Charlie’s picture of the week is of the Allamuchy Freight Depot, shown above fully restored and commemorated with historical signage.

The Allamuchy Freight Depot, on County Road 612, is an important part of Allamuchy Township’s Heritage.  Its preservation has provided an important historic landmark, reminding all travelers and visitors of our rich, historic past.  Its preservation also contributes to our present day recreational and educational endeavors, adding an important link to an ever-growing “Greenbelt,” a concept of connecting Open Space and Historic Sites by allowing travel and visits without always being in our cars!  This provides opportunities for a truly recreational and relaxing setting when visiting sites, allowing for more time to ponder about the sites during a walk, bike ride, or even riding on a horse.

The Historic Signage provides educational information about the site, but also informs a visitor about other important and, in this case, related sites, (example: Rutherfurd Hall), weaving an interesting story about our past and maybe even inspiring a future visit to the newly introduced site. Thus, this may begin another fun trip for all.  Notice the emblem atop the pictured sign. We hope the Allamuchy Heritage Site conveys the concept of more places to visit. And there are more! 

It is the Commission’s hope to identify and spread the word about those other sites.  Our Quaker Burial Grounds, just down the road, is the final resting place for early pioneers of this region and already has some signage.  I mentioned above another site, Rutherfurd Hall. The Hall is another gem of Allamuchy and it is directly related to our Freight House!  Both sites were merged into Allamuchy’s history on a September day in 1944 when U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s private train, Ferdinand Magellan, parked at the Freight House for a half day, while the President went to Rutherfurd Hall to visit his friend, widow Lucy Mercer.

OBSERVATION:  During the beginning years of saving the Freight House, circa 1996, Rutherfurd Hall was in its second phase of use, if you will, having changed from its original use as a Country Estate to a retirement home for nuns, known as Villa Madonna!  Who knew, back then, that Rutherfurd Hall/Villa Madonna would also need to be saved, and gradually transitioned into the magnificent Cultural, Educational, and Historical Site it is today! BUT, that will be another important story in Allamuchy’s wonderful lore!

Historical background of the Allamuchy Freight House in its beautiful setting, from Paul Miller’s Tracking Down the Lehigh and Hudson: Phillipsburg to Vernon … the New Jersey Right of Way (2008):

• Allamuchy is named after Chief Allamuchahokkingen, a tribal leader of the Lenape Indians who settled here.  His name, translated, means “place within the hills,” quite aptly describing this gem in the valley.
• Originally part of Hardwick Township, Allamuchy became part of its own township in 1873.  In 1886, the L.&H.R. RR, built a passenger station here, and in 1906 added a freight house to service the busy farmers.
• Although the passenger station was sold off in 1934, the freight house continued to conduct business through the 1960s.
• After years of neglect and vandalism, the Allamuchy Freight House was nearing extinction when Steve Haydu, Allamuchy’s Environmental Commission Historic Coordinator, began the process of saving and preserving the freight house in 1996. With help from the NJ Midland Historical Society, he was able to restore the beauty and color of this historic structure for all to enjoy.

I met Paul Miller several times while he was doing site visits and researching his book.  He even made a presentation for the Allamuchy Historical Society shortly after his book was written.  There was just something about his wording, introducing Allamuchy in his book, that I wanted to pass along.  (HINT: Great resource and enjoyable read about the L&HR RR.)

The driving force in the creation of the L&HR RR was the discovery of coal in Pennsylvania and the need to get that coal to a huge market, New York City.  By 1906, another important market was developing for the city, milk and farm produce from the large active farms in Allamuchy.  Adjacent to the Freight House was also a large creamery.  Alas, in the mid 1960s, after several changes in ownership of the railroads, the tracks through Allamuchy and this region fell silent and faded into history.

The following notes were used by myself as Master of Ceremony at the unveiling of the Historical Marker Signage Ceremony on June 14, 2012. They give a pretty good insight into the project’s development over the years from beginning culminating at the National & State Historic Marker Dedication which was June 14, 2012.

FREIGHT DEPOT RESTORATION PROJECT: CREDITS

• Steve Haydu: started project, coordinated overall project and received two grants from Warren County’s Municipal Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund Committee
• Warren County Municipal Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund Committee: Approved two grants for the Freight Depot
• Susan Issakson: The theme of her college graduate course was the obtaining of State & National Historic Registry designation for the Freight Depot.
• Mayor Robert Resker and Allamuchy Town Council: Great support throughout this project.
• Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders: Support throughout project.
• Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission: Supported efforts by Commissioner Haydu.
• The Nature Conservancy & The Ridge & Valley Conservancy: Jointly donated a two-acre plot to Allamuchy Township, site where Freight Depot located.
• Tim Sty: From the NJ Midland Railroad Historical Society
• State of New Jersey: Purchased most of the L&HR RR Rite-of-Way from Lackawanna Cutoff, from CR-517, Andover, Sussex County through Phillipsburg, Warren County to make Rails-to-Trails possible.
• Washburn Wright: Donated and installed depot loading platform.
• Historical Heritage Sign: Designating Allamuchy Freight Depot as a State & National Historical Site was purchased by Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission and Allamuchy Historical Society with funding from Mr. & Mrs. Erivan and Helga Haub.
• Site work completed by Anviro and funded by Haub Open Space donation.

I would like to give again thank and credit our Mayor, Betty Schultheis and the Allamuchy Town Council for providing great support and much hard work in our endeavors to celebrate our beautiful Open Space Lands and our Historical Sites. 

I would also like to thank and give credit to the Allamuchy Township Board of Education and Superintendent Tim Frederiks for their support and hard work in our Town’s Open Space and Historical Sites.

The Allamuchy Historical Society, Friends of Rutherfurd Hall and again the Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission all have played important roles partnering in making these projects possible and available to all.

ENJOY YOUR OPEN SPACE & HISTORY SITES

Charlie Fineran
Director Open Space
Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman
Allamuchy Historical Society – President