William Moore Everitt was born in Hackettstown on April 15, 1838 and was the eldest son of William Everitt Sr. and Sarah Ann Moore. The Everitt family was one of the most prominent in early Hackettstown and William one of the town’s most active and influential citizens. He built the palatial Everitt House at 200 High Street in 1875.

William’s first marriage was to Alice Van Horn (1842-1879), the daughter of Tobias Van Horn and his wife Rebecca Stillwell, until her untimely death at the age of 37. He later married Matilda D. Sletor (1861-1947), the daughter of Thomas and Martha Sletor of Easton, Pennsylvania. The couple had two children Martha (Martie) (1884-1887), who died at 3 years of age, and Virginia (1888-1983).

Due to the sudden death of his father, William was unable serve during the Civil War but instead went on to study civil engineering. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in Correll’s Engineers and helped survey for the railroad between Washington and the Delaware Water Gap.

William Moore Everitt was a fine citizen and gentleman who served the Hackettstown community faithfully for many years. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Union Cemetery Association and was President from 1889 until his death. He was active in driving the construction of the original brick school built on Washington Street and was a member of the first Board of Education. William served as organizer and President of the Hackettstown Electric Light Company, Director of the Hackettstown Mutual Fire Insurance Company and was a member of the Town Council. He served as both Mayor of Hackettstown and President of the Board of Health during the ‘darkest days’ of the town’s smallpox epidemic in 1901-1902.

William Moore Everitt, died in the home he lovingly built on July 30, 1913 and is buried in the Hackettstown Union Cemetery with his wife and other family members. The multi-sided monument located in the cemetery also recognizes Alice Van Horn Everitt, his first wife. Today his portrait hangs in a place of honor over the fireplace in the room that bears his name.

In the 1930s, Everitt House served as the original Hackettstown American Legion Home and later as a law office. In 1997, Everitt House Bed and Breakfast opened to the public for the first time.

Read more about the Moore families in J. Harold Nunn’s books, The Story of Hackettstown and The People of Hackettstown available at the Hackettstown Museum.