The Jeanette and John Ballantine House. Son of the founder of Ballantine Brewery, house built in 1884, adjacent to the Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey. Access to the Ballantine House is through the Museum.
For 30+ years, as we drove along the New Jersey Turnpike, I longed to see the interior of the Ballantine House. The house first came to my attention when I saw an article about it in Victorian Homes Magazine. At that time, in my early 20’s, I thought the interior of the home was the most beautiful I had ever seen. This past weekend, we finally had the opportunity to see the Ballantine House in all its newly restored glory. It did not disappoint.
My emotional response to the home was one of awe and delight. Not in the overwhelming way that the Newport Mansions evoke, but, in a charming intimate jewel like fashion. Each room is thoughtfully and correctly decorated to the time period. I was impressed with the care and placement of the objects and the absolutely stunning wall treatments. The stained glass windows glowed in the afternoon light. The wood paneling and stair banisters of the impressive staircase were a tour de force of excellent workmanship. There were plenty of description cards loaded with information scattered about each room and even intriguing recorded sounds to add to the realism. Upstairs, a few bedrooms were on display along with interactive rooms to ponder.
I highly recommend a visit to the Ballantine House. We spent about 45 minutes within the house itself, but, could have lingered much longer. Afterwards, there is the adjacent Newark Museum, filled with many interesting objects to admire, along with interactive information stations. Definitely a family oriented experience.
Living Room
Fireplace Tiles
