Civil War Room

The Civil War Bedroom is located on the second floor of the Van Kirk Homestead Museum.

Many Spartans served in the Civil War (1861-1865) including members of the Van Kirk family. The room has beautiful period furniture and is painted in what was a popular color at the time – it is appropriate to note that the reddish rusty hue was originally made from Franklin NJ minerals.

Hanging on the walls of the Civil War Bedroom, is Alexander H Ritchie’s engraving after the original 1864 oil painting that hands in the US Capitol, called “First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.”

Also hanging, is a chromolithograph and calligraphy commemorative document on “The Service of Captain Morgan Hart”, a relative of Sandy Karman, wife of one of the early President of the Sparta Historical Society.

Van Kirk Family Quilt

This Van Kirk family quilt, with bear paw pattern, is constructed of white muslin and turkey red cotton.