The Farmhouse At The Grand Colonial Careers in Hampton, NJ

Homesteaded in 1685, The Farmhouse at The Grand Colonial is a window into the architectural, medical and military history of Hunterdon County. The Blane Homestead was built by master craftsmen and is the oldest known building in Hampton New Jersey. Its walls are two-feet thick and its massive hand-hewn beams support the solid three-and-a-half story structure. The stones in the fireplaces, which are original to the building, are not from Hunterdon County and were likely brought here in the ballasts of European ships to steady their transatlantic voyages. Slate ducts original to The Farmhouse’s construction were installed between its main supporting beams. Presaging the function of their modern day counterparts, these ducts allow air to flow between the wooden sleeper beams that support the house. The resulting ventilation has helped to preserve the structure for over three centuries.