History of Saint James Convent

 

( by June O. Kennedy, 1993, from Church Archieves)

 

 

What can I tell you about the distinguished house?  The oldest section is in the rear, built in the late 18^th Century, the Federal period, as is the Brick Academy in town, built in 1809.  This was the original farmhouse of Dr. Robert Finley, fifth pastor of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church from 1795-1817, who founded the Basking Ridge Classical School in the Academy, and later left Basking Ridge to take over the presidency of Franklin College, now the University of Georgia in Athens.

 

This early house was swallowed up by the additions made from the turn of the century and in the very early 1900s. These reflected the Georgian Revival or Colonial Revival style and were executed in wood, transforming the farmhouse into a gentleman farmer’s manor, complete with upstairs ballroom (now a chapel) and 11 bedrooms.  There is an old fireplace with a Dutch oven hanging crane and six other fireplaces with handsome old mantels.

 

There is evidence to indicate that the “L” at  the rear of the building, is the remains of the 18^th Century building rather symmetrical in form, which has itself been altered and had several bays removed. Originally, it was a rectangular building, five bays long, with its gable end facing Finley Avenue, formeb by joining Building #1 to Building #2.

 

The seven-bay long façade has a pedimented center doorway with sidelights and engaged pilaster trim, leading to a spacious entry hall. The six-over-six sash windows are flanked by shutters with a crescent moon cut out. A massive end brick chimney rises from the north of the building.  French doors lead to a broad screened porch on the south side of the building. The house was covered with aluminum siding during the 1990's.

 

The imposing entry way probably dates from about 1905-1910 when the property was the estate of Halsey M. Larter and his wife, Elizabeth M.W. Larter.  Records indicate they owned the house in the late 19^th Century.  On an 1873 map, it is listed as the home of T. Lewis.

 

In addition to Lewis and Larter, it was residence of Albert French from 1915-1935 and called “Ridge Farm.” On June 19, 1920, the Montclair Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held a patriotic celebration here.  In the mid-1930s, the estate was purchased by William G. Zaenglein, and his wife, Elsie T. Zaenglein. In 1947, W. Colston Leigh and his wife, Ardis Neff Leigh, New York City antique dealers, became the new owners. The Leighs sold part of their property to Saint James Church in 1954 for the construction of the current chapel, then the main church.  In 1962, they sold the remaining parcel with the convent building to Saint James Church.  Bishop George Ahr of the Diocese of Trenton advanced $40,000 to Father Joseph A.B. Wade for the purchase of the estate. On the deed, the property location was listed as Finley Avenue and Old Cedar Hill Road, formerly High street (now called Collyer Lane). South Maple Avenue had been formerly called Fifth Street.

  

There are two other structures on this property,both outbuildings and barns probably dating from the mid-19^th Century. Their foundations are of fieldstone. They stand to the east of the house, with the remains of a third.  Remnants of an apple orchard are also evident on the hillside behind the convent. On the side of the hill that forms the "ridge" of Basking Ridge, the house has a lovely view of the Passaic Valley to the east. The convent’s property consists of 15.05 acres.

 

The Historic District of Basking Ridge is in the process of being reviewed by the Office of New Jersey Heritage.  This building, the convent of St. James and its two barns, are definite contributing buildings, with very fine integrity in the nomination of the district. Information about the convent has been gathered from the nomination, the listing in the Inventory of Historically Significant Buildings in Bernards Township, written in 1979, and also from the files of the Historical Society of Somerset Hills.

 

A Little More History About An Exciting Event Across The Street

 

In the early months of the American Revolution, there was some activity right on this property.  Across the street, on the corner of the present Colonial Drive and South Finley Avenue, stood the Widow White’s Tavern.  It was to this place that General Charles Lee, second in command of American troops, arrived on December 12, 1776, after having left his troops at Jockey Hollow in Morristown.

 

Lee enjoyed the Widow White’s hospitality and when finishing a late breakfast dressed in his night shirt and boots, was arrested by British Dragoon soldiers, who escorted him as a prisoner of war to New Brunswick. He was  released in April in exchange for a British prisoner.

 

The night before the arrest, the British had hidden in the fields on the convent property. They had been given news of Lee’s arrival by a Mr. Mickelworth of Mendham, who was upset by being cheated on the price of a horse.  Rumor has it that Aaron Wilde, a spy, but known as Dr. Byram, Phyllis Parker’s friend at Vealtown Tavern, was overheard talking about British troops in the area, and Mickelworth sought them out. The arresting officer was a Major General William Harcourt.  Basking Ridge has a Harcourt Lane and a Lee Place.

 

General Lee  was a British officer who threw in his luck with the American Army, feeling he would benefit better, monetarily. He was a very jealous man and envied the estates of George Washington at Mount Vernon and Lord Stirling in Basking Ridge. He had come to Basking Ridge to see Stirling Manor, so he could plan his own grand property. Ironically, it was his former British mercenary brigade that arrested him at Widow White's Tavern.

 

In 1778, Lee defied Washington at the Battle of Monmouth and was reprimanded. He was court martialed with Lord Stirling as presiding officer. Lee was never given another command, and waited out the war in Philadelphia.  He is buried in a Potter’s Field there. Washington was chief commander, Lee had been second; and Lord Stirling third.

 

Currently, the convent is a pre-school for 3 and 4 year olds. Since the nuns vacated the facility, the upper floor has been the home of the Parochial Vicar of Saint James Church.