Changewater, New Jersey

Remains of a trestle constructed by the Warren Railroad across the Musconetcong River at Changewater in 1856, part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. A station was built nearby. Passenger service ended in 1926, and freight service stopped in 1958. The trestle was removed in 1959.[3]

One of the early iron furnaces in the county—known as the Changewater Forge—was established here in the mid-1700s by Mark Thomson [3] and later purchased by a well known local Van Leer family. Ledgers show Samuel Van Leer's sons B. Van Leer and Isaac Van Leer owning the property in the early 1800s. [6]

In 1843, members of a local family—the Castner's—were murdered during an apparent robbery. The crime attracted widespread publicity, and in 1845, two men were convicted and hanged at the Warren County Court House.[3][7]

During the 1800s, a number of industries were attempted in Changewater, including a tannery, woolen factory, flouring mill, picture frame factory, snuff factory, and distillery.[3]

In 1874, the village consisted of a looking glass and picture framing factory, a store and post office, a grist mill, and eight residences.[3]

By 1918, Changewater had a population of 200, and the A. T. Skerry woolen mill was its only industry.[3]