The Charles Ellis House - Mt. Holly Historic District - Mt. Holly, NJ
N 39° 59.736 W 074° 47.904
18S E 517209 N 4427288
This sad, little 1836 house has lost all its charm. A modern home has been built right up next to it and the original brick construction is hidden with yellow paint.
Waymark Code: WMEV2H
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 07/08/2012
Views: 3
With so many beautiful homes which have retained their architectural integrity throughout the historic district that did not make the cut for contributing structures, I am unsure why this one did. I was afraid to get out of the car; the area has none of the charm or warm-inviting feeling I experienced down the road a half mile. I felt like I was at a housing project rather than a historical home. The back has an unattractive addition as well which further soured the experience. I am glad this was the last structure of the day I visited. Parking is dicey and dangerous and available on a not big enough shoulder opposite the house. I visited the house on Friday, June 29, 2012 @ 5:14 PM & at a 58-foot elevation, ASL.
Naturally, a building this old and unique is also a contributing structure to the Mount Holly Historic District. In my never ending quest to document all things contributing, I visited the town library to retrieve the nomination form and narratives for the historic district. The reference desk rewarded me with a very old, crumbling NRHP packet from 1969. Despite what on-line sources would have you believe, there are actually 39 contributing structures and not 36.
From the Nomination Form:
25. THE CHARLES ELLIS HOUSEs....1836 ....236 Rancocas Road
Two and one-half story square house with side hall entrance; high stone foundation and plain water table; American bond brick construction; one inside end chimney; windows 2/2 with plain exterior trim; gabled roof with box cornice, rear wing added to building.
The house is devoid of the usual historic marker which identifies noteworthy structures of historical distinction and/or contributing properties.