The Runyon House

[Ira A. Runyan]

The Runyon House is the original house owned by Benjamin Runyon. It was restored & moved to a historical park called East Jersey Olde Towne in New Jersey.

According to the park's brochure:
" The Runyon House represents the wealth and changing needs of Piscataway's settling families. A typical 18th century Middlesex County home of an established family, it originally stood at 175 Possumtown Road. It is said, the House was used to conceal slaves fleeing via the underground Railroad. The House also reportedly served as a wayside inn... ...One of Vincent's nine children, Peter, settled the land on which the Runyon House was built. New roads were being built to the lands above the River, and in 1680, Peter became a landowner around Ambrose and Rehoboth Brooks. Like his father, Peter acquired additional land and was a wealthy man when he died in 1755. Upon Peter's death, Benjamin, a younger son, received a sizable tract of land. This is where he built the Runyon House (dates vary from 1755-1780). When Benjamin died in 1785, the house and land passed to his wife, Mercy, breaking a tradition of leaving property to the first born son.The remainder of Peter's holdings were sold off according to his will. After his wife's death in 1852, Peter's son, Daniel, inherited the homestead. In 1852, Daniel sold the Runyon House and all surrounding property to aneighbor, Nelson Boice, ending almost 100 years of Runyon occupation.the House and property remained in the Boice family until 1912, passing through several owners, until being purchased by Beecham, Inc. The House was donated and moved in the spring of 1978."

The Runyon House can be seen at:[/color]

East Jersey Olde Towne
1050 RIVER ROAD
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY
Intersection of
River Road & Old Hoes Lane
[phone][/b]

Map of East Jersey Olde Towne follows:[/color]