Franklin Township Municipal Complex history

Moore Furman (1728-1808), deputy quartermaster general of New Jersey, owned much of Pittstown and in1778 built several businesses and dwellings, including a stone gristmill to supply flour and bread for Gen.

Christian Stanger purchased the Malaga area in 1813 and built a sawmill to manufacture lumber for the glass works building.

One of the earliest recorded churches is the St Ignatius Catholic Church, which was established in 1816 on land owned by John Lowstetter, located in Buchanan Valley.

The Township of Franklin was incorporated on January 27, 1820 when 72,000 acres of portions of Woolwich and Greenwich Townships were combined.

The earliest known reference to Cashtown was made in 1821, when it was said that a tavern keeper at what is now the Cashtown Inn, demanded cash payment from a patron.

The Reformed and Lutheran Union Church, known today as Flohrs Church, between Cashtown and McKnightstown, dates back to 1822.

A gristmill was built by John Rosenbaum in 1830 for his own use, but as soon as it was in operation the local people, who, had been pounding their wheat and corn in the old-fashioned mortar, began to patronize the new mill.

One of the most important developments for Franklin was the building of the Delaware-Raritan Canal in 1834.

In 1835, a meeting of the Adams County School Districts resulted in the first ever 2 mills school tax.

In 1837, all those structures were replaced with a new brick Franklin Township Consolidated School in Quakertown.

The area known as New Denmark, about two miles southeast of Franklinville, became known as Janvier in 1843.

In 1850, a two-story stone building was erected in Quakertown as a private academy but later became a public school.

Franklin Township was first organized in 1723 as part of New London Township and became a separate township in 1852.

During the presidential campaign of 1856, Pleasant Valley was renamed Buchanan Valley to honor the United States President, James Buchanan.

Edmund Jones began the mercantile business in Franklin Township in 1858.

Seven Stars was established in 1860, naming Alexander Miller as its postmaster that same year.

Of all the old establishments, only the churches remain in service: the 1862 Quakertown Meetinghouse (and last active Quaker establishment in Hunterdon; est.

On June 26, 1863 at 10:00 a.m., four local residents, Henry Hahn, Henry Shultz, David Powell and Uriah Powell, were upset about the advance of General Early’s Confederate Troops under the command of Colonel Elijah White, moving through Cashtown.

Franklin got passenger train service in 1875 with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

Cherryville, Pittstown, Quakertown and Sidney built their own schools, and by 1879, Franklin had five frame one-room schoolhouses for its 273 students.

The pioneer tavern was opened in Little Ease by George Cake and closed in 1880.

[Source: Source: History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland, New Jersey : with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens by Cushing & Sheperd, 1883, CHAPTER XL, Page 213-221] Transcribed by Shelia Baker for Genealogy Trails

Prior to 1897, there was no uniformity among townships.

119 put Franklin on the first rural free mail delivery route in Hunterdon, which began November 1, 1900.

Erected by the Washington County Historical Society in 1905.” Further up Franklin Farms Road, a State Historical Marker references this monument.

In 1909, the office of township Secretary and/or Treasurer were created.

In 1917, the legislature enacted the first township code.

The township also encompassed what is now known as the townships of Glassboro, Clayton, Newfield and Elk, but these were created separately by 1924.

The first television set appeared at the Chicken Coop Tavern in Sidney in 1946.

A growing population needed schools, and Delsea Regional was built in 1960, with Delsea Regional Middle School following several years later.

The township’s Municipal Building was purchased for $10,000 in 1969 from the Sidney Grange.

Ironically, starting in the 1980’s, townships are now reclaiming roads that they had originally given back to the State 60 years ago.