Port Colden Manor

According to the Warren County deeds, the Port Colden House property was purchased by William Dusenberry in 1835 and then in 1836 the hotel was built as a summer resort hotel for canalers. Mr. Dusenberry believed that the Port Colden area would soon become a large town on the canal so he sank a lot of money into the manor and other buildings nearby. Since that never happened, the Port Colden area became known as "Dusenberry's Folly" and Mr. Dusenberry eventually went bankrupt.

The manor never did well as a hotel, so it was sold at a sheriff's sale in 1842. It then became "St. Matthew's Hall", an Episcopal boarding school, first for boys and then with a "female department" added. In the rear lot a building was erected as a chapel and day school. After 20 years, once again it was lost at a sheriff’s sale.

At this time it was bought by Simon Wykcoff and became a hotel and inn used by the stage coach company, which ran from Easton to New York City. The barn next door was a place where horses were kept for a changeover. Many travelers stayed overnight. One of the nine bedrooms on the third floor still has a large iron ring fastened into the floor - this was used to chain slaves while their masters slept in peace. During this time it was called the "Ebro House" and developed a bad reputation as a hang out for "ruffians."

The property changed hands several times until it was bought by George P. Wykcoff in 1884. He turned the chapel into an apartment house and used the manor as his home. It became known as "Wykcoff Manor." He lived there until his death, and then it was passed down in the family for several more years. Between 1906 and 1925 the Easton and Washington Traction Company had trolley stops in front of the Manor.

It was then sold to Robert and Martha Howell who used it as their home and rented out apartments. Around 1945, it was left unoccupied for at least 10 years. Finally, in 1955 Jean and Maude Rittenhouse restored it and lived there while their daughter and son-in-law, the Marshalls, used the basement as a gift shop. In 1986, it was bought by Stuart Roberts and converted into offices. It has once again changed hands but is still used as offices, including the administrative offices for the Washington Township Board of Education.