IN THE BED CHAMBER
This house has been occupied since 1690 and has been furnished and decorated in many styles. The furniture in this room comes from a later period than that in the rest of the house.
Notice the following:
Trundle Bed (circa 1820)
Made of pine and maple with fine turnings and cannonball finials, double blanket roll- top and bottom. Hand turned pegs for roping - straw mattress. It is a gift from Ann and Karl Marx (neighbors) in memory of Maude Zimmerman Lawrence, who came to the house in 1928 and lived there until 1965. The trundle part is kept under the bed and pulled out at bedtime. This conserved space for daytime living. Sometimes the trundle part was used for illness. It could be easily moved to a warmer place in front of the fireplace. The quilt (70"x90") has a multi-color back, brown border, basket and fan pattern and was made by Josephine Kauffmann (Ross St., Clark) approximately in 1930. It was quilted by the ladies of the First Presbyterian Church of Rahway. The Coverlet with blue and white Jacquard weave, flower and bird pattern is reversible.
The Bed Warmer.
Hot stones were put inside and it was moved over the sheets to warm the bed on cold nights.
The Bed Wrench
was used to tighten the bed ropes, starting at one end and working around to the end. It is made of tulip wood.
The Sampler
Church, alphabet and numbers was done by Ann C. Stockwell when she was 10 years old, dated April 8, 1831. Constance Brewer, a Society member, has deciphered the sampler and rendered it in a present day version.
Document on wall
This is an illustrated lithograph dated 1880, record of George Zimmerman's (grandfather of Maude Zimmerman Lawrence) service in the Civil War and membership in a G.A.R. Veteran's Association.
Lamp
Pressed glass, heart and pineapple pattern, burned whale oil.
Cloth Pocket.
Women wore a pocket around their waist, under the skirt if it was plain, on top is it was decorative. It carried her precious possessions- perhaps a thimble or coins, etc.
Hat or cap
Of muslin, protected the hair from smoke and dirt.
Mirror.
Old and distorted, but all that early settlers would have.
The Tin Shore Bird is a decoy.
Table.
Shaker style, circa 1840-50, handmade.
Bible.
Books were scarce and a Bible was a luxury. This family Bible is of later period than the house.
The Gunstock Post is especially visible in the comer of this room.
Cradle in the bed chamber contains a doll of a type a small child would have had three hundred years ago
Man's antique clothes brushes in a case. Also a lady's long-handled brush. probably mid-Victorian - gift of Mildred Herron, Society member
