Abraham D. Haring House 
(Haring - Corning House)

c. 1740 & 1828
"Rose Haven School"

 Site No. 24 

Haring Family

Corning Family

Sloat Family

            Built in 1740, the Haring-Corning House is the oldest home in the National Historic District of Rockleigh, New Jersey, and is itself listed in the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places. Beautifully set on two acres
of park-like grounds, this outstanding example of a Dutch Colonial manor home was created as a vast 18th Century agricultural estate.

The small original circa 1740 wood frame structure to which the sandstone and brick 1828  main house was added. Notice the more pronounced "Dutch sweep" of the roofline and the two smaller windows in this side-hall older structure. The chimney and straight roofline of the far west addition seem to indicate mid 1800's construction.

          Documented is that the Abraham A. Haring properties in were subdivided in 1803 when David A. Haring, eldest son of Captain Abraham A. Haring died. The land on which this house was built was originally inherited by Samuel and Elizabeth Haring, a son and daughter of David A. Haring. When Elizabeth married and moved to Rockland County, her brother Abraham D., sold in 1805 the original homestead lot that he had inherited and with the proceeds appears to have bought Samuel's 24+ acres and Elizabeth's 14 acres.  Local tradition has Abraham D. living by 1810 in the old structure indicated on the Erskene map (without name of ownership). That construction began over the next decade of a grand house in the Dutch-Colonial style is evident. 

      Over the first half of the 19th Century the history of the Manor House is not clear and more research along the Riker and Haring family lines is necessary. There is evidence that a Peter Riker Haring grew up on the property and lived there with his wife Catherine Demarest (1825-1844) ("Haring Genealogical Notes" Howard I Durie, Johnson Library, Hackensack, NJ).  He appears to have had possession in 1853 when he sold the property and manor house to David Jacobus Haring who sold the property and manor house to Samuel B. Corning in 1856.

      The fact remains, in 1856 the property on which the "Northern Valley Manor House" stands was conveyed to Samuel B. Corning. From the description of the 38-acre Samuel B. Corning property, and from the Carterette Road extension laid out in 1858 [based on Road Return G-28 (R. McMahon, 1973)] that it is clear indeed that the properties of both sister Elizabeth (14 acres) and brother Samuel (24+ acres) had been acquired  sometime after 1805 and joined. Also in 1856, David D. Haring  [6393b*], son of David A. and Maria Alyea-Haring-Eckerson and younger step-brother of Abraham D. Haring, sold some of his inherited land that was adjacent to the south to Samuel B. Corning. (May 6, 1856, A5, i p. 397). In addition, Samuel B. Corning is shown as owner of the manor house on the 1861 Hopkins-Corey map. He, in turn, sold the property to Jenkins Sloat in 1870 who is shown in possession on the 1876 Walker's Atlas. 

Haring-Corning House (Abraham D. Haring House) shown in the 1970's

          The stone and brick main block (41' 0" x 34' 4"), dated 1828, is extremely impressive with facade and east side of fine Flemish bond brickwork offset with white stone trapezoidal lintels stills and lintels. The rear and west side are done in well-cut sandstone with white stone lintels and sills. The upper exterior portions are shingled with some areas of clapboard. Bracketed by two brick fireplaces, the addition is a prime example of a unique blend of architectural styles found in Bergen County stone houses of that period. 

          The original roof extends over the front porch which is supported by wooden columns. The addition's gambrel roof and flared eaves are distinctive of the Rural Tradition in Dutch Colonial homes of the Lower Hudson Region. Additions made during the late 19th Century include dormers in the front and back, constructed to match the gambrel roof of the 1828 addition, adding sunlight and living space to the bedrooms.   

          At the start of the 20th Century, the home was considerably expanded once more when it became the residence of Rockleigh's first Mayor, William L. Tait. Besides adding a veranda, (requiring a roof extension) and extending the center dormer, Mayor Tait also added a wing to the back and side of the home. Mayor Tait not only planted trees that are still there today, he also had Rockleigh Road moved further from the home to increase its privacy. A portion of the front porch has been enclosed.

           A kitchen wing, approximately 14' x 16' with massive fireplace, extends from the back and a stucco addition has been added to the west side of the old section. The stucco has been extended to cover the ashlar stonework of what might may be the oldest section.

               The fanlight front doorway with the carved "1828" date is among the finest in the county. The six-panel front door is side-lighted with lead tracery and a handsome fanlight of similar construction framed by the arched sandstone lintel.  The result is a handsome house with two brick sides and an elegant doorway which is somewhat overshadowed by large porches, large dormers and a stucco wing.

Haring-Corning House (Abraham D. Haring House) in the 1890's
Mrs Clara Hugle Sneden Sloat seated in the large thru center hall decorated for Halloween. Mr Jenkins Sloat is likely the figure in the background.
Photograph taken c.1890 most likely by Harvey Conklin and provided courtesy of Jeffrey Sloat

              The home also shows the influence of the "Federal" (or "Adam") style of the period.The large thru center hall with its high ceilings, low paneling and fine staircase speaks of elegance. The center-hall is flanked by large living room to the east, dining room and smaller rear chamber to the west. The east parlor appears to have had a partition removed but otherwise the integrity is largely intact. The generous sized rooms have handsome original mantels, with sunbursts and urns in the style of 18th Century architects James and Robert Adams, and one firebox.  The interior doors have transom lights over birds-eye trim. Some interior paneling is 18th century. The house has some original hardware and some original floor boards. The interior walls are coated with animal hair plaster. There has been some restoration of original 19th century pine flooring.

               The large garret is finished to include four bedrooms and bath. An exceptionally fine house in its detailing, it retains most of its original material dating from 1828. 

               According to local tradition, in the late 1700's colonial housewives brought their bread to to baked in the huge bake ovens. The house became known as "The Manor House of the Northern Valley". By 1856 Samuel B. Corning was in possession of the property, confirmed by the map of 1861, followed by Jenkins Sloat in 1870, confirmed by a map of 1876, who built and operated a saw mill on the branch of the Sparkill Brook across the road. The 1891 Beers Map shows that Sloat had possession of the former Elizabeth Haring lands to the east of Snedens Landing Road as well as the Samuel D Haring lands west of Sneden Landing Road and Carterette Road.  William Thorn occupied the house approximately between 1905 and 1912. William Tate, the first mayor of Rockleigh, purchased the property c.1913 and remained in residence until 1930.
 

Haring-Corning House (Abraham D. Haring House) and farm in the 1890's
The back of the Manor House and out buildings seen from Piermont Road. 
Photograph taken c.1896 most likely by Harvey Conklin and provided courtesy of Jeffrey Sloat

          Most of the property had been sold off over the years. The eleven acres of farmland on which the dwelling and another building rested was subdivided in the late 1980's into five two-acre lots. No outbuildings are extent with the exception of two well houses, sited on protected open-space land high on the western slopes of the Palisades. Water flowed from the shallow spring-fed wells through pipes by gravity to supply the Manor House.

           The dwelling faces in a southerly direction on two acres of land. It is in excellent condition. This house, while having been altered through the years, still retains a sufficient amount of original fabric that it should be recognized...for its association with the exploration and settlement of the Bergen County area and for its remaining historic fabric.

"Haring-Corning House", Claire K. Tholl, Architectural Historian, 
in Bergen County Historic Sites Survey, Borough of Rockleigh. 
Bergen County Office of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Hackensack, NJ

The Rose Haven School: [Link To: Rose Haven School]

          From 1930, Miss Ruth Van Strum and Miss Mary Brichard ran the exclusive Rose Haven School for girls on the premises. The many bedrooms on the second floor of the manor house provided comfortable living space for the girls. An adjacent building contained several classrooms. In the mid 1950's a teacher at the school, Agnes Boyd, purchased the property of Rose Haven Country Day School).

          The Rose Haven Country Day School closed in 1983 upon the retirement of Agnes Boyd. Over the next two decades, three families occupied the premises, each significantly contributing to the restoration of the manor house. The adjacent school building also has become a handsome residence sited on a two-acre tract.

Ruth Van Strum (13 Mar 1892-1988) & Mary Birchard (1900-1942)
[ Founder of Rose Haven School]

Bergen County Historic Sites Survey, Borough of Rockleigh. 1981-1982.
Bergen County Office of Cultural and Historic Affairs, Hackensack, NJ