Samuel Mickle House - Haddonfield, NJ
N 39° 54.037 W 075° 01.642
18S E 497660 N 4416727
Due to the efforts of the Haddonfield Historical Society, this house was relocated and preserved for future generations. Listed May 21, 1975, this Register site has the distinction of having had 3 addresses, it being moved twice in the last century.
Waymark Code: WM5Y3Q
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 02/28/2009
Views: 2
The Mickle House is an early 18th century saddler's shop which was moved to the grounds of Greenfield Hall in the early 1960's. After rapid growth and locations in several places which were quickly outgrown, the Historical Society, through pledges, increases in membership fees and proceeds from the sale of both the property at 231 Kings Highway East and the final buyout of the Society's interest in the original Library Building on Haddon Avenue, bought historic Greenfield Hall, a NRHP site. Dedication of Greenfield Hall as the new headquarters of the Historical Society took place on February 28, 1961. But Greenfield Hall eventually was not big enough to accommodate the needs of the Historical Society.
"In 1965 the Society completed its architectural endeavors when it moved one of the earliest structures in town, the early 1700's Samuel Mickle House, also referred to as the "Hip Roof House", to the grounds of Greenfield Hall. Originally intended to function as a museum building which would act as an example of the earliest homes in the town and the furnishings associated with that period, it was pressed into use as the Library of the Historical Society in the 1990's when the burgeoning library collections outgrew their original two rooms in Greenfield Hall."
The library is open to both members and the public at no cost, although a donation for use of the collections is requested. The wrongly named Hip Roof House, which dates to the early 1700s, is the oldest residence in Haddonfield. It was built at a time when early settlers and local Leni Lenape Indians lived together in this wilderness area. According to Don Wallace, this building originally stood on East Kings Highway, on the northwest side of the road about a 1/2 mile or so from the present site. When it moved the first time it was placed in the parking lot of what is now the Acme which was a former Hicksite meeting house. After a time there, it was moved to its current location today. Don is the curator/director of tool collections for the Historical Society of Haddonfield. He also informed me renovations and restorations will begin again on the house this year.
There is a brick shed in the back with two garage doors (obvious additions for this century) where tools and other supplies are kept. It is here the tools are. Today, Don and a group of volunteers, are moving the tools top inside this house. Incidentally, Don mentioned this house, being also known as the Hip Roof House (on the register house and to local residents) is an erroneous nick name. The roof is in fact NOT a hip roof but a gambrel roof (similar to what one would see on a bar). Check out wikipedia and after looking at the pictures and you will understand. The roof has mold and the wooden shingles are badly in need of replacement.
The following narrative comes from the Haddonfield NRHP District nomination form, created March 16, 1979, evaluated April 18, 1980 and finally approved on July 21, 1982.
"Historic Samuel Mickel [spelled incorrectly] house, oldest house extant in Haddonfield. Built in early 1700's, now on the National Register of Historic Places. Wood shed in rear built in 1836. Exterior front portion has been restored to original vertical beaded New Jersey cedar boards. Heavy batten door. Windows, 6 over 6 lights. Wood shingled roof, heavy butts. Small formers on the front in the gambrel roof which is a very early 18th century style. Was owned by Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh, founder of Haddonfield, for 12 years. Moved from another section of town in 1965 by Historical Society to the site of its headquarters at #343. Purchased and restored by Historical Society. Interior now being restored."
Incidentally, the National Register page has the address incorrectly listed as 345. It is actually 343. The nomination form and subsequent narrative also misspells the name of Samuel Mickle, spelling it Mickel.
Library Hours
Tuesday and Thursday
9:30-11:30 a.m.
and the first Sunday of each month
1 to 3 p.m.
(609) 795-8005
Other Hours Available By Appointment
My Sources
Historical Society
PAGE
Planetware SITE
History and Genealogy of the Mickle Family
Interview with Don Wallace, Curator for Haddonfield Historical Society
February 28, 2009, 9:30 AM
