Century 21 is a small chain of department stores centered in and around New York City. This one in Morristown is only one of two in New Jersey. (The other’s in Paramus.)
True to its Revolutionary War roots, the exterior of the Morristown store is adorned with relief portraits of locally significant historical figures, as well as a commemorative plaque or two:
CONTINENTAL ARMY ENCAMPMENTS
*1776-1782*
——
SITE OF BAPTIST CHURCH
Used as Smallpox Hospital during the encampment of 1777. Continental Soldiers were buried in graveyard adjoining.
…Which is interesting, because the First Baptist Church is a few blocks away, and the closest graveyard belongs to the Presbyterian church across the road.
My book says nothing on the matter, and the interwebs are giving me conflicting information. The most logical explanation I can find is derived from morristourism.org:
Presbyterian Church of Morristown is the oldest congregation in the community. During the Revolution it served as a small pox hospital for Washington’s troops and the graves in the church yard reflect this history. Today, visitors will see the third church building at the same site.
Maybe— and this is completely speculative, mind you— maybe the current Presbyterian church was built on the original Baptist church grounds? Maybe there didn’t used to be a street separating Century 21′s commemorative plaque and the Presbyterian church, so it was all on one lot? Maybe the plaque-writers actually meant the Presbyterian church?
I’m at a bit of a loss here. Any Morristown experts out there?
