Recently, we were contacted by Linda Ann Chartier, an artist who lives with her husband, Mike, in a Federal style home in which the famous writer, Philip Freneau, “Poet of the American Revolution,” lived from 1818-1824. One may view photos of the exterior and interior of the old house in New Jersey on a website that Mike has set up. I really enjoyed seeing the photos of the house, and particularly liked the phone alcove, a unique feature. Chartier states that the first phone number was “244-W.” The Chartiers bought the home in 2004.
Born in New York city in 1752, Freneau died in Monmouth, New Jersey in 1832. He is remembered as an opinionated journalist, sometime “vitriolic,” according to a statement on one website. He wrote for a number of newspaper publications. His two best known poems were written in 1780s: “The Burial Ground,” and “The Wild Honey Suckle.” The latter poem has four stanzas, the last of which is:
From morning suns and evening dews
At first thy little being came:
If nothing once, you nothing lose,
for when you die you are the same;
…The space between, is but an hour,
…The frail duration of a flower.
Read the whole poem at: http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/philipfreneau/12013
All of Freneau’s poetry is collected in five published volumes that date from 1786 to 1815. To read more about him, check out Paul P. Reubens’ research page online: “Perspectives in American Literature – A Research and Reference Guide – An Ongoing Project.”
There is something special about living in an old house, especially when someone notable has lived there. I can tell you that firsthand. I hope that you enjoy seeing the home where the Chartier’s now live, and I thank them for bringing their website to our attention.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
