Meet the DAR Ladies!

Here are 'my ladies' continuing Operation Sweatpants! Jersey Blue is collecting sweatpants for the holiday gift bags at the Menlo Park Veterans Home. These are just the latest batch to come in!

Hi! Millie here, and I wanted to introduce you to my ladies of the DAR and give you a little background on who they are and all they do in our local community.

The Jersey Blue Chapter, named to honor the New Jersey troops of the colonial period, was organized in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with 13 members on February 14, 1894. The name ‘Jersey Blue’ was used to honor the New Jersey units that had uniforms in a blue color with tan trim. They were called 'Jersey Blues' during the war.

The chapter has faithfully worked to meet the objectives (or goals, as I say) as set by the National Society: to serve God, Home, and Country, through historical, educational, and patriotic endeavors. During its early years, the Jersey Blue Daughters participated in the restoration of the Wallace House in Somerville, the Old Barracks in Trenton, the Memorial to Lafayette in France, and the restoration of the Parish Chapel in Mt. Vernon. 

These ‘early daughters’ (who I call my Ladies) raised money and contributed it to the
DAR Hospital Corps for work during the Spanish American War. The Jersey Blue
Chapter then went on to organize the Visiting Nurse Association in New Brunswick in
1907.

They have been involved in working in many community organizations since 1894 and
the work continues. Since 1914, the chapter has been custodians (custodians means that they ‘manage’ the operations of Buccleuch Mansion), built circa 1735-39* (circa means about or around). The house was the home of Washington's Aide-de-Camp (assistant) Anthony Walton White. The Mansion was later occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War and was taken over by the Americans after the Revolution. 

*Since there were no local government records kept at the time the house was built, and my family has been here so long I don't remember the exact year (it was a very long time ago!) we have been unable to verify through tax records or other government documents when the house was actually built. Hope you find the background of the mansion (and my home) as interesting as I do!

"Written" by Millie Mouse

Millie's family lived in the mansion from the very beginning of the building. Learn about the story of her life in Colonial America through her observations and adventures as she shares the history of the New Brunswick area with young visitors.