Franklin Corners, New Jersey

Not to be confused with Franklin Corner, New Jersey, a community in Mercer County.

Franklin Corners, New Jersey
Unincorporated community
Van Dorn's Mill
Van Dorn's Mill
Franklin Corners is located in Somerset County, New Jersey
Franklin Corners
Franklin Corners
Franklin Corners is located in New Jersey
Franklin Corners
Franklin Corners
Franklin Corners is located in the United States
Franklin Corners
Franklin Corners
Coordinates: 40°43′56″N 74°32′30″W / 40.73222°N 74.54167°W / 40.73222; -74.54167
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountySomerset
TownshipBernards

Franklin Corners is an unincorporated community located along the Passaic River at the intersection of County Route 613 (Childs Road) and U.S. Route 202 (Morristown Road) in Bernards Township of Somerset County, New Jersey.[1] In the 19th century, it had a grist mill, saw mill, general store, school, and several houses. The Franklin Corners Historic District, featuring Van Dorn's Mill,[2] was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[3]

History

In 1768, Samuel Lewis built a wooden grain mill here on the Passaic River. During the American Revolutionary War, it provided grain to the Continental Army during the 1779–1780 winter encampment at nearby Jockey Hollow. In 1842, Ferdinand Van Dorn bought the property and built a new, three and one-half story stone mill, now known as Van Dorn's Mill.[3][4] In 1929, local resident and prominent restaurateur William Childs bought the mill property and moved the barn to the other side of U.S. 202. He restored it and established an inn, now known as the Grain House Restaurant at the Olde Mill Inn. In the 1970s, the Olde Mill Inn hotel, venue and meeting center was built on the property next to the restaurant.[5]

The Franklin Academy was a small private school for the community. The two story schoolhouse on Childs Road was built in 1832 with Greek Revival style.[3]

Historic district

Franklin Corners Historic District
Ferdinand Van Dorn House and Mill
LocationHardscrabble and Childs roads
Area47 acres (19 ha)
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.75001159[6]
NJRHP No.2427[7]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 12, 1975
Designated NJRHPDecember 12, 1974

The Franklin Corners Historic District is a 47-acre (19 ha) historic district encompassing the community along Hardscrabble and Childs roads in Bernards Township. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 12, 1975 for its significance in architecture, commerce, education and industry. The district includes 11 contributing buildings.[3]

In 1935, Van Dorn's Mill, then owned by William Childs, was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey.[8] McMurtry's Saw Mill, built in 1850, was documented by HABS in 1939.[9]

The Ferdinand Van Dorn House, next to the mill, is a two and one-half story house built with Greek Revival style. The oldest house in the district, the Samuel Johnson House, was built c. 1770. The oldest section of the Joab Johnson House was built c. 1805. It was later William Gordon's General Store c. 1832–1850.[3]

  • Grain House Restaurant
    Grain House Restaurant
  • Samuel Johnson House
    Samuel Johnson House
  • Joab Johnson House / William Gordon's General Store
    Joab Johnson House / William Gordon's General Store

Transportation

Southbound U.S. Route 202 (Morristown Road) at Somerset County Route 613 (Childs Road)

There are several main roads in the community. U.S. Route 202, running south from Morristown and northeast from Bernardsville, intersects with County Route 613 (Childs Road) and North Maple Avenue, running north from Basking Ridge.[10][11]

Childs Road is named after William Childs and his brother Samuel. Van Dorn Road is named after Ferdinand Van Dorn.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hagemann, Donna (January 29, 1975). "Franklin Corners gets it together". The Courier-News. p. B-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Also spelled Van Doren's Mill and "Van Dorans Mills". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ a b c d e Karschner, Terry (August 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Franklin Corners Historic District". National Park Service. With accompanying 9 photos
  4. ^ Snell, James P. (1881). "Ferdinand Van Dorn". History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey. Everts & Peck. pp. 751–2.
  5. ^ "Historic Restaurant in Basking Ridge". The Olde Mill Inn & Grain House Restaurant. With "The History of the Grain House" (PDF). The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System – Franklin Corners Historic District (#75001159)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  7. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Somerset County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Historic Preservation Office. September 28, 2021. p. 2.
  8. ^ "Van Doren's Mill, Bernardsville, Somerset County, NJ". Historic American Buildings Survey. 1935.
  9. ^ "McMurtry's Saw Mill, Hardscrabble Road, Basking Ridge, Somerset County, NJ". Historic American Buildings Survey. 1939.
  10. ^ "U.S. Route 202 straight line diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. p. 14.
  11. ^ "Somerset County Route 613 straight line diagram" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation. p. 3.
  12. ^ Kennedy, June. "History of Street Names in Bernards Township" (PDF). Bernards Township, New Jersey.