Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

New Jersey Historic Trust Affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs

Ford-Faesch Manor House

New Jersey Historic Preservation Bond Program
Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund
Capital Level I Grant
Capital Level II Grant
Grant Award: $82,919 (1992); $348,388 (2019); $68,390 (2022)
Grant Recipient: Historical Society of Rockaway Township
County: Morris
Municipality: Rockaway Township

The Ford-Faesch Manor House is significant for its associations with the history of mining and industry in Mount Hope.  The land surrounding the house was purchased by Jacob Ford, Sr., in 1750 to establish forges and mines in the area. The house, an elaborate, two-story, five-bay, stone building designed in the Georgian style, was built by his son, Jacob Ford, Jr. in the 1760s. The land and associated mines were leased to John Jacob Faesch, an immigrant from Switzerland, in the 1770s.  Faesch operated an iron furnace there until his death in 1799.  The furnace supplied shot shells, cannons, cannon shot, refined bar iron, shovels, axes and other implements for the Continental Army during the Revolution.  With General Washington’s approval, Faesch’s workforce was made up of more than thirty Hessian prisoners of war. The house was purchased by Rockaway Township in 1983 after sitting vacant for many years.  Since then, the Township and Historical Society have undertaken exterior and interior preservation and structural stabilization including revealing the original finishes that remained under the layers of the later alterations. Upon completion, the property will contain offices, flex space, archives for the historical society, and also serve as a local history museum.  

The 2022 Trust grant will help fund phase 2 interior restoration.

The 2019 Trust grant helped the Township fund a partial interior restoration. The 1992 Trust grant helped the Historical Society fund exterior and interior work. 

For more information, visit: https://www.rockawaytownship.org/163/Historical-Society 


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