The Cherryville General
Store
Cherryville, New Jersey
The Cherryville
General Store
The Cherryville General Store was built in 1865, on the corner of Cherryville Road, opposite the tavern. It was originally a post office.
Teenagers used to hang out on the porch in the evening. There were fights between migrant workers at night in front of the post office.
The Cherryville General Store was built in a "Greek Revival" style of architecture. Inside was a large lazy Susan with mailboxes on it. You would turn it until you found your mailbox and take the mail out.
The store was kept by John J. Hoffman, and later owned by his son, Kuhl Hoffman. It was later owned by Reuben Pierson and then by his son, Andrew J. John Pierson.
Cherryville was originally called Dogtown. No one knows how it became Dogtown, but people may guess that the early residents loved dogs and the dogs were noisy.
The store was burned down and quickly rebuilt. It was one of the first post offices in the area.
I think that Cherryville General Store is the most historical place in Franklin Township because it has been made into two different structures and it is over 100 years old.
I got my information from Lloyd Wismer, who is the owner of the Quakertown Antique Shop, and Don Connor, present owner of the Cherryville General Store. I also got my information from Andy and Vicki Toth. Andy has lived in Franklin Township for more than eighty years and also was one of the teenagers who sat on the post office porch many times. I also got my information from Facts and Fantasies by J. E. Stout.
Cherryville
Cherryville was on an old road. It was a small,
flourishing settlement, but it grew slowly. Cherryville was first found in
1880 by a prominent local family. In 1881 they started to build churches.
In 1850 they started to build houses, stores, and buildings.
Almost every week they would build more and more things. By the time 1890
came they would have almost every thing they needed. They would have wheel
wright shops, blacksmith shops, and many dwelling houses. After that people
started to come to live. The kids started to go to school and people worked
at shops.
It started to get popular after a while. More and more people came and enjoy
it. They called their friends to come to look. The people liked it so they
moved in. After a while people had to build more houses and shops because
it started to get crowed.
Giselle
Spring, 2002
The Cherryville General
Store
I think the most Historic place in Franklin Township would have
to be The General Store next to my house in Cherryville. My family owns it,
and it was not in use since 1920. I picked this topic because its historic,
old, and it's interesting! The General Store was across the street from the
Dogtown Tavern which is now replaced with a house. Our house was built in 1832,
and The General Store was built in1865.
The General Store was once a post office. It caught on fire and was quickly
rebuilt in 1865. The first person to own the General Store was John J. Hoffman,
then Kuhl Hoffman son of John J. Hoffman, then Reuben Pierson, later Andrew
J. John Pierson and his son-in-law William K.Case. Cherryville was once called
Dogtown. No one knows why. I am happy to own such an old General Store.
