The exact date of the construction of the Vail
Homestead has not been determined, but in 1841 Stephen Vail undertook a major renovation of
what may have been a much smaller farmhouse. The main section of the
house is two stories high and has a basement and an attic. The framing
of the exterior walls is filled with brick. The two brick chimneys are
built inside the end walls. Its present appearance, including the
windows, plaster cornices and woodwork, is largely the result of
Stephen's work.
When The Speedwell Village acquired the Homestead, all modern additions, including a porte cochere, were removed. The outside of the house was painted and completely repaired. The south facade has been restored to look as it did in on 1850 map of Morristown.
The goal of the ongoing restoration is to recreate it as it was in
the late 1840's after Stephen had completed most of his important
changes and additions. Although in his Journals he calls it his
"mansion house," the Vail House today gives the impression of a large
but conservatively decorated farmhouse. Essentially, Stephen, in spite
of his 
considerable wealth, was too
simple in his tastes to have been comfortable in a real mansion. Many
of the changes promised comfort rather than style. He installed
central heating, indoor plumbing and oil lamps, which were very modern
at the time.
The restoration of the downstairs rooms included much of the
family furniture and Vail memorabilia returned to the house by William
Van Vleck Lidgerwood and Jean Lidgerwood Yuile, Stephen's
great-great-grandchildren. The most important of these gifts were the
portraits of Stephen
and Bethiah Vail
painted by Samuel F. B.
Morse now hanging in the hall. Friends and Trustees of The
Speedwell Village and organizations interested in history have loaned
or given a variety of period pieces to the downstairs rooms.
The Junior League of Morristown has restored two upstairs bedrooms as guest rooms of the family and has published an illustrated booklet, "Bedrooms at the Stephen Vail House."
