The Capoolon Trail
Pittstown, New Jersey





The Capoolon Trail
The Railroad Track That Became a Trail

I am writing about the Capoolong Trail. I walked the trail with my father, Mayor Potter and Mr. Dilley about two weeks ago. Franklin Township is going to get some grant money from the State to fix up the trail, so we had to walk it to find out what needed to be fixed on the trail.

It was interesting for me to learn that the trail started as railroad tracks in 1872 for the Easton and Amboy Railroad. The railroad connected Easton, Pennsylvania to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, about 60 miles away. The railroad tracks entered Franklin near Grandin, and left Franklin near Hamden.

From 1872 to 1968, the railroad carried peaches, people, ice, lumber, animal feed, milk, and other things. Before there were school buses, children living in Franklin could take the train from Pittstown to their school in Clinton or in Flemington. Before 1900, Pittstown was known as the "Peach Capital" of Hunterdon County.

Around 1875, a train station was built in Pittstown. It still stands on the trail today behind Perricone’s Market.
In 1973, the State of New Jersey purchased the railroad, and removed the train tracks. This is how the trail was started. The trail is about 4 miles long and has four sections. It starts at Lower Lansdowne Road and ends on Pittstown Road near Perricone’s Market. The official name for the trail is "The Capoolong Fish and Wildlife Management Area."

There are 24 trails in New Jersey. The Capoolong Trail is considered to be one of the best of the 24.

I think the railroad tracks and the trail are one of the most historic places in Franklin. I think this because of the history of the railroad tracks, the trail, and the number of people that used them both.

Gabriella
Spring, 2002

The Capoolon Trail

I chose Capoolon Trail across from Hoff Mills Inn. In the 1880's, Capoolong Trail (which runs from downtown Pittstown across the Raritan River to Clinton) was Pittstown Branch Railroad.

Pittstown Branch Railroad was approved on April 2, 1873 by the state of N.J. Legislature. It was set to be constructed, maintained, and operated on March 6, 1890. The railroad was set to extend from Landsdowne Station, on the Easton and Amboy Railroad in Hunterdon County, to a point in Quakertown Road, near Pittstown. The grand opening was on July 4, 1891. People all over Franklin Township came to the railroad just to ride it. This railroad received 2 awards. I think this railroad is important because it really helped people get to places.

Colin
Spring, 2000