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Federal Hall: A Historic Wonder
04/07/2009
The steamboat-shaped house stands the test of time.
The architectural structure located on Route 520 West commonly known as the Federal Hall Inn and farm (although it is often referred to as the steamboat” house due to its ship-like shape) is a historic wonder that has drawn interest within the township for an extended period of years. The stories that exist concerning the structure, whether they are fact or fiction, are not only remarkably unique, but also tell a tale well worth listening to. From documents citing patriotic reasoning for the name of the house, to tales that a former ship captain lived there, to the structure serving as a tavern at some period in time, this house has a prominent history that will not soon be forgotten.
According to the present owner of the home, Patrick Pentland - who is an architect as well as the Chairman of the Marlboro Township Historic Commission - the name Federal Hall was most likely given to the home due to the patriotism of its first recorded owner, Colonel Elias Conover, who had served in Captain Waddell’s company during the American Revolution. Conover resided at the home around the time he had married his wife, Ann, in 1780. The 350 acres of land that Federal Hall sat upon – from over 600 total acres of farmland – had apparently been inherited by Conover from his mother and father, John and Eleanor Conover, in 1793,and remained with the Conover family for approximately 60 years. In 1840, Federal Hall and 226 acres were purchased by John J. Ely and passed down through subsequent generations of the Ely family, up until 1933, when Gilbert and Sadie Magee purchased 123 acres of land from Daniel and Mary Ely.
According to lore, at some point in the mid-19th century during the Conover reign of the home, a ship captain who apparently sailed on the Mississippi might have lived there. Although this story has not been confirmed, a number of people seem to believe that a captain might have lived within the structure at some point due to the shape of the house — i.e., octagonal — which does resemble that of a steamboat. This story isn’t that far-fetched, being that a lot of people during the 1700’s and 1800’s built or added to their homes to remember their lifetime experiences. According to Pentland, the master bedroom has uniquely designed closet doors, which illustrate hand-carved gold painted scrolling; he explained that the doors are believed to have come from one of the steamboats that the captain sailed. Pentland further explained that the house is a traditional two-story, five-bay with ell form architectural farmhouse design that was popular during the 19th century.
Another story that is associated with this historic landmark is the belief that Federal Hall might have received its name from something other than the patriotic feelings exemplified by Colonel Conover. The home was believed to have been an inn and stagecoach stop serving the Monmouth County area during the early 1800’s, named Federal Hall due to the extreme patriotism most people had after the American Revolution. However, more recent historical research seems to have disproved this particular belief.
Regardless of all the stories that are associated with the home, the wonder of it all is noteworthy. Since Pentland’s took over ownership of the home in 1999 (the first family in over 150 years to have no relation to the Conover/Ely families) he has researched and continues to research the true history of the home. However, he remarked that the stories about the residence being owned by a steamboat captain, or exactly how the stories started about the many names the house has been given, are all quite intriguing.
Over a period of decades the house and its farmland have changed a great deal; Pentland said that each and every owner of the house lived a very simple life and continued to farm the land, and an outhouse as well as the smokehouse remains on the Pentland property. Actually, the Magees continued to manage the farm up until 1968. The barn that resided on the property was knocked down in the mid-1970’s, and in the 1980’s the land was subdivided and sold for development. The house now sits on a 2-acre parcel of land. Although a number of changes have taken place over the years, the house still remains basically unchanged. The layout is still in the federal style, complete with wraparound deck with columns. Upon entering the house, the distinct thick plaster moldings of the 1800’s architecture are apparent. The dark wooden curving staircase leads to the second floor and continues up to the attic. A marble insert exists in the newel post at the bottom of the staircase, which signifies that a mortgage had been paid off. An oversized door in the entry foyer, which was placed in the room for funereal purposes, still remains. The ceilings are high: 11 feet to be exact. The oldest portion of the house, which is believed to be the original farmhouse dating back to the 1740’s, sits on the original stone foundations. The old coal-burning stove and hand-blown glass windows still remain, along with a trap door in the floor to access the basement. Two hidden stairways with steep, narrow steps that bear deep indentations from over 200 years of wear lead to the second floor. Overall, the house is a historical landmark that is unsurpassed. Pentland, who resides in the house with his wife Piedad and their two sons, intends to keep the house in its traditional fashion and collects antiques to make the house’s appearance that much more complete and unique.
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