METUCHEN – The likes of Mary Wilkins Freeman – who at the turn of the century was one of the top two most prolific and beloved authors along with Mark Twain – lived in the Brainy Boro.
“We had the female Mark Twain,” said Nancy Zerbe, chair of the Metuchen Historic Preservation Committee. “Unfortunately our [Freeman] was not clearly as well known as Mark Twain … it’s something we are trying to turn around and appreciate her importance in the literary world.”
Freeman lived in Metuchen from 1902-30 at 207 Lake Ave., in a house that still stands today.
Zerbe, who appeared before the Borough Council on Oct. 29, said Freeman’s fame during the time she lived in the borough is represented by the news stories, both announcing her new short stories and describing her personal life, that appeared in newspapers around the country.
In June 1902, a Boston newspaper held a contest where they placed photographs of 12 prominent women in their Sunday edition and offered prizes to readers who could correctly identify all 12 women. The following Sunday they announced the women, which included Freeman along with American poet and author Julia Ward Howe; Clara Barton, a pioneering American nurse who founded the American Cross; and two first ladies, Ida Saxton McKinley, wife of William McKinley, 25th president of the United States, and Edith Roosevelt, wife of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States.
In December 1905, Harper’s magazine president Colonel George Harvey invited the Freemans to a banquet at Delmonico’s in New York City in honor of Samuel Clemens’ (Mark Twain’s) 70th birthday. As reported in The New York Times, when it was time for the 170 guests to proceed into dinner, “Mr. Clemens led the way, with Mrs. Mary E. Wilkins Freeman on his arm.” A photograph in the news article shows Clemens seated at dinner Freeman by his side.
“She was in the literary circle … she was big and it’s something we hope that we can instill more pride,” Zerbe said, noting the committee has taken steps to do just that, including nominating the house she lived in – where she did a lot of her writing – to the New Jersey National Register of Historic Places as well as the National Register of Historic Places, which is now being reviewed in Washington, DC.
Zerbe said if the house is accepted on the National Register, it will be the second individual house in Metuchen to be put on the register.
And on Oct. 17, Zerbe, along with her husband Peter Materna, represented Metuchen at the town of Brattleboro’s dedication of a plaque in honor of Freeman, who lived in Brattleboro, Vermont, as a young woman. The dedication was part of Brattleboro’s annual Literary Festival.
During the ceremony, Battleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell read a proclamation from the Governor of Vermont Phil Scott declaring Oct. 17, 2019, as Mary Wilkins Freeman Day in Vermont. Following the governor’s proclamation, Zerbe was able to read a letter from Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch.
“I had the opportunity give greetings from their sister town of Metuchen and read [the mayor’s] letter … that worked out really nicely,” she said.
In the letter addressed to Brandie Starr, chair of the Battleboro Selectboard, Busch wrote “the citizens of Metuchen share in your enthusiasm because of Mary’s Metuchen ties.”
“During her late 19th century visits to the Metuchen home of Harper’s New Monthly Editor Henry Mills Alden, Mary met and fell in love with her future husband, Dr. Charles Manning Freeman, a lifelong Metuchenite,” Busch wrote. “Following their marriage in 1902, Mary lived in Metuchen until her death in 1930. We are proud to say that Mary and Charles’ first Metuchen home is part of the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail; has been lovingly restored by its current owners, Robert and Rebeccah Seely; was just placed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places last week; and is currently pending listing on the National Register.”
Zerbe said the committee’s goal is to not just preserve history for history’s sake, but also encourage more preservation of resources that are associated with the history.
“We have a tremendous history … hopefully that history will lead to greater preservation,” she said.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].