Hageman Farm facts for kids
The Hageman Farm is a very old house located at 209 South Middlebush Road in Somerset, New Jersey. It's officially recognized as a historic place in New Jersey, meaning it's an important part of the state's history.
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The Hageman Family's Journey
The Hageman family started in America with Catherine and Adrian Hegeman. They came from the Netherlands around 1650 or 1651. First, they lived in Flatbush, New York. Later, in 1702, four of Adrian and Catherine's grandsons moved to Six Mile Run, New Jersey, which is where the farm is located.
Benjamin Hageman and the Farmhouse
One of Adrian's great-grandsons was Benjamin B. Hageman, who lived from 1812 to 1890. In 1845, Benjamin married Jane Van Wickle. They lived and farmed in Somerville, New Jersey for sixteen years.
In 1861, Benjamin moved his family to what is now known as the Garretson-Hageman farm. He made big changes to the house in 1868, making it larger and more modern for its time. Benjamin had two sons: Samuel Hageman and Garretson Hageman.
Garretson Hageman's Contributions
Garretson Hageman (1846–1915) took over the house after his father, Benjamin. He was a very educated man for his time, graduating from Rutgers College in 1868. Garretson worked as a land surveyor, civil engineer, and notary in the area. This meant he helped measure land, design structures, and make legal documents official.
Garretson married Caroline Gano Staats, and they had four children: Jane Ann Van Wickle Hageman, Peter Hageman, Magdeline Gano Hageman, and Benjamin Hegeman.
Peter Hageman and Public Service
The Hageman Farm then passed to Peter Hageman (who lived from about 1890 to 1943) in 1933. Peter was important in his community, serving as the Tax Collector for Franklin Township from 1928 until he passed away in 1943.
After Peter's death, his wife took over his duties as Tax Collector and continued to work from their home for another 24 years! For almost 40 years, a large room in the Hageman Farmhouse was used as the official Tax Collector's office. Peter's son, Garretson Hageman, lived on the farm with his family until 1972.
Saving the Hageman Farm
After 1972, the Hageman Farm was left empty for more than five years. During this time, it was damaged by bad weather, neglect, and even vandalism. The land was originally planned for a large water project called the Six Mile Run Reservoir, which would have meant the house would be torn down.
Luckily, the plans for the reservoir were changed, and the house was saved from demolition. On July 13, 1978, the Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey government approved the sale of the farm and its other buildings to the Meadows Foundation for just $100. The Meadows Foundation is a group dedicated to preserving historic places. They agreed to lease the surrounding 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) of land back to the Township instead of paying taxes. This agreement helped ensure the farm would be protected and cared for.
