Guide to the Boro

History Of Hollybush

Chris Emmanuele

Comp 1

February 7, 2011

Draft 1 Assignment 1

History of Holly Bush

Holly bush’s history goes all the way back to the beginnings of Glassboro. One of the biggest and most successful glass producing factories was owned by the Whitney Brothers. At a very young age, Thomas and Samuel became interested in glass, and at the age of fourteen, Thomas worked for a glassworks factory and then eventually owned the company. Later he was joined by his brother Samuel, and then the Whitney brothers renamed it Whitney Brothers Glassworks. When the Holly bush mansion was first constructed it was a home for the Whitney brothers, then it became a teacher’s school, and later it became part of Rowan University. For many years, Hollybush had a prominent role in the Glassboro community, first form a home to many years later part of Rowan University.

After a successful career in the Glassworks industry, Thomas decided to turn his attention to politics. When Thomas Whitney returned from Europe in 1847, he decided to build his 100-acre mansion in Glassboro. According to the Rowan University website, Thomas Whitney built the Holly bush mansion in 1849.

After the construction was done, he inscribed his name along with the year into one of the stones on the roof of the mansion, and then moved there with his mother. Thomas and his wife Josephine along with their seven children lived in the mansion until his death at the age of 70.

After the death of Josephine in 1908, the mansion was left to their one of their sons George. George later mortgaged and insured the house until his death. After George died the Hollybush property was left out of the Whitney families hands.

As stated in the schools website, Thomas who was very interested in Italian architecture incorporated some Italian –villa architecture in the mansion. The whit online, states that Hollybush is an 18th century, central hall type home, boasting with tompe l’oeil artwork. TheWhitOnline.com, also mentions that there have been many attempts to refurbish the mansion in order to keep it open for Rowan and its community.

In 1923, the Hollybush mansion became home to a school. The Glassboro Normal School was dedicated to training teachers. When the school first opened, it was originally for all female students who wanted to be teachers. According to Hollybush.com, the mansion was not always a school; it was also a dormitory for women, as well as the house to many of the University Presidents.

The book Summit at Holly bush by Robert Bole In 1967,mentions that the Holly bush mansion was host to the U.S. Summit between President Lyndon Johnson and Premier of the Soviet Union, Aleskey Kosyigin. The point of the Summit was to discuss the tension of nuclear war ( Bole, Summit at Holly bush). President Johnson and Kosyigin met at 11:00 on Friday June 23^rd and ended discussions at 4:30 that day, and told President Johnson that he would be willing to meet on Sunday ( Bole 101.) The meeting on Sunday, was very different from their first meeting on Friday. On Sunday the two men still did not come to an agreement. The book also mentions that at the end of the metting on the first day, President Johnson, was trying to convince Mr Kosygin that the United States was not trying to dominate the world.

Hollybush mansion has been part of Rowan University since 1923. Sine that year Hollybush has been part of the school’s history. It has also been home to many of the University Presidents for many years. After the Summit at Hollybush, the mansion went back to its regular ways. Since 2003, Rowan has been working on $3 million in foundation, structural, exterior and interior work at Hollybush, including such tasks as replacing the roof with slate similar to that used for the original structure; stabilizing the foundation; installing new heating, ventilation, plumbing and electrical systems; repointing stone; reinforcing the tower; refurbishing stained glass windows; and restoring and conserving significant decorative features. At the end of the renovation, the mansion will be a meeting venue as well as a museum containing artifacts from the original summit.

Holly bush’s history dates way back to the beginning of Glassboro. In the beginning, it was home to Thomas and Samuel Whitney who were owners of the biggest and most successful glass producing factories, then it became home to the Glassboro Normal School, a dormitory, and later part of Rowan University.