In 1850, a two-story stone building was erected in Quakertown as a private academy but later became a public school. The County cites 186 places of historic interest in Franklin, which has 99 Colonial Era stone structures and 183 frame houses built before 1900.įranklin's first schools in the 1700s were small log cabins, which were replaced with stone structures in the early 1800s. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, and the 1993 Wesleyan Faith Chapel. Three newer churches joined them: the 1967 South Ridge Community (formerly Clinton Baptist) Church, the 1992 St.

1733), the 1850 Baptist Church in Cherryville, and the 1879 United Methodist Church in Quakertown (est.

Of all the old establishments, only the churches remain in service: the 1862 Quakertown Meetinghouse (and last active Quaker establishment in Hunterdon est. Every village had a post office now only Pittstown and Quakertown do. There was a hotel in Quakertown and Cherryville. Pump organs were crafted in Pittstown and grandfather clocks and hats were made in Quakertown. Pittstown boasted several businesses including a distillery, nail factory, and a foundry that produced stoves and significant farm equipment. Grist, fulling, oil and saw mills dotted the township, as did creameries, general stores, taverns, and blacksmith and carpentry shops. In earlier years, Landsdown, Sidney, Kingtown (King's Mills) and Oak Grove also were busy settlements.Ĭommerce in Franklin was more active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries than today. Villages and hamlets in Franklin are Cherryville (Dogtown until 1856), Quakertown (sometimes called Fairview between 18) and Pittstown (Hoffs until the late 1700s), which also is partly in Alexandria and Union Townships.

Rhomboid-shaped, its longest diagonal is about nine miles its shortest about six. Its borders have remained static since, embracing 23.3 square miles in the heart of Hunterdon County. Franklin was set off from Kingwood Township on Apand in turn lost part of its land in 1865, along with Clinton and Union townships, to form the Town of Clinton. The land that became Franklin Township was the home of Delaware Indians for some 5,000 years before Quaker settlers from Burlington arrived soon after 1700.

Franklin township public library nj