BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – In 1845, David Felt built a mill along the Blue Brook, two dams to supply water power for that mill, and an entire town on the bluff above the mill to house all of the people who would work there. That town became known as Feltville.
On Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, David Felt will return to lead tours of the factory town that once housed hundreds of workers and family members. The mile-long tours, which start at 2:00 p.m. each day, occur during the weekend-long open house of the historic site, as part of Union County’s “Four Centuries in a Weekend” celebration.
Feltville was a thriving mill town from 1845 to 1860. After being sold by Felt, the village wasted away and became deserted, but was reborn in 1882 as Glenside Park, a summer resort. This business closed in 1916 and the Village was again deserted until being purchased by the Union County Park Commission during the 1920's.
According to Freeholder Chairman Al Mirabella, the Feltville of today contains ten buildings and the archaeological remains of a vibrant community nestled in the County’s largest park, the 2,065-acre Watchung Reservation, in Berkeley Heights.
“In 1980, the area in and around Feltville was designated an historic district on the State and National Registers of Historic Sites,” Mirabella said. “This includes a picturesque Revolutionary War period cemetery of some of the area’s earliest residents. The County of Union is in the process of restoring the buildings and grounds. The construction of utility lines into the area, which was just completed, will allow us to soon open an Interpretive Center to serve the public. ”
As part of the Four Centuries in a Weekend program, staffed activities will occur at the Deserted Village from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. Visitors may pick up a map and narrative for a self-guided tour at Feltville’s parking lot. Most of the Village’s buildings and grounds can be seen from a hayride, which will run continuously both days.
Parks Department staff will be stationed at the restored Church/General Store all weekend to answer questions. This building will also house an exhibit of artifacts found at the site, photos of that building being restored, and plans for future restoration. A hands-on demonstration of apples being pressed into cider will be ongoing. Elsewhere in the Village, children can play old-fashioned games. All of these activities are offered free of charge. Light refreshments will be available for purchase at the General Store. Picnic tables are available for families wanting to pack a lunch.
The focus for restoration of the Deserted Village is its many archaeological resources. A program offered by Union County, called Operation Archeology, teaches fifth grade students the principles of archaeology and enables them to excavate hundreds of real artifacts from an artificial site. During the Four Centuries weekend, visitors will be able to get their hands dirty digging for artifacts in a box dig exercise that is an introduction to archaeological technique.
One important archaeological site is the foundation of David Felt’s house, uncovered by archaeologists from Montclair State University’s Center for Archaeological Studies in 2004. Freeholder Deborah Scanlon met with archaeologists at the site and remarked that the Feltville Archaeology Project “has given us a window into the early history of this county. It gives us a better idea of the lives led by people and families as they built this region.”
All activities for the Four Centuries weekend are rain or shine. Enter the Deserted Village via Cataract Hollow Road, off of Glenside Avenue on the Berkeley Heights side of the Watchung Reservation. Wear warm clothes and sturdy walking shoes.
For additional information on the Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park, call Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside, (908) 789-3670. Tickets are still available at Trailside for Haunted Hayrides that will run at the Deserted Village on October 27, 28 and 29. Information about 22 other Four Centuries in a Weekend sites is available from the
Union County Cultural and Heritage Affairs,
(908) 558-2550, or on the Union County website at www.ucnj.org/cultural/4centuries/fourcenturies06brochure.pdf. |
