Birthplace of the Telegraph

— Historic Speedwell —

Captain Moses Estey, a veteran of the American Revolution, moved to Morristown in 1783. A successful merchant and manufacturer, he purchased a home on a knoll overlooking the Whippany River at the corner of Water and Spring Streets. When the house was destroyed by fire in 1786, Estey replaced it with a grand Georgian style house that occupied the site until it was moved to Historic Speedwell in 1969.

A fine example of 18th century American architecture, the Moses Estey House rivaled the Ford Mansion (Washington's Morristown headquarters 1770-1780) in size and styling. The two-and-a-half story building has eight large rooms, each with its own fireplace. Massive chimney bases visible at each end of the building, rise to the attic where they join to form a single chimney stack. The front porch addition has been removed to reveal the original doorway with decorative molding and sidelight windows.

NOTE: ? ? Gen. Washington actually made his headquarters in the Ford Mansion during the winter of 1779-1780, not 1770-1780 as indicated on the marker.

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In the 1960's a Morristown redevelopment project called for the construction of a three building complex to be called Headquarters Plaza on the block between Speedwell Avenue and Spring Street. Water Street would be realigned, and a section of the oldest part of the town including a pond, mill site and many historic buildings were slated for demolition (see map below). The town donated the Estey House, which stood on the corner of Spring and Water Streets from 1786 to 1969, to Historic Speedwell. Federal funding was provided to move the building one mile to the site, and set it on a new foundation. The L'Hommedieu House, located just to your left, also originally stood on Spring Street, across from the Estey House.

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Show me all markers in:  Morristown, NJ  |  Morris County  |  07960  |  New Jersey  |  United States of America

L'Hommedieu House
The Granary
The Homestead Farm
Water Power at Speedwell
1849 Carriage House
Wheel House
Ford Cottage
Homestead Carriage House
The Factory
Vail House

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