Samuel P. Paul House and Native American Encampment

Built by fishery-owner Samuel P. Paul in 1810, the Paul House is a two and one-half story, three-bay stone structure with ornate Federal woodwork. It features nine-over-nine first floor windows flanking a central entrance entablature with reeded pilasters and fanlight, six-over-nine second floor windows, and six-over-six segmentallyarched head dormers. Brick end chimneys accommodate the parlor fireplaces that are tooled with fine punch-and-gouge mantelpieces. A smaller shed-roofed rear kitchen wing appears to date to the Georgian period (circa 1795), based on its simpler molding profiles and the butt joint in the masonry. The Paul family, from which Paulsboro derives its name, owned the home until 1924. The significance of the property is due to its association with Samuel Philip Paul, and the intact nature of the Federal architectural elements, and archeological investigations that were conducted during 2012 discovered an undisturbed Native American Encampment on the grounds of the Paul House. The site is currently owned by the Borough of Paulsboro, with the goal to preserve the site to become a public space as a house museum and public park. The Paulsboro Historic Preservation Commission was formed and is actively working to have both the Samuel P. Paul House and the Native American Encampment listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Despite years of planning initiatives, the Samuel P. Paul House and its surroundings face several threats. The building has seen a signification trend of deterioration due to lack of maintenance and funding secured to restore it. In addition, the municipality began discussions on the redevelopment of the site and began to move forward with the creation of a community-wide recycling center along the Mantua Creek on a lot immediately adjacent to the Samuel P. Paul House both impact the house and archaeologically sensitive areas. Preservation New Jersey supports the mission and goal of the Paulsboro Historic Preservation Commission and strongly encourages special municipal recognition of the site and preservation of it as open space.