Saturday, July 11, 2015

Abbott - DeCou Mansion


Abbott - DeCou Mansion
58 Soloff Drive

        Once at the end of a  long lane leading from South Broad Street, the house in which Lacey and Sally Abbott settled was built in 1797.  Lacey was the grandson of Timothy Abbott, the son of John Abbott, who came to this country from England in the early 1700s, and settled on this land later known as Spring Lake Park.  Later John bought land a mile east of the Watson plantation.
                The home is referred to as the old DeCou mansion because Peter DeCou purchased it in 1892.  DeCou's wife, Martha, was known to many as "Aunt Martha," a generous and civic-minded person.  For example, when a school on South Broad Street was necessary, Aunt Martha donated a large plot of land for a playground.  The former DeCou School and the DeCou Hose Company are named in her honor.
                  Source: Old Nottingham, Historical Association of Hamilton Township

         The above image depicts what was originally the rear (north elevation) of the house with the rear (south elevation) toward the Delaware River being the main entrance.  The house is on the National and State Registers.  It is privately owned. 

5 comments:

  1. The Abbott House was built in 1797 by Samuel Abbott. His wife was Lucy (see National Registry Form filed 1976). The builder and his wife's initials, along with date can be seen in vitrified header bricks on the west elevation on the house.

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  2. I currently live in the house

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    1. Greetings! Thank you for your reply!!
      I was notified via email of your response. I am the individual who left the previous reply back in September.

      As a personal hobby of mine, I've spent the past three years researching and documenting through photography, the various 18th century patterned brick houses in New Jersey. Mostly in Burlington and Salem Counties. I have yet to see the Abbott House.

      With permission, I would very much like to take a few photos of the house's exterior, namely the builder's initials and date located in the gable end.

      I currently live in South Jersey, about 30 mins away. I would have no issues providing you with my email address and/or phone number if you have no objections to meeting, talking about your house, or with me taking pictures. Ben

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  3. Hi Ben, I stumbled across this post. Please email me at wolcott77@hotmail.com and we can talk privately. We currently own this house.

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    1. Greetings Melissa! I emailed you at the address provided, but never heard back.

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