Quakertown, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quakertown, New Jersey
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Quakertown Methodist Episcopal Church
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 Quakertown, New Jersey
Location in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Quakertown, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Quakertown, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Hunterdon |
| Township | Franklin |
| Elevation | 650 ft (200 m) |
| ZIP Code |
08868
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| GNIS feature ID | 879564 |
Quakertown is a small community in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own separate local government. Long ago, it was known as Fairview.
The area was settled by a group of people called Quakers. They came from Burlington County and built a special meeting house here in 1733. Today, a big part of the community is known as the Quakertown Historic District. It was added to important lists of historic places in 1990.
Contents
History of Quakertown
Early Inventions and Businesses
In 1828, a local craftsman named John Deats (1769–1841) invented something important. He was a wheelwright, meaning he built and repaired wheels. John created a special iron plow called the Deats plow.
A few years later, in 1831, his son, Hiram Deats (1810–1887), started making these plows. Hiram built a factory called a foundry in Quakertown in 1836. Here, he made parts for plows and stoves.
Hiram's business grew a lot. He expanded his factories to other towns like Pittstown and Stockton. Because of his success, Hiram Deats became the first millionaire in Hunterdon County.
The Tannery Building
Another important business started in Quakertown in 1836. John Allen built a commercial tannery here. A tannery is a place where animal hides are turned into leather.
To do this, they used a large millstone to crush tree bark. This bark contained a substance called tannin, which helps make leather. You can still see this old millstone today. It sits in front of a historic building known as the Potter/Allen house.
Quakertown Historic District
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Quakertown Historic District
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William Probasco House, built c. 1814
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Quakertown, Cherryville Roads, Quaker Lane, and Locust Grove Road |
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| Area | 78 acres (32 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman, Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001242 |
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| Added to NRHP | August 23, 1990 |
The Quakertown Historic District is a special area that protects old buildings. It runs along Quakertown Road and includes many parts of the village. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It's important because of its architecture and how the community developed over time. The district has 74 buildings that help tell its history.
Important Buildings in the District
- The Quaker Meeting House is a significant building. It's a place where Quakers meet. The current building was rebuilt in 1862 using stones from the original building, which was from 1754.
- The Potter/Allen House is a stone house built in 1765.
- The William Probasco House was built around 1814. It shows the Federal style of architecture, which was popular back then.
- The Henry Cliffton House is one of the oldest buildings in Quakertown.
- The William Cronce House has a unique round window, called an oculus. It also has decorative shingles on its outside.
- The Quakertown Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1878. It has a fancy, tall steeple with three parts. This church is the tenth oldest Methodist Church in Hunterdon County.
Notable People from Quakertown
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Quakertown:
- Hiram Deats (1810–1887) was a successful businessman. He was known for making farm equipment.
- Toshiko Takaezu (1922–2011) was a famous artist. She created beautiful ceramic art and paintings.
Gallery
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Quaker Meeting House
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Potter/Allen House
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Henry Cliffton House
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William Cronce House
