The Parker Homestead is a historic home and grounds in Little Silver, Monmouth County,

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, United States, located at 235 Rumson Road near Sickles Park. The main house was originally built circa 1720, and includes materials from an earlier structure (c. 1667) the early and late 19th century, and the 1910s and 1920s. It is one of the oldest extant buildings in the state. The

farmstead A homestead is an isolated dwelling, especially a farmhouse, and adjacent outbuildings, typically on a large agricultural holding such as a ranch or station. In North America the word "homestead" historically referred to land claimed by a settle ...

which also includes three outlying barns were listed on the

New Jersey Register of Historic Places The New Jersey Register of Historic Places is the official list of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The program is administered by the New Jersey's state historic preservation office within ...

and the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

. in 2011.

Original settlers

Little Silver was settled by two of the original patentees of Shrewsbury Township, one of the earliest English-speaking settlements in New Jersey Brothers Joseph and Peter Parker settled in the area in 1667 and owned land bounded by Parker's Creek on the south and Little Silver Creek on the north, named their holdings "Little Silver" after their father's (George Parker) estate in

Portsmouth, Rhode Island Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,871 at the 2020 U.S. census. Portsmouth is the second-oldest municipality in Rhode Island, after Providence; it was one of the four colonies which merged ...

. The farm remained in the family until the last descendant of the original settlers, Julia Parker, died in 1995.

Acquisition and preservation

After Julia Parker died the homestead was acquired by the borough, through her bequest, with the condition that it be preserved. Studies are being conducted as to how to proceed with restoration of the property. The Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund awarded a $44,625 grant for the site and local authorities used that money for preliminary preparations and consultant fees to outline a plan for future work and use of the historic property. The condition of the buildings are considered precarious and immediate stabilization is considered a priority. In the summer of 2013, an Eagle Scout project was conducted to clear invasive and obtrusive plants from the area surrounding the pond next to the house.

References

{{NRHP in Monmouth County, New Jersey Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey Houses in Monmouth County, New Jersey Houses completed in 1667 National Register of Historic Places in Monmouth County, New Jersey New Jersey Register of Historic Places 1667 establishments in New Jersey Little Silver, New Jersey

Original settlers

Acquisition and preservation

See also

References