Morven Geared for Grand Re-Opening; Princeton's Past Blends with the Present

Matthew Hersh

Historic Morven, home to New Jersey governors as recent as Brendan Byrne and host to state guests and luminaries including President John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, and Bill Cosby, is finally getting set to re-open its doors to the public.

This Sunday the Georgian mansion on Stockton Street will launch a week of celebrations highlighting the museum's history and the history of the property surrounding the house.

But it's not simply the unlocking of the front doors that should attract attention, Morven officials insist; it's the fact that since January, the museum has undergone a sweeping renovation project aimed to bring it "into the 21st century," Morven Executive Director Martha Wolf said. "We're ready to open, and we are keeping a strong connection to the Stocktons."

Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, built the home in 1754. The land on which Morven lies was first purchased by Stockton's grandfather in 1701 from William Penn. Stockton lived in the house with his wife, Annis Boudinot Stockton, one of the country's first renowned female poets.

That mission to preserve the Stockton's presence is told through the art and decor on Morven's first floor. Dubbed an "interpretive museum" by Joann Singer, events coordinator, the first floor is intended as a history gallery illustrating what life in colonial New Jersey was like.

There is the Period Room, which contains original restored art from the Boudinot collection. "It's the way most people experience historic houses," Ms. Singer said. "There was a debate as to whether to keep it as a 'Stockton room.' It was ultimately decided to keep the room as it was intended, she added.

The central hall is a bit more curious. Four Boudinot sculptures, until now housed by the Princeton University Art Museum, depict the four continents known at the time: Africa, America, Asia, and Europe. Each sculpture depicts a woman with a child to illustrate the character of the continent.

In 1593 the European artist Cesare Ripa began building statues that drew on classical symbolism from the Western tradition to create a book of allegorical symbolism called "Iconologia." Representing each of the four known continents, Ripa used the female form and surrounded the central theme with objects reflecting perceptions of each continent.

The Boudinot sculptures, built from Ripa's tradition in the 18th century, are, indeed, signs of the times.

America's sculptural representation shows the European mindset of the time. At first glance, the statue appears to be a patriotic symbol in the vein of lady Liberty, but at the woman's feet is a human head pierced by an arrow. Morven Curator Anne Gossen explains:

"The image reflects the widely-held European belief of Indian savagery. [The woman's] active stance, quiver of arrows, and bow (now missing), associate her with Diana, the classical goddess of the hunt."

While much of the decor represents the time of the Stocktons, the interior of the building is more of a reflection of the late 19th century, when Commodore Stockton performed drastic remodeling.

All said, Morven will open seven of 13 planned galleries this Sunday. The second floor, which will house the remaining displays, should open within the next six to nine months, Ms. Wolf said. That should be plenty of time, she added, for visitors to soak up these "interpretive galleries."

Remake, Remodel

Major renovation to Morven began in 2002, when the building was largely brought up to code to comply with current safety measures. Further, the house was equipped with climate controls specifically set for each room to accommodate various artwork and antiques.

This latest renovation is the effort to house the permanent collection in the four main rooms focusing on the history of the house. But Ms. Wolf said she would like to see Morven become a destination in Princeton equal to any other landmark in town. "When you come to Morven, you're going to come to Princeton," she said. In other words, she added, the two should go hand-in-hand. One way to reach this goal, she suggested, is the Horse Chestnut Walk, a veritable gem downplayed over the years. Once used by the governors as the most direct walking route into town, the walk can still be used to enter Morven as the distinguished statespeople of colonial times once did. The path was slightly diverted with the Revolutionary War monument at Borough Hall, but that is hardly an unpleasant diversion.

Of course, walking past the mid-20th century architecture of Borough Hall creates something of a contrast to what Morven has to offer, but all is forgotten, or at least forgiven, when you walk on to the grounds and see, again, what Princeton was like 300 years ago.

Sunday's festivities will begin with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Princeton Rotary Club from 10 a.m. to noon. Call (609) 945-5017 for reservations. Remaining Opening Day celebrations are formally set to begin at noon, featuring jazz, Colonial re-enactments, and walking tours led by the Princeton Historical Society leaving Morven at noon, 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. For more information, call (609) 924-8144, ext. 104, or visit www.morven.org.