It makes sense that the historical districts of Mendham Township are mostly situated along the oldest roads – Tempe Wick, Tingley, Roxiticus, Washington Valley, and the two Main Streets – and it is the homes, mills, barns, and shops on these streets in these districts whose facades illustrate the history of Mendham’s architecture.  In particular, the residences of the two distinct villages to be found within the Township – in Brookside along East and West Main Street, and in Ralston near the intersection of Roxiticus Road and Mendham Road West, are a microcosm of Mendham’s architectural history, from the 18th Century East Jersey farmer’s cottage to 19th Century Greek Revival to the mid-20th Century split-level suburban home.

These historical landscapes are not preserved in amber, but are constantly changing, as lots get subdivided, and homeowners renovate and expand.  There are no strict preservation laws on the books. Every year, the Township’s collection of second story eyebrow windows, a charming early 19th Century modification of the East Jersey Cottage, is reduced by contemporary expansions.  It gets more difficult with each passing decade to identify the best-preserved remnants of a specific 18th or 19th Century residential architectural style, as historical ornament gets replaced with modern trim.  In contrast, the most prominent public buildings, including the Ralston General Store and Cider Mill, Brookside Post Office, Union School, and even the much-maligned Town Hall, retain their historical character and serve as iconic symbols of our community.

Outside of the corridors along which the historical districts are based, the scenic and pastoral landscape of Mendham Township is rich with stately and significant residential architecture, from the Eclectic Revivals of the early 20th Century to late International Style modernism of the 1970s. Tucked away in the heart of late 20th Century subdivisions are 18th Century fieldstone mill houses. There is an abundance of English and German style barns, which can be extremely difficult to date but in some cases are several centuries old.  They are found everywhere in the Township, on both preserved farms and in backyards. Another delightful landmark to be discovered from the car window or on a weekend walk are the half dozen homes and buildings in the Township which were originally schoolhouses built in the 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Residential Architecture

Coming soon!