Emily Roebling “Under the Oaks” & “Bridge Builder in Petticoats”

The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is proud to support the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage’s presentation of “Emily Roebling ‘Under the Oaks’ & ‘Bridge Builder in Petticoats'” on June 17, 2025.

Event Description

Emily Roebling of New Jersey, who led the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, was an early preservationist of the Wallace House. In 1899, Mrs. Roebling traveled from Trenton to Somerville for a ceremony “under the ancient oak trees on the great lawn that surrounds the historical house” celebrating the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

125 years later Emily Roebling returns to the Wallace House for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Join Mrs. Roebling “Under the Oaks” around the branches of our sapling of the Salem Oak for remarks on the historic preservation of the Wallace House and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Then, retire with Mrs. Roebling to the Old Dutch Parsonage for a discussion of her life and work as “Bridge Builder in Petticoats” with light refreshment and lemonade.

Carol Simon Levin of Telling Her Stories portrays Emily Roebling.

Children and adults are invited to color or write cards of appreciation to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces for delivery to New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes in honor of the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army & Armed Forces.

This program is part of a series made possible by the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage Association, Proud Partner of Revolution NJ, with the sponsorship of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. #njhumanities

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this series do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

⭐ Revolution NJ is New Jersey’s official observance of the 250th anniversaries of New Jersey’s first Constitution July 2, 2026 and the American Revolution in New Jersey from 2024 – 2033.

Image credit: Wikimedia / Zeete / CC By 4.0