Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national level for their significance. Some famous, some little know, together they preserve the story of the people, industries, and culture that shaped our community. In this blog series, MCHS highlights the sites to be found in each town and how they contributed to the diverse and multifaceted county we live in today.
Cooper Gristmill: Built in 1826 by General Nathan Cooper (1802-1879), the gristmill replaced an older mill on the property with what was then cutting-edge technology. Powered by water wheels in the Black River, the mill could grind up to 10 tons of grain a day into flour. Improvements continued to be made over the next few decades, but the mill struggled to remain profitable as the local milling industry was outcompeted by those in the Midwest. Cooper Gristmill nonetheless survived until 1913 and was the last in Chester to close. In 1963, the Morris County Park Commission purchased the property and began the process of restoring the stone structure. Today the only operating gristmill in New Jersey, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public on weekends during the warm months.
General Nathan Cooper Mansion: Located a little over three miles down Route 24 (then Washington Turnpike) from the General’s gristmill, his childhood home was demolished around 1860 to make way for a new residence. Using bricks, sand, lime, and timber sourced from the Cooper estate, the center hall colonial-style house would be his home until his death in 1879. A brigadier general in the Morris County Calvary of the State Militia, Cooper was also gentleman farmer who had previously served as a justice of peace and county judge. Several outbuildings that once dotted the estate have since been lost, although foundations of what is believed to be the carriage house and stables have been located. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, today the former residence is the site of different businesses.
Merchiston Farm: The home of noted landscape architect Martha Brookes Hutcheson and her husband, the 100-acre estate was purchased by the newlyweds in 1911. One of the first female landscape architects in the country, she published her book, The Spirit of the Garden in 1923. Extensively expanding the house soon after purchase, Hutcheson also utilized native plants, terraces, fountains, garden sculptures, and designed views to creating around five acres of formal gardens. In 1927, she expanded the house again and added farm outbuildings (top photo), a swimming pool, wood walks, and a tennis court. She also made use of springs, brooks, and wild growth on the property. Donated to the county in parcels from 1972 to 1986 by the her daughter, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, and today serves as the Morris County Park Commission’s Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center.