1]

As of 2022, heritage breeds at the farm include:[37]

• Jersey cattle;
• Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Barredrock, and White Leghorn chickens;
• Oberhasli goats;
• Cayuga ducks;
• African goose;
• Shropshire rams, and mixed Leicester/Romney ewes.

The farm has hosted sheepdog trials since the late 1980s. In 2005, the trials were discontinued, but returned in 2014.[38][39][40]

In the past, the farm offered a "Share-a-Chore" program, where members of the public would pay admission to do farm chores like cleaning stalls and maintaining equipment. It also ran a program called "Spread It Around" where paying observers watched a team of Belgian workhorses scatter manure on a pasture.[41]

In 2011, the farm offered a series of classes called "The Wood Stove Cook" to teach members of the public how to cook on an antique wood stove.[34]

In 2022, students at the County College of Morris created a virtual reality exhibit of the Willows' second floor, combining 3D modeling with 360-degree cameras and photo stitching. The goal was to provide a second-floor experience for people with mobility disabilities; the upper level of the Willows is not wheelchair accessible due to a historically preserved narrow staircase and lack of elevator access. This exhibit claims to provide an accessible experience for "history buffs facing mobility issues."[42]