Pomona Hall
Encyclopedia
Pomona Hall is an colonial mansion located at 1900 Park Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, in Camden, New Jersey
, that operates as a museum by the Camden County Historical Society. The first building on the site was constructed in 1718, while construction of the more substantial mansion house was started in 1726, with later additions made in 1788. It is not known when the house was first called Pomona Hall; but it is marked on Hill's Map of Philadelphia and Envinons, published in 1809.
, moving to Pyne Point in 1681. Here he purchased a tract of three hundred acres from the proprietors and from the Indian chief Tallacca. On June 12, 1697, Joseph Cooper, Sr., purchased a tract of four hundred and twelve acres from Abraham and Joshua Carpenter along the south branch of Cooper's Creek. This tract was conveyed to his son Joseph, Jr., on December 16, 1714. Initials on the north chimney breast indicate that Joseph and Mary Cooper built that portion of the house in 1726. Joseph Cooper died in 1749. The property passed to his younger brother, Isaac.
Joseph Cooper was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from Gloucester County from 1760 to 1749. He was a friend of Benjamin Franklin
. Franklin mentions him as one of the friends he acquired during his stay in Burlington. The memorial and the record of the Friends Meeting of Haddonfield says of him:
The next owner of Pomona Hall was Marmaduke Cooper, Isaac's son. Marmaduke, although a Quaker (Religious Society of Friends
), took part in the struggle between the mother country and the colonies before the war started. He was a member of the Committee of Observation for Gloucester County and a member of the Committee of Correspondence
. When the Philadelphia Meeting of Suffering advised all Friends to be conscientious objector
s, he withdrew from all activities.
In 1788 Marmaduke built the south portion of Pomona Hall. The marking on the beast of the other chimney indicates that Marmaduke and Mary Cooper were the builders. This later portion conforms to the architecture of the rest of the house. The addition is clearly shown by the vertical joint in the brickwork on both front and rear walls close by the hallway doors, and also by the headings of the cellar windows, the older part was crudely arched by a single row of bricks while in the newer section keyed stone lintels are used.
The north wall of the hallway was one of the original outside walls; it is carried to the roof beams. The partition walls running laterally between the front and the back rooms on the north side of the house furnish the support for the ceiling rafters of the attic rooms. The woodwork of the older part of the house is marked by severe simplicity and symmetrical lines. The newels are plain; the balustrades are gracefully turned and fastened by wooden pegs. In the original living room, which is on the left side of the hallway, is a fireplace which originally had a facing of blue tiles.
plantation
house in New Jersey."
The Historic American Buildings Survey
(HABS) conducted a detailed survey of the building in 1936, creating architectural drawings and photographs of the existing conditions and gathering documents about the history of the building.
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, that operates as a museum by the Camden County Historical Society. The first building on the site was constructed in 1718, while construction of the more substantial mansion house was started in 1726, with later additions made in 1788. It is not known when the house was first called Pomona Hall; but it is marked on Hill's Map of Philadelphia and Envinons, published in 1809.
Historical Data
Joseph Cooper, Jr., who built the first part of Pomona Hall, was the son of Joseph Cooper, Sr., and the grandson of William Cooper, who came to this country from England in 1676 or 1679. He settled first at BurlingtonBurlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
, moving to Pyne Point in 1681. Here he purchased a tract of three hundred acres from the proprietors and from the Indian chief Tallacca. On June 12, 1697, Joseph Cooper, Sr., purchased a tract of four hundred and twelve acres from Abraham and Joshua Carpenter along the south branch of Cooper's Creek. This tract was conveyed to his son Joseph, Jr., on December 16, 1714. Initials on the north chimney breast indicate that Joseph and Mary Cooper built that portion of the house in 1726. Joseph Cooper died in 1749. The property passed to his younger brother, Isaac.
Joseph Cooper was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from Gloucester County from 1760 to 1749. He was a friend of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. Franklin mentions him as one of the friends he acquired during his stay in Burlington. The memorial and the record of the Friends Meeting of Haddonfield says of him:
"He was an exemplary friend, and serviceable amongst us in many respects, careful to rule in his own house. He departed mais life about the first of the eighth month 1749, having express‘d little before that he had done justly, loved mercy, and hoped that he had been careful to walk humbly.
The next owner of Pomona Hall was Marmaduke Cooper, Isaac's son. Marmaduke, although a Quaker (Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
), took part in the struggle between the mother country and the colonies before the war started. He was a member of the Committee of Observation for Gloucester County and a member of the Committee of Correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
. When the Philadelphia Meeting of Suffering advised all Friends to be conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
s, he withdrew from all activities.
In 1788 Marmaduke built the south portion of Pomona Hall. The marking on the beast of the other chimney indicates that Marmaduke and Mary Cooper were the builders. This later portion conforms to the architecture of the rest of the house. The addition is clearly shown by the vertical joint in the brickwork on both front and rear walls close by the hallway doors, and also by the headings of the cellar windows, the older part was crudely arched by a single row of bricks while in the newer section keyed stone lintels are used.
The north wall of the hallway was one of the original outside walls; it is carried to the roof beams. The partition walls running laterally between the front and the back rooms on the north side of the house furnish the support for the ceiling rafters of the attic rooms. The woodwork of the older part of the house is marked by severe simplicity and symmetrical lines. The newels are plain; the balustrades are gracefully turned and fastened by wooden pegs. In the original living room, which is on the left side of the hallway, is a fireplace which originally had a facing of blue tiles.
Architecture
Pomona Hall has been restored to its appearance during the American Revolution. It has been called the "finest example of a Georgian styleGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
house in New Jersey."
The Historic American Buildings Survey
Historic American Buildings Survey
The Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
(HABS) conducted a detailed survey of the building in 1936, creating architectural drawings and photographs of the existing conditions and gathering documents about the history of the building.
- Owner: City of Camden. The building is occupied by the Camden County Historical Society.
- Date of Erection: 1726-1788
- Architect: unknown
- Builder: Joseph Cooper, Jr. for the 1726 section; Marmaduke Cooper for the newer section
- Present Condition: Good (1936)
- Number of Stories: Two and one-half
- Materials of Construction:
- Foundation - Stone
- Exterior walls - front Flemish bond with b1ack glazed headers; west elevation in alternating header and streacher rows; the end walls form gables as settings for the wide chimney breast
- Interior walls - Plaster; left side of hall wide tongued groved boards, most fireplace ends paneled
- Roof - Pitch with dormers and with a roof walk between the chimney breasts
External links
- Pomona Hall: Eighteenth century mansion Official website: Camden County Historical Society