|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
The first record of this double house is found in the 1835 will of John Woolston (b.1770-d.1839) in which he willed east end to his son Dr. Samuel Woolston and the west end to his daughter Cyllania. The double center-hall, 8-bay Georgian floorplan has an impressive symmetrical facade with doors and twin pedimented porticos located in the third bays from either end. The segmented arch dormers, seen on many houses in Vincentown, are characterisitic of building styles between 1820 and 1840, but the examples on this house include unusually elaborate brackets with full columns. The house is constructed in brick and has double end-bridged chimneys of the Federal style. The woodwork includes both Federal and Greek Revival details, a blend characteristic for the building's 1832 construction period. This is one of the most individually significant works of architecture in Vincentown Village and was documented as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1932 with a series of drawings and photographs. The house is currently undergoing a major restoration by the owners. Dr. Samuel Woolston was a prominent area physician. The basement entrance on the east side of the house was the entrance to his practice. Dr. Woolston’s wife was Ann M. Read, granddaughter of Hon. George Read of Delaware, signer of the Declaration of Indepencence and member of the Continental Congress (photo of Dr. & Mrs. Woolston). Their son E.B.Woolston (Elijah Burdsall Woolston) was a prominent New Jersey physician serving in the Civil War as Surgeon and later becoming President of the Camden County Medical Association (photo). |