Welcome to the historic Green, the 2.62-acre verdant oasis in the heart of Morristown!
As President of the Trustees of the Morristown Green, I am passionate about Morristown and its history. I believe preserving local history gives a community its unique character and adds to its quality of life. Please take a few minutes to stroll around the Green and study the new interpretative signs that the NJ Department of State underwrote, Division of Travel and Tourism, through a grant submitted by the Morris County Tourism Bureau; you’ll be amazed at what you discover.
Every time I walk on the Green, I envision three centuries of history. I imagine children in the 1800s swimming in the Gully, a pond in the northeast corner of the Green. I imagine Frederick Douglass strolling across the Green on his way to give an address at Washington Hall. And did you know the first recorded sports activity involving the Green occurred in 1771 when a horse race took place around the square?
Over the centuries, the Green has played a consequential role in Morristown’s rich history, having once served as a pasture for livestock. The Green was the site of the county’s first courthouse, pillory, and jail, where Tories and Hessian soldiers were incarcerated. During the Revolutionary War, citizens met on the Green to discuss their grievances with the British. General Washington spent his first winter in town in 1777 at his headquarters, Arnold’s Tavern, overlooking the Green, where he met with his aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton.
Since 1816, thirteen Trustees have overseen the care and maintenance of the Green. These volunteers are proprietary owners committed to maintaining the park as a “common forever” for the use and enjoyment of the public. I am sure our founders would be proud to see that after 207 years, the Green has aged well, and it continues to be loved and well-tended.
Regards,
Alice D. Cutler, President
Trustees of the Green
Morristown Green
Copyright © 2023 Morristown Green - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.