The most historic place in Franklin Township is Oak Grove. Oak Grove is a very special place to me because l live there on a 160 acre organic farm.

Situated in the south of the township, Oak Grove was called this because of the oak forests around it. It consisted of a grist mill, a saw mill, a blacksmith shop, and three dwellings. The three dwellings were the mill house (my house) the tenant house, and the Red house.

The original parcel of land consisted of 2,225 acres and was owned by Thomas Gardner, as recorded in book A of surveys, page 133, in the Surveyor General's Office in Burlington (the capital of West Jersey) dated October 14, 1712. This land was one of three tracts included in the Third Indian Purchase of l 703. Around l 730 Samuel Willson bought 600 acres. In l 742, his son, Dr. James Willson bought 220 acres including his father's dwelling

This parcel of land was passed down to his youngest son James in 1777. When James died at the age of 25 in l 785, the land was divided between his two sons, Samuel (born 1782) and John (born 1784). Samuel had six children - Uriah, James, John, Samuel, Edward, and Josiah. When the elder Samuel died in 1846, his land was divided on May 15, 1847. The southern part (the Oak Grove area) consisting of 167.78 acres was conveyed to Josiah Willson.

He built a steam powered grist mill in 1856 which operated until 1885 along with a saw mill (Circa l 805). The grist mill burned down in 1896. The purchase price was $4,668.54. Josiah built a beautiful bank barn in 1849. The original stone walls are two feet thick. In 1860, he built the Mill House. It is a full three story Antebellum Federal Plantation House. There is a beautiful spiral staircase too.

Josiah married Mary Ann Bray on February 5, 1851. They had two children Addie and Laura. Addie married W. Howard Lake. On May 23, 1885, Josiah Willson sold his property to his son-in-law. This property consisted of 4 tracts of land totaling l 98.75 acres. The purchase price was $15,000.

On March 16, 1889, Howard and Addie Lake sold their property to George W. Hyde, Trustee for $10,400. On March 18, 1899 the Rome Land and Improvement Company was officially started by George C. Hall and J.L. Street. Hall and Street were Real Estate Brokers and Land Promoters. They were the managers of the Rome Land and Improvement Company which consisted of 256. S acres. They then launched what was probably the biggest land scheme of all time in Hunterdon County. Although the City of Rome lasted only 16 years, it took 64 years to close the final chapter on it.

The City of Rome contained 3000 lots, although the original survey map dated March 1, 1899, only shows 2,911 lots. The lots were 100 feet by 25 feet, and cost between $20.00 and $40.00 per lot. The avenues ran north and south and the streets ran east to west.

The streets were named after trees - Chestnut, Maple, Oak, Elm, Birch, Spruce, Pine and Cedar. Avenues were named Madison, Washington, Grand, Lexington, Johnson, Clinton, Myrtle, Broad, Gates, Tompkins, Princeton, Williams, Newark, Saxon, Adam, Columbus, Nostrand, and Boulevard.

The Mill House became the Mansion Hotel, while the bank barn was known as the hotel stables. A factory site, school sites, and a Catholic church site were also included. The lots were sold to individuals who lived in the city. These people would travel by train to Flemington and then by horse and carriage to the Mansion Hotel. The third floor of the hotel was one large room. Here the people would be wined and dined and told to "sign here for a piece of the action". A dumbwaiter hoisted food to the third floor.

Over 1000 lots were sold, but no family actually ever built on their property. There was no clear title to Josiah Willson's original land holdings until January 1963. Mary Trimmer, who owned the lands consisting of the Mill House and the Tenant House, had to advertise in numerous papers for deed holders to the City of Rome lots. Three heirs laid claim to three lots, so she had to buy them out.

My parents, Ted and Susan Blew, bought the Mill House along with 160 acres on August 26, 1977. The Tenant House on 13.5 acres was purchased by Dennis Freiwald and the Red House on 5 acres is owned by John and Cheryl Gulish. Both of the houses are across the street from my house.

My father was cleaning out a fence-row in the fall of 1977, and found two corner stones buried in the ground. They were carved stones from the grist mill: Oak Grove Mills 1856 and J. Willson 1856.

My mom and dad told me that three weeks after they bought the farm, they were awakened by a loud crash and the ground shook. The wooden side of the bank barn had crashed to the ground. The bank told my parents that it wasn't worth it to repair the barn and they should bulldoze it down. My parents said they walked up into the upper level of the barn and ran their fingers over the carved initials and date in a wooden beam. (J.W. 1849). Then they walked down to the lower east side of the barn where it had collapsed. There was the cornerstone with the name and date: J. Willson l 849 A. D. carved into the stone. They were determined to save and repair the barn. A crew of Amish carpenters from Lancaster, Pennsylvania restored the barn in 1978.

I'm glad they saved the barn. My sisters' horse, 7-11, lives in one of the horse stalls. In the summer, I like to go in the barn because the stone walls always keep it so cool. 7-11 enjoys the barn too!

On December 19, 1985, my parents made history as the first farm family in New Jersey to enter their land into the Farmland Preservation Program. I'm glad that Oak Grove will always be a farm. I'm sure Mr. Willson would be happy to know that his barn and house are still standing and his fields are being farmed.

Last year the Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission put up a beautiful new historical sign at the end of our lane. It tells about Oak Grove. I think this sign is very special because the history of Oak Grove was so unique and because I live at Oak Grove.

I enjoy growing up on our family farm at Oak Grove. I have learned to appreciate old houses and barns. It is so important that all of us should save these "treasures" in Hunterdon County. Once they are bulldozed down, we will never ever get them back. How sad it would have been if our bank barn was destroyed. New barns are okay, but there's something about old barns that make them so special.

The next time you travel down Oak Grove Road in Franklin Township, look for the historical sign. Now that you know the history of Oak Grove and you see my family's farm, then you'll understand why the most historic place in Franklin Township is OAK GROVE.

I think the most historic place in Franklin Township is Oak Grove. I live at Oak Grove on a 160 acre organic farm. It has an old bank barn built in 1849 which was restored in 1978. My house is the Mill House where the person who operated the mills lived (Josiah Willson.) It was built in 1860 by Josiah Willson. The Mill House is a three story Antebellum Federal Plantation House. It even has a beautiful three story spiral staircase,. Josiah also built a steam powered gristmill in 1856. He operated the gristmill and a saw-mill (built 1805) until 1885.

My parents bought the farm on august 26, 1977. I have seen slides of what the farm looked like then. the buildings were so run-down and the land around the house and buildings were overgrown with weeds. My grandfather call the farm a "dump." It was so awful looking. the bank told my parents to bulldoze the bank barn because it was in such terrible shape. My parents hired a crew of Amish men from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to restore the barn in 1978. I'm glad my parents saved the barn and had it restored by the Amish. Now this beautiful barn can be enjoyed by everyone for years to come. (I hope forever.) It's even been featured in many magazines and also appeared in a commercial.

What makes this barn so special to me is that I keep my horse 7-11 in one of the horse stalls. The original stone walls are 2 feet thick. Josiah Willson even made a little stone shelf within the south wall. It put my brushes and hoof pick on the shelf when I groom 7-11. In the summer, when it's hot and humid, it is always cool in the barn for my horse. Mr. Willson really knew how to build a barn in 1849!

My father was clearing out a fence-row in the fall of 1977 and found two cornerstones buried in the ground. They were carved stones which read: "Oak Grove Mills 1856" and the other "J. Willson 1856." We now have these two stones on display.

There is a historical at the end of our lane which says "Oak Grove, site of Active Settlement, 1700's, 1800's, and early 1900's." In 1994 Franklin Township repainted the sign for us because the paint was coming off. tow years ago I helped my parents plant shrubs around the historical marker. Now the historical marker looks nice.

A person named Sarah Yard is buried in our woods. she lived for 42 years (1748-1790.) she died on April 12, 1790. No one knows for sure why she's buried where three farms joined together long ago. In 1990, on the 200th anniversary of her death, we had a ceremony and planted tulips and hyacinths at her grave site. her grave is marked by a large, flat stone with her name and date on it. Her tombstone says "Sarah Yard died Apriel 12, 1790 aged 42 years. Note the spelling of April. Perhaps the stone carver was Dutch as this is how April was spelled by the Dutch. she has now been buried there for 207 years years! If she was still living today that means she would be 249 years old! My family and I like to take our friends to see her grave. Many times they're afraid to go into the woods. We wonder why?

In September of 1977 my Mom was painting the window sill in our first floor bathroom. when she was painting, My Mom sensed that someone was behind her. She turned, and saw a woman in a long, blue dress. Her hair was blond and she wore it swept up. the lady smiled, turned and walked up the spiral staircase. When my Mom saw the lady, she could see the pale wall and hall door right through her. My Mom calls her "Lady in blue" because of the blue dress she wore. We still hear people walking around on the second and third floors at night. Now we just accept the fact that "other" people live in our house.

I think it's fun to live on a farm that has so much history. I'm glad I can enjoy the bank barn and even though some of my friends think my house is haunted, I'm not bothered by it.

What's important to me is that all of us should work hard to save and preserve old structures. It my parents had torn the bank barn down, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to enjoy what I feel is a "real" treasure. Once an old building is torn down, we can never, ever fit it back again.

I have learned to appreciate how hard people worked to build these structures without the use of modern tools. These people were so skillful. Let's not destroy what they built!

My parents were the first family in New Jersey to enter their land into the Farmland Preservation Program on December 19, 1985. Oak Grove will always be a farm and hopefully the buildings and house will remain for generations to come so that they can enjoy and look in "awe" at the beauty of these structures.

My name is Eric Blew. I live on a farm at Oak Grove in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County. My parents bought their farm at Oak Grove in August 1977. Oak Grove is noted for its historical background. I think its neat to live on such an old farm.

In the early 1800's, Oak Grove consisted of a grist mill built in 1856, a saw mill built in 1805, and a blacksmith shop (these were located on my farm) and three other dwellings. The three houses were: The Mill House (my house), The Tenant House and the Red House. All three homes still exist today. Unfortunately, the Grist Mill burned down in 1896. The saw mill and blacksmith shop are no longer there. When my parents work up the ground where these buildings had once stood, I like to look for old artifacts. I have found old pieces of steel, door hinges, bottles, nails and other parts of unknown things.

The original parcel of land consisted of 2,225 acres. My parents farm has 160 acres. The original house, built in the 1700's was taken down in 1924. My house was built in 1860. It is a three story Federal Colonial. I like the spiral staircase the best. It rises the full 3 stories and is self supporting. The barn was built in 1849. You can still see the carved date and initials of the man who built the barn on an old wooden beam in the hay mound. Also, there is a cornerstone in the barn with the same information.

A lady named Sarah Yard is buried in the woods. Her crude stone bears this inscription "Sarah Yard, died Apriel (sic.) 12th, 1790, aged 42 years." On April 12th, 1990, exactly 200 years later, my parents, grandmother, neighbors, my two sisters, and I held a ceremony at her grave. I helped to plant hyacinths next to her stone. To this day no one knows who she was and why she was buried there. I often wonder myself. I really would like to solve this mystery. Maybe, some day I will.