The Slack House or Slack-Carroll house at 354 Georges Road, Dayton, is historically significant to Dayton. The house was the first house built north of the intersection of Five Points; it was the first physician's office in the rural village; it was known to be the first hospital (and probably the last, since there were only two hospital rooms, a waiting room, and an examining room); and it had the first indoor plumbing in town with a zinc lined wooden tub.

The house is a 2 ½ story, 4-bay, L-Plan vernacular Italianate, popular between 1850 and 1870. It has cedar clapboard siding over a brick foundation; a slate gable roof with partial return; an arched attic window, three porches with the front and side porches showing Queen Anne details. There are two staircases; one leading to the physician's office has a wrought iron railing. The kitchen was in the basement in the 1800s. Mortared bricks line the frame walls, a method made popular as a fire stop by Ben Franklin.

Dr. Clarence Slack, the first physician who lived in the house, was born in Heightstown around 1840. He is descended from William Slack, a prominent Baptist, who immigrated from England to Massachusetts at the end of the 1600s. His grandmother, Rachael Swain was the daughter of a prominent New Jersey family. His father, Peter Baird Slack was a landholder and died young. His mother, Abigail Schenck Appliget, was a descendant of Anthony Appliget, a large landed proprietor in East Jersey and Sir John Baird.

As a young man Dr. Slack was a telegraph operator. He attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia graduating in the midst of the Civil War. Joining the navy, he became a naval surgeon during the Civil War, serving on the "Pembina." At the end of the Civil War he returned to Dayton to a medical practice. He also served as a surgeon in the Spanish-American War.

Active in politics and public service, Dr. Slack was elected freeholder from the township of South Brunswick in the 1870s. During the 1880s, he was active in public service in Middlesex County, often traveling to New Brunswick. At the death of the county clerk, the Governor appointed Dr. Slack to fill out the unexpired term. Dr. Slack then was elected to county clerk for a number of years. He was Commander of the Robert Boggs Post, No. 57, G.A.R., served as surgeon of the Third regiment of the New Jersey National Guard. He was also active was known to have held leadership positions in the Masons and Friendship Lodge, the Order of Military Surgeons of New Jersey, and New Jersey Medical Society.

Dr. Slack invited his nephew, a physician and druggist, Dr. Norton, to join his practice. Eventually they moved the practice to Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick, the county seat . Much more research will be done on Dr. Slack's life and contribution to the area and his profession.

In the mid-1880s, Dr. Slack enouraged a young physician, Dr. Baldwin from the Philadelphia area, to take over his practice in Dayton. Unfortunately, Dr. Baldwin became sick almost upon arrival and died of cancer a couple of years after moving to Dayton.

In 1887 Dr. Slack sold the home and practice to Dr. Edgar Wallace Carroll, who lived there until his death in 1934. Dr. Carroll had started his practice in Dayton around 1885. Dr. Edgar Carroll was born in Keene, Ohio, a suburb of Coshocton. His Irish parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Carroll had settled there in 1838. Dr. Carroll's ancestors were distinguished in educational, religious, medical, and civil and military annals of Ireland and later Maryland and Tennessee. Dr. Carroll continued to support Irish causes and issues throughout his life. Dr. Carroll graduated from the Keene Academy, which his father, Thomas Carroll, founded, and then attended Jefferson Medical College, graduating with high honors.

Dr. Edgar Carroll and his older brothers, Robert, William, and Thomas became physicians. Nathaniel, another brother, became a pharmacist. Serving in high posts during the Civil War, Thomas and William served President Lincoln and the Lincoln family. Nathaniel Carroll was the official pharmacist in charge of the U.S. Dispensary at Washington, D.C. during the Civil War. Dr. Thomas Carroll, was medical officer to the 1st U.S. Infantry during the Civil War. Dr. William Carroll was a surgeon, in charge of the government hospital at Meridian Hill, visited daily by President Lincoln. Dr. Edgar Carroll lived with William and his family. He was also medical adviser of President Lincoln and his family. Their roles also need more research. Locally, Dr. Carroll was active in the Presbyterian church and in local organizations. Dr. Edgar Carroll was Middlesex county physician periodically for the next 25 years and also South Brunswick Township physician. He was medical advisor to St. Joseph's College in Princeton, on the staff of St. Peter's Hospital in New Brunswick, and active in the Middlesex County Medical Society.

Most of the Carroll decedents, many of them physicians today, have offered to collect additional family histories. Relatives say that they were active in politics in Ireland, although research is needed to document their roles and contribution in the Irish struggles against the British. All Carroll brothers, many of them born in Ireland, were active in supporting Irish political groups. Family members mention that they actively raised funds, among other actions.

It is known that Dr. Carroll served the South Brunswick and Dayton communities for over 45 years, was a pillar of the community and known for his integrity. Certainly, as any country doctor he often was paid in services and food. But even so, during the Great Depression as he lay dying he asked his wife to mark all bills owed paid in full at his death. He was owed thousands of dollars. He illustrates the finest qualities of service that is the hallmark of the country doctor and a key emotional part of that community. His additional contributions to his profession are also being researched.

Dr. Carroll, like Dr. Slack, graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.The Carroll family continued to live in the home until 1949, and during that period rented the office to physicians such as Dr. Percival Smith, who then served the community.

In 1983, the Township designated the house as locally significant and listed it with the state as a historic site. Wawa donated the property to the Dayton Village Citizens' Coalition as a result of discussions between company and township officials and residents to see if something could be done to preserve the home.

The Dayton Village Citizens' Coalition hopes to create exhibits on Civil War and post-Civil War medical care and Civil War service by South Brunswick area residents, among exhibits highlighting life and styles of the period. To do all that needs to be done, we will need many volunteers to do the library and historical research need to find out more about the medicine of that era, the history of Dayton, and of the doctors who served it. If you are interested in helping, please email us at the address below.

For more information on the Slack-Carroll House restoration effort email us at info@daytonvillage.org .