Esther Doyle Read, Copyright 2003

New 2 January 2004

The rear, one and a half story portion of the house (on the left side of the photo) was purchased by Isaac Read in 1814, possibly at the time of his marriage to Mary Durling. The first floor consists of a keeping room with a large fireplace. A bee-hive oven is located off the back of the fireplace. During removal of a century's worth of wall paper, original stenciling in drab olive green and red was found beneath the paper. This color scheme is similar to colors used on ceramic teawares between 1790 and about 1810. In 1849, seven years after Isaac married his second wife, Abigail W. Buckley, the two story addition was added. The date for the addition was found during recent repairs to the front door. When the frame was removed, a paper with the date of construction was found inside the frame (this is the white door frame just visible on the right side of the photo). The addition is a two story central passage house with chimneys at either end. The house remained in the family until well into the twentieth century. It is still a private dwelling. Special thanks to Darlene Yanoff of Hope for information concerning the house!

Gravestone of Isaac Read, Jr. (Left) and Abigail W. (Buckley) Read (right) in the church yard of St. John's of Hope Methodist Episcopal Church, now a United Methodist Church. Hope, Warren County, New Jersey. Collection of Esther Doyle Read, 24 Marah 2004.

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