GSBC General Meetings
The Hermitage: Its History and Its Families
Presentation by Victoria Harty, MA

The Hermitage: Its History and Its Families

During the American Revolution, the Hermitage was home to Theodosia Prevost, the wife of a British officer. While her husband was away, Theodosia saw the war play out around her in Bergen County. And when her beloved home was threatened, she entered the fray, engaging in a battle of intelligence and charm to defend her family. In 1807, the Hermitage was purchased by Dr. Elijah Rosencrantz and his wife Cornelia Suffern. The Rosencrantz family would call the Hermitage home until 1970, when Mary Elizabeth, the last member of the family, died and willed her home to the State of New Jersey. Four generations of the Rosencrantz family lived and worked at the Hermitage, actively participating in the changing landscape of Bergen County, from sprawling farmlands and hamlet towns, to centers of industry, commerce, and suburbs.

Victoria Harty, MA, is the Executive Director of The Hermitage Museum, A National Historic Landmark in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. thehermitage.org

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