Red Mill Museum Village

View their website here!

Five community-minded men acted with vision and courage when they bought the derelict Red Mill to restore as a museum. Everyone knew them affectionately as the Red Mill Five.

• Monroe DeMott was president of Shive, Wright and Exton, a real estate and insurance firm
• Cyrus Fox owned Cyrus R. Fox, Inc. lumberyard
• Ralph Howard was a restaurateur who owned and ran Clinton House
• Robert Lechner was a teacher who founded and ran a camp in Stanton
• James Marsh was a well known artist and musician

The story began in 1960, when the Red Mill Five, spearheaded by James Marsh and Monroe DeMott, finally succeeded in buying the landmark Red Mill on the west bank of the South Branch of the Raritan River for $15,000.

For the next 12 years, the Red Mill Five met at noon on Fridays at the Clinton House to turn their vision into reality. Ruth Hetherington, executive secretary to Monroe DeMott, became secretary to the Red Mill Five for 12 years and was an integral part of those formative meetings at the Clinton House.

In 1964, James Marsh bought the Mulligan Quarry and donated it to the museum. The state officially dedicated the museum and grounds in 1965. By 1972 the Red Mill Five were ready to pass the baton, and other community members stepped forward to continue their mission to protect the Mill, its collections and our local heritage. The museum grew and, over the years, became known as the Hunterdon Historical Museum in 1996 and, in 2002, became the Red Mill Museum Village.

Volunteer With Us!

Volunteers have played a significant role at the Red Mill Museum Village from its earliest days. In fact, we could not have opened without their crucial volunteer contributions of time, ideas and skills! If you're interested in volunteering, please use the link on their website to submit an information form.

Have an idea for an exhibit, event or program or any other suggestion? Please let us know!