by Anne Motto, F.M. Kirby Curator of Collections
August 13, 2024
Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national level for their significance. Some famous, some little known, together they preserve the story of the people, industries, and culture that shaped our community. In this blog series, MCHS highlights the sites to be found in each town and how they contributed to the diverse and multifaceted county we live in today.
Boonton Historic District: Centered around Church and Cornelia Streets in downtown Boonton, the district includes 29 buildings and homes that span the 19th century. Many have ties to the dominant local industry of the time, Boonton Iron Works, operated by the New Jersey Iron Co. In fact, the earliest three houses in the district were built in 1833 by the company, and nearby First Presbyterian Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church were each built on land it donated. Even two of the most unique local homes were built by company employees. Inspired by residences they saw along the Hudson River, Garrett V.S. Rickards and Nathaniel A. Myers each built octagonal houses on Cornelia Street around 1854. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Boonton Holmes Public Library: Originally the private residence of James Holmes, the house at the corner of Main and Church Streets has served as Boonton’s public library since 1894. Holmes purchased the home in 1856 from Eliza A. Scott, the daughter of William Scott of Powerville. She had purchased the lot from the New Jersey Iron Co. in 1849. Holmes worked for the company before becoming the mayor of Boonton and undertaking several endeavors to support his community. In his will, he bequeathed his home, as well as money towards its expansion and purchase of books, to the Boonton Public Library Association. While also a contributing structure to the Boonton Historic District, the library was independently placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Darress Theatre: Next door to the Holmes Library, the theater opened in 1919 as a vaudeville stage, attracting some of the most famous acts of the day to perform. Utilizing the sloped topography of the site, it was built in such a way that patrons entered from under the stage and walked uphill through the rows to reach one of its 900 seats. It is one of only a few theaters in the country with such a configuration. After WWII, it was transformed into a movie theater and renamed the State Theatre. Returning to its original name in the 1980s, it hosted shows, concerts, and classic movie nights. In 2020, the town purchased the building and is hopeful for its restoration and adaptive reuse.
For more historic sites, check out these blogs:
Mine Hill and Wharton
Madison, Part 1
Long Hill
Parsippany, Part 1
Chester Township
Hanover Township, Part 1
Mendham Township
Florham Park, Part 1
Dover, Part 1
Did you enjoy this blog? MCHS is an independent nonprofit. Please consider supporting our mission at morriscountyhistory.org/donate or become a member at morriscountyhistory.org/get-involved/ to help us continue to preserve and promote Morris County history through programs, exhibits, and blogs like this.
