Posts Tagged New Jersey

About 1736, Peter Willcocks built a sawmill along the Blue Brook to produce lumber needed by farmers as they settled this frontier area.  Hundreds of acres of forest were cleared by this sawmill operation.

In 1845 David Felt bought 760 acres of land and built a printing factory along the brook.  To support the mill operation, he built an entire town on the bluff above the brook.  He named it Feltville.  By 1850, 175 people were living here.  In 1860, Felt retired.  Other business ventures were tried but failed.  The town became deserted for a short time.

Warren Ackerman bought the property in 1882.  He converted the former mill town into a summer resort called Glenside Park.  Eventually the Jersey Short displaced the popularity of this mountain resort.  Glenside Park closed in 1916.

In 1921 the Union County Park System was formed and this area was incorporated into the Watchung Reservation.  Today ten historic building still remain on the grounds.  Some are still inhabited.

The Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood is thrilled to hold its monthly meeting at the Masker’s Barn of the Deserted Village.  Daniel Bernier, the resident caretaker of the Deserted Village since 1992, will tell us about the interesting history of Feltville.  For 30 years, Dan has supervised the restoration of the Deserted Village in Feltville.  He garnered 4 NJ historic preservation grants totaling $1.1 million that have helped the Board of Chosen Freeholders stabilize the 10 building in this historic mill town and summer resort.  Its Church/General Store Building and an 1885 carriage house known as Masker’s Barn have been restored.

Dan graduated from Seton Hall University with a B.A. in Anthropology.  He did graduate work in Anthropology at New York University and earned a Certificate in Public Administration from Kean College.  Since 1982, Dan has been employed by the County of Union in its Parks Department.  For 3 years he was a Park Naturalist and Museum Curator at the Trailside Nature & Science Center.  He then became the County’s park planner.

Everyone is invited to this road trip meeting.  The meeting starts at 7:00 PM on Tuesday May 24th.  The GPS address is 13 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights.  Drive past the Road Closed signs and continue slowly about ½ mile to Masker’s Barn at the end where there is parking. You can also try this link for a closer address to the site.

If you want to carpool or fallow in a caravan, be at the Scotch Plains Municipal Building parking lot by 6:45pm.  Refreshments and fellowship follow the meeting.

Frank Terry was one interesting man!  He was born in Scotch Plains and chose to live in his home town most of his life after being 1 of the 10% in his World War II Company who came home after serving in military bombing missions.  He always loved animals as did his wife Lou(ise).  They loved Palomino horses and in order to pay for the farm they purchased for their prized horses, they started pony rides.  Then they started taking in injured animals from zoos and other people and thus was born The Terry Lou Zoo.

Pete Terry is also a local, interesting man who grew up friends with Frank.  Despite the shared last name, they are not related.   On Tuesday evening, February 23rd Pete will share remembrances of his colorful friend Frank at the monthly meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood.  Come hear about the tiger that got loose in the parking lot during the Memorial Day Parade.  Learn why the Terry Lou Zoo had so many American Bison in the 60’s and 70’s.  Many other stories will be told so come to the meeting to get an appreciation for this local character and his wife.

The meeting is free and open to everyone.  Refreshments and fellowship will follow the program.  The meeting starts at 8:00PM on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016. The meeting is held at the Scotch Hills Country Club located at Plainfield Avenue and Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains.

For more information about this meeting, contact Connie Klock at 908-232-9489 or write to us.

Cancelled at the last moment in September but brought back by popular demand, local historian Marie Leppert will be the presentor at the monthly meeting of the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood on Tuesday, November 24th, 2015 at the Scotch Hills Country Club beginning at 8:00PM.  She will discuss some of the notable people, from the Colonial era to the present day, who were born or lived in Scotch Plains or Fanwood.

Born in Scotch Plains, Mrs. Leppert attended Douglas College in New Jersey.  She returned to her hometown where she and her husband, John, raised their family. She has worked locally as a district elementary school teacher and most recently in the family DeFrancesco Realty Office in Fanwood. Mrs. Leppert has always been an active volunteer with such organization as the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, the Scotch Plains Republican Club, the College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Alumni Association.  She was chosen as the Scotch Plains 2015 Female Volunteer of the Year.

In addition to speaking about local history and her community, Mrs. Leppert has written local historical walking tours, a Docent’s Guide for the Scotch Plains’ Osborn Cannonball House Museum, a children’s “History in Hats” skit and information for various websites, news releases and projects.

At this Thanksgiving time of year, this is a perfect topic:  to note and to be thankful for the many people who have contributed to our communities in different, amazing and special ways.  The meeting is free and open to everyone.  Refreshments and fellowship will follow the program.  The meeting starts at 8:00PM on Tuesday, November 24th..  The meeting is held at the Scotch Hills Country Club located at Plainfield Avenue and Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains.

For more information about this event, contact Connie Klock at 908-232-9489.