John Roseberry Homestead
located at 540 Warren
Street, this stone house dates from around the period of the Revolution
and is probably the oldest structure in Phillipsburg. This
two-story,
stone, center-hall Colonial home was built in the late eighteenth
century
by one of Phillipsburg’s earliest and most influential
settler families.
The house has a bank cellar and other original details inside and out,
although some later revisions were made. John
Roseberry, Sr.,
[Ed. note: According to genealogical information,
Michael Roseberry,
born abt 1682, was the progenitor of the Roseberry clan in NW NJ.] was
one of Phillipsburg’s original settlers; and a member of the
Roseberry
family sold 300 acres north of this house for new housing to accomodate
the growth of Phillipsburg following the construction of the New Jersey
Central Railroad in 1852.
About 30 years ago the
predecessor of the Phillipsburg
Historical Society mounted a major effort to restore the
Roseberry
house on Warren Street in Phillipsburg. Unfortunately, disagreements
about
the direction of the restoration once the basic work was done led to
factions
which ultimately caused the old society's dissolution. The building is
actually owned by the Phillipsburg School District. A grant was awarded
for preservation/restoration for the Roseberry house, but the grant
money
is being funnelled through the Warren County government. To date, the
Phillipsburg
History Society has been unable to get any answers from the
governmental
officials about when any contracts will be signed for the work to be
done.
The historical society are especially distressed at the building's
current
condition, since some of its members were involved in the work done in
the 1970's.
The Society welcome anyone's
assistance in moving
the project along, but they are at a loss regarding what action would
be
effective. Any suggestions would be welcome.
*At the time of his birth, the home
was located in
Greenwich Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. The plaque on his grave
at Pioneer Cemetary in Point Pleasant, WV, incorrectly states that he
was
born in Green Co., PA.
