Miller-Cory House Museum

In 1740, Samuel Miller (1718–1782) built a clapboard farmhouse in the West Fields of Elizabethtown for his bride, Sabra Clark, along what was then an Indian trail. The Miller family owned approximately 100 acres of land, extending into what is now downtown Westfield. Samuel’s will offers a vivid glimpse into 18th-century domestic life, granting his widow “the privilege of my two middle rooms and the chambers over them… and the privilege of one quarter of cellar, to go in and out of the same when and with what she pleases.”

In 1784, the house was purchased by Joseph Cory, a member of another prominent local family, from Samuel’s son Jesse Miller for 579 pounds, 15 shillings. The property remained in the Cory family for the next 137 years. Until 1921, the farmhouse was associated exclusively with the Millers and the Corys—both among the original settlers of Elizabethtown.

Following Joseph Cory’s death in 1802, the house was occupied or rented by successive generations of Cory descendants until its sale in 1921 to Jennie Steans, widow of the Reverend W. Irwin Steans, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield. In 1962, Donald and Isobel Jones acquired the property and began a careful restoration, removing Victorian-era alterations such as sliding doors and double-hung windows to return the house to its earlier appearance.

In 1972, the Westfield Historical Society raised funds to purchase the farmhouse. The house is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places and is recognized as a site on the New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail.

The Miller-Cory House Museum is operated by the Westfield Historical Society, as a living history site that brings the 18th century to life through hands-on interpretation rather than static displays. Restored and furnished to reflect a specific place, time, and way of life, the house tells the story of early New Jersey and the people who lived there.

During its open season, the museum welcomes visitors on select Sundays, when costumed docents present engaging programs for children, adults, and families. Guests may also tour the house, furnished using Joseph Cory’s 18th-century inventory as a guide. The surrounding grounds feature period-appropriate gardens and several original outbuildings, including an outhouse (or “necessary”), corncrib, and the Frazee Building cookhouse—all dating to the 18th century.

A highlight of the museum is its open-hearth cooking program. Each spring and autumn, members of the Cooking Committee demonstrate the preparation of seasonal dishes using authentic 18th-century recipes and techniques over the open hearth.

The museum also serves as an educational resource for schools, Scout troops, and community groups. Group tours are available by appointment during the week, along with a special program, the Showcase of 18th-Century Skills, which brings costumed volunteers to schools and organizations to demonstrate colonial-era crafts and daily life. Customized programs can be arranged on-site or off-site to meet specific educational needs.

For full details on programs and visiting hours, please explore our website. We look forward to welcoming you to the Miller-Cory House Museum.