The Westervelt-Ackerson house, also known as The Old Stone House is Ramsey’s oldest building. It is currently believed to have been constructed in the early to mid-1700s. Corroborating evidence has been found on the grounds themselves, an old barn beam bears the date 1747 and the stone construction of the structure also supports this. It was built as a Dutch colonial farmhouse in the 1700s. Rubble stone, clay mortar, chopped straw, and hog’s hair were used in its construction. It became a stagecoach stop, with a barn across the street for the changing of teams of horses. Aaron Burr is said to have visited here, and this fact was honored by an archived cache that was located on this property.
Westervelt-Ackerson House
In the early 1950s, the house and property were purchased by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with the idea to demolish the house to facilitate construction of a Route 17 overpass. The state was persuaded to spare the building, thanks to many letters and petitions by the Ramsey Women’s Club and others.
In 1977, the Old Stone House was placed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
In 2000, the “Stone by Stone” docudrama of the Old Stone House’s history was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a “Save America’s Treasures” project.
Source: Ramsey Historical Association Website