1912-1999
Elizabeth Henderson, with her husband Dorland, bought and preserved, Newark’s oldest private residence: the Sydenham House. In the house, they lived as in colonial times in many ways, she wove cloth and grew her own vegetables. The couple threw an annual Christmas party and gala Spring party.
The Hendersons bought the house in the 1950s. They helped get the house added to the National Historic Register and lived their until moving to a nursing home.
The Hendersons were honored by the Newark Landmarks Committee for their work preserving the house. Historian Charles Cummings said they helped launch Newark’s preservation movement.
Mrs. Henderson was born in Michigan and worked as a social worker earlier in life. She married Dorland Henderson, in a pre-Loving v. Virgina interracial marriage in 1955.
Bibliography
“Elizabeth Henderson, 86, Preserved Best of Newark” Star Ledger Apr 30, 1999
DJ Henderson Papers Digitized | Finding aid
Newark Library Digital Collections 1 2 3
Vaillancourt, Don “Newark House Gets Historic Nod” Newark News Oct 23, 1966
“3 Newarkers Win Award..” Star Ledger Feb 16, 1975
Babbage, Joan “Historic Newark Landmarks…” Star Ledger Apr 18, 1975
Friedman, Shirley “History in the Making” Star Ledger Jan 13, 1974
“A Cut Above the Rest” Star Ledger May 17, 1993