Drumthwacket The official residence of the Governor of New Jersey
The property upon which Drumthwacket stands was once owned by William Penn, the Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania. In 1696, William Olden acquired the property; in 1799 Charles Smith Olden.
As a result of an inheritance from an uncle, Mr. Olden began construction of Drumthwacket in 1835, possibly using a design by architect Charles Steadman.
For its name, Drumthwacket was the estate of a hero in one of Sir Walter Scott’s popular historical novels, A Legend (of the Wars) of Montrose, published in 1819. It is believed that Governor Olden gave his new house this Scots-Gaelic name (which means “wooded hill”) upon reading the book.
In 1941, Abram Nathanial Spanel purchased the house and twelve surrounding acres. He was a Russian immigrant and an ingenious scientist who founded the International Latex Corporation.
In 1966, the Spaniels sold Drumthwacket and the surrounding property to the State of New Jersey with the intent that it be used as the official residence of the Governor.
It was designated the governor's mansion in 1982.
Drumthwacket The official residence of the Governor of New Jersey
The property upon which Drumthwacket stands was once owned by William Penn, the Quaker who founded the colony of Pennsylvania. In 1696, William Olden acquired the property; in 1799 Charles Smith Olden.
As a result of an inheritance from an uncle, Mr. Olden began construction of Drumthwacket in 1835, possibly using a design by architect Charles Steadman.
For its name, Drumthwacket was the estate of a hero in one of Sir Walter Scott’s popular historical novels, A Legend (of the Wars) of Montrose, published in 1819. It is believed that Governor Olden gave his new house this Scots-Gaelic name (which means “wooded hill”) upon reading the book.
In 1941, Abram Nathanial Spanel purchased the house and twelve surrounding acres. He was a Russian immigrant and an ingenious scientist who founded the International Latex Corporation.
In 1966, the Spaniels sold Drumthwacket and the surrounding property to the State of New Jersey with the intent that it be used as the official residence of the Governor.
It was designated the governor's mansion in 1982.