The boyhood home of Dr George Gallup, known locally as The Gallup House, is now open to the public Saturdays from 9 am to noon, the same hours as the Greene County Historical Museum.
George Gallup was born in 1901. His parents had moved into the octagonal house on what was then the edge of Jefferson just three months prior to his birth. As home births were the norm, George was born in the parlor.
He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1919 and then attended the University of Iowa as a journalism student.
His interest in polling began with measuring readers’ interest in newspaper content, growing to a lifelong interest in measuring public attitudes on political, social and economic interests.
George Gallup is perhaps Jefferson’s most famous son. He was named to various lists of outstanding or influential persons over the years, beginning with the U.S. Jaycees naming him one of America’s 10 Outstanding Young Men in 1938. In 1983 he was named by Esquire magazine as one of 50 men and women who Made the Difference.
The Gallup House is not significant only because of the pollster who grew up there, but also because of its octagonal form. The style was popular in the later half of the 19th century, as it was thought to have better structural integrity, be a more efficient use of space, and be better protection from the elements than a traditional rectangular home.
The Gallup House is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 703 S. Chestnut St, Jefferson.
Greene County Historical Society members Carol Schultz and Margaret Hamilton worked with the New Jersey LLC that now owns the house to have it open to the public.
The Gallup House also will be available for bus tours and can be rented for special occasions. Owner Scott Purvis hopes to add programming and perhaps make display space available to artisans. Hamilton will be docent at the house, but more docents are needed. The docent will serve as host, welcoming visitors, answering questions, and doing light cleaning as needed. Docents are likely to have a passion for local history and the community. Persons who want more information about being a docent can contact Hamilton at hami0017@hotmail.com or Purvis at scott.purvis@gandrllc.com
