BARRETT, Franklin “Frank” – (1941-2013) inherited the house on the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Milford Road in Frenchtown from his grandfather Chester Niece. In his youth, Barrett was a VISTA volunteer in West Virginia and a social worker. He looked like James Dean, according to neighbor Barbara Davis (McGavock).
But as he approached middle age, he was unemployed 364 days a year. He delivered phone books on the 365th day, making him the ultimate seasonal worker, and a personal hero to me. When Delaware Valley News office manager Bev Krechel asked him why he delivered phone books, he said, “Well, I inherited enough from my grandfather to live on, but the phone-book money is for the luxuries.”
For the 20 years straddling the 20th and 21st centuries, he had a hand-painted sign beside Milford Road that originally had said: “Walnut Tree for Sale.” But early on, “tree” had been crossed out, and the word “stump” inserted. Barrett also advertised his white-painted Greek Revival rose arbor with a similar sign for decades, but to no avail.
When Barrett died, Minette Reading bought the house and her father, Dorsey, restored it, demolishing the decaying rose arbor in the process. The fate of that well-advertised stump is unknown, and not worth finding out.
Barrett allegedly left an estate worth $2 million, which was divided among 19 beneficiaries.
From "Rick's Frenchtown Encyclopedia"
I lived 3 houses down 4th St. from Mr. (Chet) Niece. As a kid, I mowed his grass and took care of his landscaping, and occasionally fixed things in the interior or on the exterior of the house. During the time that I worked there it was indeed a beautiful home both inside and out. It looks as if the exterior has been brought back to its original quality. Great! FYI...Chet owned Niece Lumber with two locations, Frenchtown and Lambertville NJ. His business did very well and allowed him to enjoy a comfortable retirement.
We lived across the street from Frank for a few years. He was certainly eccentric, and an in-your-face, when least expected neighbor. Once at 10pm he knocked o our door when my wife was alone and tried to insist she come down to his cellar because he had some old doors from our house. Beyond creepy, he would talk your ear off with strange stories of nude beaches and Manhattan after hour clubs. Most summer days he went shirtless, beer belly hanging over his shorts for all to see. He also kept a bucket of tar on the porch roof, often up there patching supposed leaks... Even in winter.
Before his wife left him, I happened to have a conversatio…
A fine example of a colonial Revival foursquare. Top notch restoration, plenty of original material to work with. I've always admired this house and appreciate the full story.
A beautiful home!