Mary Crane Hone

Mary Crane Hone II (November 21, 1904 – November 27, 1990) was an American stage actress, campaign manager, political anti-war activist, and historical preservationist. She is best known for preserving Acorn Hall in Morristown, New Jersey.

As a stage actress, Hone starred in lead roles in plays in United States, Canada, England, and Egypt.

She worked for the BBC and the World Federalist Movement, with a nearly lifelong interest in Democratic campaigning and the United Nations. She campaigned for Franklin D. Roosevelt, Robert B. Meyner, and Adlai Stevenson.

After decades of attempts, Hone was able to preserve her historic estate, Acorn Hall, by donating it to the Morris County Historical Society in 1971. The National Park Service states that "the building's current excellent state of preservation is due largely to [Hone's] efforts".

Early life and education

Hone was born on November 21, 1904, in Louisville, Kentucky. She was the only child of engineer Augustus Crane Hone and historical preservationist Alice Castleman Hone. Since 1857, her family owned the Acorn Hall mansion in Morristown, New Jersey.

In 1916, her family moved to New York, but Hone frequently visited Morristown. She decided to be an actress, with her mother Alice Castleman Hone as her manager. Morris County Historical Society curator Anne Motto claims, "Alice steadfastly insisted to the media that her daughter would not enter the lowly movie industry." Hone previously starred in Othello as Desdemona.

In 1944, she wrote piano march "Let's Re-Re-Re-Elect Roosevelt", a campaign song supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth term. It was published by Finger Lakes Press in Auburn, New York. An excerpt of its lyrics are viewable online.

In a 1946 resume to join the UN, Hone describes part of her acting career: That year, Hone moved to Amsterdam for 8 months to work for the Dutch branch of the World Federalist Movement. to discuss how her mansion, Acorn Hall, could become property of the town and therefore a house museum. She hoped to complete this arrangement before 1955, so that she could accept the UN's job offer to move abroad to Turkey. Hone details her situation in a thank-you letter to the mayor: Despite their demonstration, 287 was still completed. This unsuccessful campaign likely inspired Hone to officially join the Morris County Historical Society in 1967.

In 1968, she made plans to donate Acorn Hall to the Morris County Historical Society, and Hone officially bequeathed the property in 1971. Hone entrusted Morristown historian and friend, Patricia Eldredge, to preserve the Hall. Hone donated the entire property along with furniture, family heirlooms, papers, and photographs. After this, Hone retired to Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Hone died in Nantucket on November 27, 1990.

Legacy Acorn Hall opened as a museum in 1973. It continues to be preserved as a historic house museum as of 2022.