The Dr. Lewis Condict House
51 South Street | Morristown
Historical Significance
The Dr. Lewis Condict house, which is owned by The Woman's Club of Morristown, was built in 1797. The property records indicate that Silas Condict, a member of the Continental Congress, sold his nephew, Lewis, a total of 11 acres on South Street for 1400 pounds. The house was declared an historic site on November 18, 1971 by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. In 1973, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Legacy of Dr. Lewis
Condict
Dr. Lewis Condict, owner and builder of our club house, was a physician who had an outstanding career in the field of medicine and a statesman who became distinguished in his town, state, and country. When General Lafayette returned to Morristown in 1825, Dr. Condict served as chairman of the reception committee and delivered the welcoming speech. A facsimile of Lafayette's letter of thanks to Dr. Condict hangs in the Clubhouse.
History & Ownership
After Dr. Lewis Condict's death in 1862, Dr. and Mrs. Kinsley Twining (Editor of The New York Sun) rented the house from Dr. Condict's daughter, Martina (Mrs. John Brandegee). During World War II, the house was leased for the Red Cross Headquarters. When no longer needed, it was purchased by Mary and Grace Thomas who organized The Community Club. By 1936, The Community Club had disbanded and was deeply in debt. They offered the house to The Woman's Club of Morristown for a purchase price of $1.00. The WCOMT accepted the offer, assumed all debts, and a large mortgage was finally burned in 1960.
Architectural
Style
The beautiful Dr. Lewis Condict house is an iconic site on South Street. The two story structure is a white clapboard Federal style building with gambrel roof, corner pilasters, and stone foundation. The original building was considerably smaller than today. There is evidence via old beams that it measured 50 feet in depth. The roof has pegged rafters, identified via Roman numerals to assist in their assembly. Cement in the chimneys and plaster in old areas contain hair, an 18th century practice. Later, bowling alleys were built in the basement and tennis courts on the grounds. The present parking lot was formerly Dr. Condict's boxwood garden.