Drake House Museum

A Brief History: Located at 602 West Front Street Plainfield, NJ, The Drake House was built in 1746 by Isaac Drake, to serve as the primary residence for his son, Nathaniel Drake. Today it is a city-owned public museum administered by the Historical Society of Plainfield, NJ. 

George Washington consulted with his officers during and after the Battle of Short Hills at the Drake House and fought over the entire Plainfield area from June 25-27 of 1777. Nathaniel Drake and his family were all patriots. Drakes sons Isaac, Abraham and Cornelius, had served in the Essex and Somerset Counties militia. Even their freed slave, Caesar, worked as Wagoner within the Continental forces. Washington, along with his officers, were often at the Drake House when they were in the area on military duties.

In 1864, John S. Harberger of New York City purchased the home from the Drake family. He was president of the Manhattan Banking Company, which later became known as Chase Manhattan Bank. John made many architectural changes in the home. He expanded the downstairs hall, added a library, raising the roof, and transformed the loft into a music room. He also added the towers, which creates the eye catching architectural style we still see today. 

In 1921 a group of citizens worked together to save the Nathaniel Drake house from demolition and formed the Historical Society of Plainfield. In 1922, they gave the deed to the Drake House to the City of Plainfield, in order to keep the house as a museum.

Haunted History: There are some claims of guests having an uneasy feeling while walking through the house.  People have also claimed to have seen a shadowy figure dart from room to room.