Major Renovations Proposed At These 2 Historic Sites In Wayne

WAYNE, NJ — A pair of proposed projects could see Wayne Township be home to a county Military Heritage Museum, and several new structures on the site of George Washington's former headquarters.

Passaic County is seeking residents' feedback about the proposed improvements at Dey Mansion and the Schuyler-Colfax House, which also include updated landscaping, new pathways, accessibility upgrades, and other enhancements.

The Schuyler-Colfax House, thought to be the oldest building in Passaic County, has been closed for nearly 30 years. Kelly Ruffel, the Director of the Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs, said the county is looking for both sites "to have a complete and full visitor experience."

With America's 250th birthday coming up next year, county officials have also been investing in other historic sites and collections — nearly $38 million so far, Ruffel said.

To continue that effort, Friends of Passaic County Parks, Inc. is looking to apply for grants from the state's Green Acres Program to upgrade and improve these two historic structures. The estimated cost for the Dey Mansion improvements is $1,500,000, and the Schuyler-Colfax site project is estimated to cost $500,000.

The county's Department of Cultural and Historic Affairs has details about both proposed projects on their website, as well as the survey links. Here is a rundown of what's planned, and where you can provide feedback:

At Dey Mansion, the proposed plans include building a new event barn, offices, and a gift shop on the property (199 Totowa Road).

Colonel Theunis Dey and his wife Hester built this home in the 1770s, and General Washington used it as his headquarters for a time in 1780.

"There was a barn historically on site, both during the Dey family occupation and later families up until the late 1920s," Ruffel explained.

This new barn would allow for more indoor program space, she said — including interpretive programs, lectures, meditation classes, and encampments. And since the mansion has already been used for wedding ceremonies, prom photos, and other private events, the barn provides an additional venue for those types of gatherings.

Dey Mansion currently operates as a museum, with exterior gardens designed by the Olmsted family in the late 1930s. The site has undergone several other recent improvements, including restoration of its gardens and Summer House back in 2020.

The Schuyler-Colfax House was in 1696 built by Arent Schuyler, whose descendant Esther married a Revolutionary War veteran named William Colfax. Members of the Colfax family were present at Wayne's first township meeting and the home stayed in the family for almost 300 years, according to the county DCHA.

Dr. Jane Colfax, who sold the home to Wayne Township in 1992, was the first female OB-GYN at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson. The township later transferred control of the home to Passaic County.

Currently, the Schuyler-Colfax House (2343 Paterson Hamburg Turnpike) is closed to the public amid ongoing restoration, and the county envisions it becoming a military museum. County Commissioners already approved establishing a museum to honor all Passaic County veterans who served, Ruffel said.

The DCHA has "a wide array of artifacts and objects within its collection from various conflicts going back to the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World II, and Vietnam," she said.

"The museum will display various items from the permanent collection, provide rotating exhibits, offer programs, and work with Veteran’s Affairs offices to offer space for community engagement and services to veterans."

Native plants would also be restored around the grounds to reflect its 17th-century origins. New parking spaces and public restrooms are also included in the plan.

If you're interested in chiming in about the plans, you can access the Dey Mansion survey here and the Schuyler-Colfax House survey here.

Both sites are operated by the county DCHA, which also manages The Wayne Museum and other historic places.