Livingston’s Force Homestead Museum To Hold Free Tours: Nov. 11

LIVINGSTON, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Livingston Township. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

The Force Homestead Museum, located at 366 S. Livingston Ave., Livingston will be open to the public on Sunday, November 11, 2018 from 2 pm to 4 pm.

Originally built in 1745 as a one-room house with a loft by Theophilus Ward, the architecture of this historic house reflects the daily lives of the early settlers. In 1777 Samuel Force purchased the farm. He gave it to his son, Thomas Force, who served in the Revolutionary war and settled in the house with his wife Hannah Smith, after the war. Thomas and Hannah were the parents of ten children, and over the years, added a larger section to the one-room house.

When the Township of Livingston purchased the Force Home, in 1962, the inside of the house was badly in need of repair and the entire house had to be shored up. It became the purpose of the newly formed Livingston Historical Society to restore the Force Home.

Members of the Society located and preserved numerous items of historical significance which are now on display. On display are items from one of the founding families of Livingston, the Squier’s, which one of the seven hamlets that eventually became known as Livingston was name for, Squiertown. Also on display are a grandfather’s clock from the Edison Foundation, an original Hitchcock rocking bench, also many Victorian pieces, spinning wheels, a large mirrored clothes rack that belonged to General McClellan and a large original desk, used in Livingston’s first Post Office. In the front of the building is an old Indian stone , used to grind corn.

Docents from the Livingston Historical Society will lead free tours of the Force Homestead on the second Sunday of the month during September, October, November, April, May and June from 2 pm – 4 pm. In addition, private tours may be arranged by contacting Lorraine Palmer at (973) 992-6896.

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Photos via Livingston Township