Nutley Revolutionary War Memorial Corner of Franklin Ave. and New St.
In front of Nutley High School Click here for Map / Directions
A memorial to the Revolutionary War soldiers known to have lived in Nutley sits in front of the Nutley High School. A plaque on the stone lists the names of the soldiers:
Henry Brown
Isaac Brown
John J. Brown
Manus Brown
Samuel Rutan Sr.
Samuel Rutan Jr.
Abraham Speer
John Van Riper
John Vreeland
Michael Vreeland [1]
"This building constructed about 1702, Present home of the woman's club, was occupied during the Revolution by British sympathizers; confiscated for that reason, it was acquired by Captain Speer, Patriot Soldier. " [2]
The Vreeland House has been used as the headquarters of the Nutley Women's club. It is not open for tours at this time.
The Nutley Junior Women's Club website states the following about the history of the house:
"The house was built in 1702 by Abran VanGieson. Since VanGieson was a Tory, his land and house were confiscated after the Revolutionary War and were bought by Captain John Speer, a Patriot. He sold the little Dutch homestead to John Vreeland and the house remained in the Vreeland family until the 1900's.
"Vreeland House is an excellent example of the solidity and simplicity of the Dutch colonial period and is the oldest surviving house in constant use in Nutley. Its thick brown sandstone construction material was quarried and cut from the banks of the nearby Passaic River. A framed square on a wall of the house shows the mixture of the building material composed of local clay and straw taken from the banks of the stream, which runs alongside the house property." [3]
The Van Riper House is currently being restored, and not open at this time. For information about the house, the restoration, and how to donate, visit the Van Riper House website: www.vanriperhouse.org
The Van Riper House, which was built circa 1708, was the home of Revolutionary War soldier John Abraham Van Riper. (His name appears as simply 'John Abraham' on the Nutley Revolutionary War Soldiers Memorial listed above). His Father, Abraham Van Riper who also lived at the house was a supporter of the Patriot cause during the war. [4]
Sources:
1.^ Names from the plaque, dedicated by the Yanticaw Chapter Daughters of The American Revolution in 1965
2.^ Tablet placed by the Nutley Chapter - New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution - in 1935
