Long Valley Landmark In Line For Two New Historic Grants

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A new round of funding from the New Jersey Historic Trust is set to benefit nearly two dozen historical sites and nonprofits in North Jersey, including one in our own backyard.

The township's Obadiah LaTourette Grist and Saw Mill is in line to receive two grants totaling to $52,064 from the Preserve New Jersey Historic Preservation Fund.

The trust, which is part of the state Department of Consumer Affairs, has recommended that nearly $15.8 million from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund be released to fund 65 projects across New Jersey.

According to a statement issued by the Morris County Board of Commissioners, the money requires legislative appropriation and approval by Gov. Phil Murphy.

“I am grateful that we were able to fund so many worthy projects this year, especially when you consider the challenges our historic sites have endured over the past few years,” said New Jersey Historic Trust Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo. “These projects will create jobs to bolster the economy and sustain our heritage for years to come.”

The Obadiah LaTourette Grist and Saw Mill was built around 1750 and is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places as a contributing property in the German Valley Historic District, according to the Washington Township Land Trust.

The mill, which was originally owned by Philip Weise, was critical to the economy and development of the German Valley and the surrounding agricultural community.

The mill was originally powered by two water wheels, but owner Obadiah LaTourette converted it to turbine power in the 1870s. The Historical Society says the mill operated until the 1940s and the Land Trust acquired it plus 10 acres in 1991.

Part of its historical and unique significance stems from the fact that most of the machinery has survived, reflecting milling's 200-year history.

The town condemned the mill in March 1991 and later purchased it in December. Shortly after, the Land Trust secured a $5,000 emergency stabilization loan from the New Jersey Historic Trust and began the long restoration process for the mill with the help of volunteers and donated materials.

In recent years, the mill has been the recipient of several historic grants attempting to aid in the restoration process. The video below from the Morris County Historical Society offers a glimpse of the mill and its importance to the area.