Move of Historic Levi Cory House Postponed

Update: The move of Mountainside's Levi Cory House has been postponed, according to Carol Goggi, publicity chairperson of the Mountainside Restoration Committee.

"The delay is necessary because of structural problems encountered while preparing the house for (the) move," Goggi said.

A new move date has not yet been chosen.

The rescheduled move of Mountainside’s historic Levi Cory House will take place Saturday morning. 

Excavation has begun around the house in order to prepare the foundation for the move. The moving company will begin to ready the house for its move between 7 and 8 a.m. Saturday. Once on wheels and ready to roll, the house will make its way north on New Providence Road toward its final destination – Constitution Plaza adjacent to the Mountainside Library and the Deacon Andrew Hetfield House. 

Depending upon roadway conditions and utility company activity along the way, the move is expected to be complete by noon. During the move, portions of New Providence Road will be intermittently closed to traffic as will Route 22 for a short time. 

Scott Daniels, Mountainside Restoration Committee Chairman, invites spectators to watch. He recommends viewing locations on the lawn of Children’s Specialized Hospital, Mountainside Borough Hall property at the corner of New Providence Road and Route 22 East, and at the bottom of the entrance ramp to Constitution Plaza near the library.  

Parking will not be allowed in the Mountainside Library lots or on New Providence Road. Spectators wishing to witness the move should park at the Mountainside Pool, Borough Hall and on side streets and should arrive at a viewing location between 8 and 9 a.m. Spectators are asked to remain at least 20 feet away from the house.   

The property is slated to be the site of a commercial building. The historic structure (circa 1810-1818), which was most recently the home of Patterson Interiors, preceded by Barrett & Crain Realtors, was originally owned by the Woodruff family, who were prominent members of the “West Fields” of Elizabethtown and Mountainside communities. 

Levi Cory once owned the house and rented it (in 1892) to the founders of the “Children’s Country Home” as a summer retreat for inner city children. In 1962, the Children’s Country Home was renamed the Children’s Specialized Hospital. 

Because of its significance in the history of the Mountainside/Westfield area, the Mountainside Restoration Committee has undertaken to move the house and save it from destruction.  The Borough of Mountainside has allowed the committee to use borough-owned property located on Constitution Plaza between the Mountainside Fire Department and Mountainside Library to situate the Levi Cory house, placing it next door to Mountainside’s Deacon Andrew Hetfield House.

The Mountainside Restoration Committee continues to rely on donations and fundraising to fund the move of the Levi Cory house, the site preparation required to permanently place it on Constitution Plaza and to restore the structure.  Parties interested in helping to fund this move and restoration are asked to contact the committee at 908-789-9420; or email hetfieldhouse1@yahoo.com.  

Donations also can be made online at www.mountainsidehistory.org; or mailed to Carol Clark – Treasurer, MRC/Levi Cory House, 308 Summit Road, Mountainside, NJ  07092 (checks payable to Mountainside Restoration Committee).  All donations are tax-deductible. 

For more information, call 908-789-9420 or visit www.mountainsidehistory.org