A Short History of Tramp Houses

By Sally Quinn

Originally published in The Review, Fall 2018, Volume 41, Number 2

The Tramp House on the site of the Tunis-Ellicks House Museum.

Wanderlust would seem to be part of the human condition and a part that has served Amerca especially wee, as it inspired colonization and, then, westward movement. But there have been times in our history when that movement was caused by war or economic conditions. Such is the cas in the history of tramp houses in America. After the Civil War, there were many men who, for a variety of reasons, were not equipped to return to their former lives and took to the road. It was also a time of deep recession and poor job prospects, so many Americans were forced to travel from place to place, looking for odd jobs and short-term employment. Tramp houses sprang into being primarily during the last quarter of the 19th century, in response to a need to house vagrants in communities where that was a much preferred alternative to wandering around town and beggin at back doors of home for handouts.

The Tramp House as it stood in the Great Swamp about 1976.

These houses were generally very small, about 14 x 14, and contained mattresses, blankets and, usually, a small wood stove. The tramps were often expected to chop wood in return for their shelter. Some tramp houses also had small gardens that the men tended and were able to eat from, as food was not often available, though some towns provided water and crackers. They are a part of America's social history that little is known about. They were not "talked up" because towns didn't want to encourage more "takers" and they were not written about because they were not considered sources of great pride in the communities, although I personally feel that they were a pretty positive thing in the days before any social supports!

Very few still exist; most fell into disuse and disrepair, some were sold to private citizens who probably didn't know their history, and some were converted to small municipal storage and out buildings. Research was done on tramp houses in Massachusetts and they found that there were only 6 left in the whole state.

The Tramp House being reconstructed at the Tunis-Ellicks House grounds about 1988.

No such accounting was available to me for NJ so I don't know how rare our New Vernon tramp house is, but we are lucky enough to have a beautiful example right in town next door to the Tunis-Ellicks house! It was moved and rebuilt, stone by stone, in 1988 from its site in the Great Swamp to its current location on the ground of the Tunis-Ellicks House. It is being used for historical storage and is a matter of pride in this community.

[Editors note: The Tramp House is now open to the public whenever the Tunis-Ellicks House Museum is open. It showcases how the building was used by the people staying there.]