The Ballantine House is one of Newark’s oldest buildings and has been restored for the public to enjoy. The years-long restoration process of the historical home located at 43 Washington Street in Newark was completed in November 2023. Now, visitors can step back in time to learn more about the Ballantine Family and the 19th-century immigrant and Black communities who helped to build their legacy and wealth. We chatted with Amy Simon Hopwood, Associate Director of Curated Arts at the Newark Museum of Art, to learn more about the history of the Ballantine Family, the Ballantine House, and the restoration process. Read on to learn more about the intriguing exhibit in Newark, New Jersey.
The Ballantine Family
John Holme Ballantine was the second son of Peter Ballantine, founder of the major beer brewing company P. Ballantine + Sons. Peter was a Scottish immigrant who started the brewing company in Newark in 1840. John Holme was born in 1834 and, along with his brothers, became a business partner in 1857. John served as president of the company until his death on April 27th, 1895. Given the company’s popularity, the Ballantine Family was able to amass wealth and status in the area. However, their empire was not built alone.
Photo Credit: The Ballantine House
“The Ballantine House reopened to the public in November 2023, now highlights Newark’s 19th-century immigrant and Black communities as the people who created the Ballantine family’s wealth and who built, worked in, and lived around the 1885 House,” shared Amy. She continued, “It is important to highlight those people who created the industrial products, artwork, and architectural elements seen in the House as well as highlighting the 20th and 21st-century Black and immigrant artists, musicians, and creators who make Newark vibrant today.”
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Restoring The Ballantine House
The Ballantine House was originally built in the late 19th century as a 27-room urban mansion. It became available to the public in the 1970s as a part of the Newark Museum of Art. Over time, natural wear and tear caused the building to need repairs and restoration. When the world shut down in March 2020, the team at the Ballantine House was able to take advantage of the empty building. “It closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During that closure, the Museum addressed long-standing condition issues and was able to restore the 1885 exterior and interior to its original state,” shared Amy.
Photo Credit: The Ballantine House
Many areas of the building needed to be more structurally sound while other areas were longing for an over-do polishing. “Over 1300 failing sandstone stones were replaced with cast concrete, the bricks were cleaned and repointed, leaking roofs were fixed, and over 70 windows were restored. On the interior, woodwork was cleaned, molded plaster and painted canvas walls and ceilings were treated, and every architectural element was cleaned. All the furniture, glassware, ceramics, textiles, paintings, and other objects and artworks were removed and cleaned,” she continued.
Photo Credit: The Ballantine House
The team expects these repairs to maintain the longevity of the house for visitors to enjoy for years to come. “These restorations will stabilize the House for generations to come. The new stories told through artwork, objects, and multi-sensory elements create a welcoming space with increased representation for the Museum’s diverse visitors,” said Amy.
During the restoration process, the team made even more improvements to the educational aspect of the Ballantine House. “While that work happened, the Museum team and consultants developed new stories about the Newark communities that have worked in and around The Ballantine House from the 19th century through today. New introduction galleries and artist installations were developed, along with new audio-visual interactive elements. Contemporary artworks and historical objects were placed in the historical rooms to create unexpected moments and tell previously untold stories.”
Visiting The Ballantine House
The Ballantine House is located at 43 Washington Street in Newark. Guests can expect to be transported in time to the 19th century while making connections with present-day Newark. Amy shares what visitors have to look forward to, “From the moment the visitors enter the House, they are both immersed in the past and introduced to historical and contemporary creations by Newark artists, craftspeople, and factory workers. They will experience a variety of installations that highlight the city around the House and the creations of Newark artists, craftspeople, and factory workers past and present.”
Photo Credit: The Ballantine House
Many of the exhibits are highly interactive making for a full learning experience. “The historical rooms offer a lush and dazzling immersive experience with highlight artworks and objects that tell stories of the Black and immigrant communities. Sound, light, and interactive elements activate the rooms. Visitors can also learn more about the restoration of the House, and play G.O.A.T. The Art Game [Greatest of All Time] — DARNstudio’s social sculpture activated by visitors’ participation and highlighting the Museum’s collection of artworks by Black artists, or experience artist and historian Noelle Lorraine William’s Stay: The Black Women of 19th-Century Newark. There are many places to sit and absorb all these installations and the House itself,” she shared.
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The Newark Museum of Art
The Newark Museum of Art is a family-friendly museum open to the public. The museum has numerous installations that are a part of its global collection including Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean, American Art, Native Artists of North America, Arts of Global Africa, Arts of Global America, and Decorative Arts. The museum is open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from 11AM-5PM with “Members Only” hours taking place on the same days from 10AM-11AM. General admission is up to $10 with different promotions happening throughout business hours. Membership levels start at $30 for students and go up to $1,500 for Fellows. More information about tickets, hours, special events and membership can be found here.
The history of Newark is certainly rich. Establishments like the Newark Museum of Art and exhibits like The Ballantine House show visitors that the past has shaped our present and will continue to shape the future. Check out The Ballantine House and the Newark Museum of Art to learn more about local happenings. To learn more about the Ballantine House, click here.
