535 Oxford--Blair Estate Carriage House

Prior to D.C. Blair's acquisition of this property (see Tour Stop #6), where he used to store his carriages, Major Hoops (see Tour Stop #14) erected an extensive slaughter-house where great numbers of cattle and hogs were slaughtered and packed. Together with flour manufactured at the mill, the meat was transported to Central Jersey for the use of the Continental Army. At that time, all the farmers' wagons and sleds were requisitioned for transport of these foods to Gen. Washington's thousands of half-starving soldiers near Morristown.

In 1861, D.C. Blair raised 92 troops from Blairstown in response the President Lincoln's call to arms for the Civil War. The Governor of NJ, however, refused to accept the company since every regiment was already full "and there seemed to be no immediate prospect of a second call for volunteers, as Secretary Seward entertained the opinion that this was only a 'thirty days' war'" (writes Blair in a letter to Col. Charles Scranton in 1881). Blair maintained the men for two more weeks at his own expense, but after no second call was made, he disbanded them. By the time the second call came, most of the men had left and volunteered with Pennsylvania or New York. So Blair enlisted with the New York City 22nd Regiment, National Guard, as a private. He served three months' picket duty in MD and VA before being called to New York to suppress riots there. He then received an honorable discharge.

This building was likely designed in the Gothic Revival Style as evidenced by the steeply gabled roof, window hood and chunky corner tower with the third story round window.