National Register of Historic Places

German Valley Historic District

Chester, Morris County, New Jersey
Listed
July 13, 1983
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
83001606

About this property

The German Valley Historic District is a 69-acre (28 ha) historic district located in the Long Valley section of Washington Township in Morris County, New Jersey. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1983, for its significance in agriculture, education, transportation, industry, and religion. The congregation of the Zion Lutheran Church was chartered in 1760, the current Gothic church built in 1832, and the bell tower added in 1861. The German Valley Hotel was built in the mid 19th century. The Old Stone Union Church was built in 1774 from fieldstone and is surrounded by a cemetery. The Lutheran clergyman and missionary, Henry Muhlenberg, often preached here. The German Valley School was built in 1830 from fieldstone. Located next to the Old Union Church, it is now Washington Township Historical Society Museum. The Obadiah LaTourette Grist and Saw Mill on the South Branch Raritan River was built around 1750 and owned by Phillip Weise. In the 1870s, it was converted to turbine power by owner Obadiah LaTourette. The Phillip J. Weisse / J. Schoenheit Farm, known as the Old Fort, is said to have been built around 1774, and was rebuilt in 1876 with Victorian style. The two and one-half story stone Phillip Weise House was built around 1800. National Register of Historic Places listings in Morris County, New Jersey Media related to German Valley Historic District at Wikimedia Commons "Old Stone Union Church, 1774". Historical Marker Database.

Location

Chester, Morris County, New Jersey
40.78669, -74.78155

Categories

AGRICULTURETRANSPORTATIONEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURERELIGION
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Sharpenstine Farmstead
Industrial
1 mi
Neighbor, Leonard, Farmstead
Industrial
1.1 mi
Trimmer-Dufford Farmstead
Industrial
1.2 mi
Craft-Clausen House
Industrial
1.4 mi
Anthony-Corwin Farm
Industrial
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was German Valley Historic District listed on the National Register?

German Valley Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1983.

What type of historic resource is German Valley Historic District?

German Valley Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for German Valley Historic District?

The period of significance for German Valley Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near German Valley Historic District?

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