I think Capoolong Creek is the most historic place in Franklin Township because it had an amazing history. Capoolong Creek was once an Indian camp. It also had a major flood and a long time ago it used to power mills. There is something about all of these things that are part of Capoolong Creek.
The Capoolong Creek is a small stream that runs through Franklin. It starts in the western part and in the eastern part of Franklin Township it runs in to the Raritan River. On August 3, 1885 there was a big rainfall that flooded the Capoolong Creek. The exact amount of rainfall that fell is not known but the reports of the people who lived here then said it was at least eight inches. The road from Quackertown to Pittstown was flooded badly. The large amount of rain that had fallen washed out the road which in those days was made from dirt.
At the time of this rain there were many mills powered by Capoolong Creek. These included grist mills, saw mills, and foundry mills. Franklin Township was very proud of its mills. During the flood all these mills were damaged. There still is a mill building that is by the creek.
A long time ago some people told that there were Indian camps along the Capoolong Creek. The Indians got their food and water from it. Also they could have washed their clothes. If you go by Capoolong Creek you might even find some Indian arrow heads. When I went back to the creek once I found a cool rock.
Capoolog Creek today is still a very nice place. People use it for fishing and hiking. Everyone likes to enjoy our five mile hike. The fishing is great.
The Capoolon Creek has been here for over 100 years. The native Americans used the capoolon creek for fishing or camping along side of the creek. New Orleans was having a wonderful rainfall, ten and three quarter inches in 24 hours! But when the rain came to Franklin it fell in less than one third of the time. that day was the wettest day anyone even in Quakertown, Pittstown, Sidney or anywhere even close to the capoolon creek ever had. The rain fell more in some places than in others a short distance away.
The water rose to about 10 feet high. Since I'm a little more than 4 feet if i jumped as high as I can I would still not be able to reach the top. Sidney suffered the most out of the other roads. Five buildings were carried away, three wagon houses, a barn, and a threshhouse. A fine apple orchard of ten or twelve years of growth was wrecked. The barn of Lafayette Bearder was carried away along with two horses. Jr. Bearder's horse was found the next day still tied to the broken manger. Jacob Agan's horse was found dead a few days later.
The roads of Franklin were in terrible conditions. Members of the Township Committee estimated the damages of Franklin were about $40,000 to $50,000. Almost three million five hundred thousand tons of water fell onto a valley in less than eight hours! no wonder the bridges were swept away. No wonder the hillsides of two days before are now all scarred. the lowlands of before, now presented sights painful to behold.
Capoolong Creek is a creek that runs by my house and through Pittstown. Today many people ride their horses, bikes, or take walks on the creek and enjoy its beauty. A long time ago the Capooling Creek worked very hard for the people of Pittstown. It one time made power for all the mills in the area. It turned the wheels for five gristmills; three saw mills, a fulling mill, and one machine shop. All those mills were less than four miles from each other.
The first mill was built along the creek in 1748. The only mill that remains is now a stone house on the corner of Kingstown Roads and it is called King's Manor. Now the stream runs very slowly and it would not be able to do the work it did a long time ago, but we should remember if that it was not there to help us years ago maybe there would not be a Pittstown.
My most historic place in Franklin is Capoolon Creek. The Fusco House is on a hill above Capoolon Creek. I like Capoolon Creek because it has many uses. They are fishing, exploring, swimming, and much much more. In August, 1885 Capoolon Creek was known for the flood. Capoolon Creek is located in Western part of Franklin Township and it was six miles long. It lead to South Branch of the Raritan River. The Arch Bridge was the only bridge not damaged in Franklin Township. The flood ruined many things for people. For example, many farmers land was ruined as well as apple orchards, pig pens, barns and much more damage. They estimated 3,500,000 tons of water fell in less then eight hours. The only other flood that was well known was hurricane Floyd. It was ten feet above water level. I chose this site because it has a lot of uses.
