Christopher House, Freehold

Artist Howard N. Cook

Period1925

MediumBrown ink on tan paper

Dimensions7.5 × 10 in. (19.1 × 25.4 cm)

InscribedInscribed lower left, "6 / 25." Also inscribed over the front door, "Christopher House."

SignedSigned lower right, "Howard N. Cook 1925."

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Margaret Ivins Holmes, 1948

Object number1995.557

DescriptionA front on view of a five bay, two story house situated with its gable end to the street, adorned with four large columns, three chimneys, a full width front porch, and centered steps leading to the front door. A picket fence runs along the sidewalk, with a man leaning against the left side of the gate. Two bare trees stand between the sidewalk and the street, with others on each side of the house. A low wing is attached to the house on the right.
Curatorial RemarksThis etching is one of three works by Howard N. Cook (1901 - 1980) to feature Monmouth County subjects. Cook was a leading American printmaker and muralist. The other two are titled "Revolutionary Times in New Jersey," accession number 1915, and "The Station Hack, Asbury Park," accession number 1542.NotesThe Christopher House, located at 49 East Main Street in Freehold Borough, Monmouth County, was built about 1825 as a place of business for the Monmouth Bank, which was incorporated in December 1824 but soon failed. Daniel Christopher (d. 1865) purchased the property at that time for a residence. Miss Caroline Christopher, the last surviving member of the family, sold the house in 1918. It was then purchased by William S. Holmes (1876 - 1948), who conducted an antiques business in the building until May 1936, when he sold it to William H. Freeman. For a number of years in the 1930s, Miss Ella Bohr also ran a tea room and bookstore in the Christopher House. This grand Greek Revival, temple front structure has housed a mix of offices and apartments the past eighty years. William S. Holmes, an 1897 graduate of Princeton University, served as the first mayor of Freehold Borough from 1919 to 1926. He also filled many other positions in the community, including president of the school board, Borough recorder, magistrate, a member of the Freehold Township Committee before 1919, and a member of the Borough Council. During his tenure as President (1935 - 1944) and as Director (1944 - 1948) of the Monmouth County Historical Association, he was very instrumental in the development of its museum at 70 Court Street.

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