The Tinnes Farm
Franklin Township, New Jersey

The Tinnes Farm

The historic place that I am writing about is now called Tinnes Farm. It was a 51 acre farm and is now a small development of 13 homes on the north side of Franklin Township.

In 1872, Isaac DeMott and his wife sold the property to Jacob Agans. On March 7, 1892, Matilda C. Agans, widow of Jacob, sold the 51 acres to Joseph McClary for $2,950.62. Edward and Daisy Dupont bought the farm from Mr. McClary for $6,500 in 1924. In 1948, the Duponts sold 1 acre to their daughter, Ellen, and her husband, Mathew Tinnes, for $1 so they could build a house. In 1958, the rest of the property was transferred to Mr. and Mrs. Tinnes also for $1. The original farmhouse of 1.3 acres was sold to Kenneth and Irene Rice in 1964.

Mrs. Tinnes, the daughter of Edward and Daisy, who is now 84, still lives in the home that she and her husband built in 1948. I interviewed her and she told me what it was like on the farm in the early 1920’s. She said that farming was very difficult and was done with horse drawn equipment. I think that must have been very tiring and hard. There was no electricity or plumbing in the beginning. The house was heated with a wood cooking stove in the kitchen and wood/coal stove in the dining room with a register in the ceiling to heat the upstairs.

She remembers having a Model T car and truck but the ruts in the road were so bad in the winter that they would go to Clinton by horse and carriage. There was a railroad in Lansdowne where they could get a train to New York or Easton. She also took the train to school in Clinton. Mrs. Tinnes really seemed to enjoy talking about her childhood.

In 1995, Mrs. Tinnes sold all but 3 acres to Frank Perkowski. He named Mathew Dr. after her husband. I think this was very nice of him to honor Mr. Tinnes in that way. Every time she turns on the street she remembers him.

I think this is the most historic place in Franklin Township because it has been passed on by many families and has been in one family for more than 70 years. I am happy to be living next door to Mrs. Tinnes.