James Townley House

The James Townley House is a historic farmhouse on the campus of Kean University located at the intersection of Morris Avenue and Green Lane in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey. It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1939. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1979, for its significance in architecture.

History and description

The oldest part of the farmhouse was built before 1796 by William Townley. His son James Townley expanded it twice by 1820. The property remained in the Townley family until 1848 when Noah Parcell acquired it and added Greek Revival features. Hamilton F. Kean became the owner of the house in 1917. He was a U.S. Senator for New Jersey from 1929 to 1935. The state bought the property in 1954 and used it to move Newark State College here.