James Peter Allaire: engineer, philanthropist, merchant, steam engine and boiler manufacturer, and businessman never intended to live at the Howell Works property when he purchased the land in 1822. His only intent was to visit the property on a bi-monthly basis while a Company Manager ran the operations for him. However events would force Allaire to change his plans.
For years James Allaire's first wife Frances Duncan was an ailing woman, possibly inflicted with tuberculosis. During this time the Allaire Family maintained their residence at 421 Cherry Street in New York City. Then, in 1832, New York was besieged with an outbreak of cholera which would last for two years. Hardest hit was the Lower East Side's Twelfth Ward where the Allaires lived. Fearing for the health and safety of his family, and especially that of his ill wife, James Allaire made arrangements to temporarily relocate them to the fresh country air of Monmouth County, New Jersey and established residence at the Howell Works Company.
Allaire chose for his home, the largest residence on the property, a farm house which dated to about 1790, built only a few years after Allaire himself was born. When Allaire purchased the property as a source of raw iron for his New York based marine engine manufacturing company, he had put an addition onto the center hall colonial house, adding a kitchen and servant quarters. Shortly after this Allaire constructed a three floor brick dormitory to house the Howell Works Company's bachelor employees. Being a man of high moral convictions, and not wishing to leave the single men to their own devices, Allaire installed as chief housekeeper Mrs. Dickinson, a widow with a teenage daughter, who ruled the home with an iron fist.
Before Mrs. Dickinson could prepare the home for occupation by the Allaire Family, however, certain changes to the building would be required to accommodate the ailing Frances Allaire. Allaire reconfigured the layout of the main portion of the home, converting a front bedroom into an open lounge area where his wife could entertain guests and spend time with her family. Allaire also had the stairs to the second floor moved to the front of the house, eliminating part of what is now the Back Parlor. After the renovations the home was readied for occupancy and Allaire installed his wife in the largest bedroom, using a small room on the first floor for his own. He also brought his daughters Maria Haggerty Allaire and Frances Allaire Roe, his granddaughter Fanny Roe and two distant cousins, the Misses Johnston to live in the house. To care for his wife, James Allaire invited his first cousin once removed, Calicia Allaire Tompkins, also a second cousin to his wife, to stay with the family. Sadly, however, all of James Allaire's attempts to save his ailing wife were in vain and she passed away at the house on 25 March 1836. Ten years later Allaire would marry Calicia, producing one child, a son Hal, by their union and they would all live out the remainder of their lives in the house.
James Peter Allaire: engineer, philanthropist, merchant, steam engine and boiler manufacturer, and businessman never intended to live at the Howell Works property when he purchased the land in 1822. His only intent was to visit the property on a bi-monthly basis while a Company Manager ran the operations for him. However events would force Allaire to change his plans.
Before Mrs. Dickinson could prepare the home for occupation by the Allaire Family, however, certain changes to the building would be required to accommodate the ailing Frances Allaire. Allaire reconfigured the layout of the main portion of the home, converting a front bedroom into an open lounge area where his wife could entertain guests and spend time with her family. Allaire also had the stairs to the second floor moved to the front of the house, eliminating part of what is now the Back Parlor. After the renovations the home was readied for occupancy and Allaire installed his wife in the largest bedroom, using a small room on the first floor for his own. He also brought his daughters Maria Haggerty Allaire and Frances Allaire Roe, his granddaughter Fanny Roe and two distant cousins, the Misses Johnston to live in the house. To care for his wife, James Allaire invited his first cousin once removed, Calicia Allaire Tompkins, also a second cousin to his wife, to stay with the family. Sadly, however, all of James Allaire's attempts to save his ailing wife were in vain and she passed away at the house on 25 March 1836. Ten years later Allaire would marry Calicia, producing one child, a son Hal, by their union and they would all live out the remainder of their lives in the house.