Closson Mansion

In Snell’s 1883 “History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, NJ” it states that the Fleetwing “truckhouse” was built in 1868 and was “ornamental to the town”. The beautiful tower of the Fleetwing Fire House is visible in this photo, (behind the Closson Mansion), which would indicate that the mansion was built after 1868.

The “1873 Atlas of Hunterdon County” shows this site as the property of Dr. L. D. Rice and also shows the “Eng. House” just north of it.

Edward Closson, current owner of Homestead Market at 262 North Main St., and grandson of Dr. Edward W. Closson (1861 – 1940), indicates that his grandfather had his doctor’s office in this building. His grandfather also lived there and cared for an elderly woman. Upon her death, she left the house to his grandfather, Dr. Closson. When Dr. Closson died, his wife, Gertrude Ely Closson (1876 – 1955), sold the mansion in approximately 1941 and moved to the farmhouse at the north end of town.

Mike Cifelli, current owner of Cifelli’s Sunoco Station and Auto Repair at this site indicates that his father bought the station in 1955. It had been a SunOil gas station for three years prior (c. 1952 -1955). Mike remembers his father mentioning that the station had previously been owned by a single owner with the last name of Johnson (not SunOil Corp.). Mike does not know when the mansion was demolished but it would have been sometime between 1941 and 1952. Our research continues.