Clinton Township Newsletter

Meals on W h e e l s N e e d s YOUR H e l p ! Meals on Wheels desperately needs drivers from our area! Serve our homebound seniors a hot noontime meal. The commitment to drive is only once a month. Meals on Wheels in Hunterdon, Inc. is a private non-profit agency serving approximately 225 homebound seniors every day on twenty routes throughout Hunterdon County. We're one of the last meal delivery programs in the State of NJ to depend solely on volunteer drivers. In 2012, we served over 54,000 meals among all programs reaching 400 people. Our mission is to assist the homebound elderly/disabled of HC maintain their independence by enhancing their nutritional health, thereby avoiding unwanted institutionalization. Call 908.284.0735 to offer your time or for more info. Visit us online at: www.mowih.org. Thank you! SENIORS ' CORNER The next meeting of the Clinton Twp Seniors Club will be held on Wednesday, July 10 at 11:00 am in the lower level of the Annandale Reformed Church. Business meeting starts at 11, followed by a Pizza Party at noon. Upcoming Bus Trips: July 25 • Spirit of New Jersey Cruise. $89 per person includes transportation, lunch and cruise. July 31 • South Pacific at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. $80 per persson includes transportation, luncheon buffet and the show. Sept. 21 • Tailgating Festival at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. $65 per person includes transportation, day at the festival and PA, Dutch Dinner buffet. Set. 30 - Oct. 3 • 4 Day Trip to Wildwood and Cape May. $325 per person/double occupancy. For more details or to make reservations please call Pat Schutts at 908.735.0424. T h e H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n C o mm i s s i o n What's In A Name? by For Men and Women with Thinning Hair NO Surgery • NO Cover Ups • NO Glue • NO Wigs • NO Caps • NO Drugs • NO Extensions Find out more at: www.NJNewHair.com The Computer Guy A DIVISION OF BDB ENTERPRISES Is Your Computer Driving You Crazy? We'll fix your computer in your home and help you effectively use it! For HOME • • • • • • For BUSINESS Flexible hours Computer repair Internet connection, printer & file sharing DSL/Cable setup Virus/firewall help MS Office training • • • • • • • Web hosting Computer purchasing Web site design E-commerce specialist Search engine optimizing Networking/Firewalls Business solutions Annandale, NJ Cell: 908-310-7988 Bruce Bednar Office: 908-713-9843 B r i a n M u l l ay Recently, an elementary school student from Iowa posed a unique question: How did Clinton Township get its name? The answer, embedded in the story of Clinton Township's founding, is both interesting and intricate. Until the early part of the 1800's, Clinton Township was part of Lebanon Township. At the time, Lebanon Township also encompassed many of the towns in northern Hunterdon County, including what are now the Town of Clinton and the Boroughs of High Bridge, Glen Gardner and Hampton. Prior to 1828, today's Town of Clinton was a hamlet called Hunt's Mills, after the mills' owner, Daniel Hunt. By 1828, the hamlet had grown to a point that justified the establishment of a post office. It was at this time that the village took the name of Clinton, drawing inspiration from DeWitt Clinton, the former Governor of New York and Presidential candidate who is perhaps best known for promoting the construction of the Erie Canal, and who died in office in February of that year. On March 11, 1841, the State Legislature adopted an Act creating Clinton Township from a part of Lebanon Township. Within the new Township's boundaries lay the village of Clinton, from which the larger Township took its name, and what later became the Boroughs of High Bridge and Lebanon. The Township's first meeting, per the Act, was held at what was then the inn of John C. Wert (better known as Jones Tavern on Beaver Avenue) on the second Monday of April 1841. At this meeting, the Township voted to raise an $800 road tax and a $600 poor tax. Further additions and divisions would bring about the Clinton Township with which we are familiar today. In 1865, the Town of Clinton split from Clinton Township and was incorporated. In March 1871, another part of the Township was split off to form the Borough of High Bridge, while a portion of Tewksbury Township from High Bridge to "an arch bridge over Cold Brook" was annexed to Clinton Township. Finally, in 1926, the Borough of Lebanon was incorporated. By 1880, the Township's population was stated at 2,133, with 170 farms that predominantly produced wheat and corn, as well as raising stock animals and producing milk. Sources: Snell, James P.: History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, NJ (Philadelphia, 1881) D'Autrechy, Phyllis B.: Hunterdon County Place Names (Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission, 1992). Historical Notes of Clinton Township (Township of Clinton, 1976) Frank F. Apgar & Sons Septic Tank Cleaning Baffle Replacement New Septic Systems Risers Installed Tank Replacement Backhoe & Dozer Service Annandale, NJ 08801 (908) 735-5248 1 8 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com J u l y The purpose of the Clinton Township Historical Preservation Commission is to promote the conservation of historic sites and districts, and to safeguard the heritage of Clinton Township through education and preservation of the elements of its cultural, social, scenic, economic, and architectural history. If you have questions or comments, or would like to provide valuable historical input about the Township, please contact the Commission at: clintontwphistory@ googlegroups.com. p l e a s e n o t e : In our May issue, CTNL erroneously listed Brian Mullay as the author of the McCloughan Mansion article. The writing credit actually belongs to Michael J. Margulies and Sarah Melvin. We sincerely regret the error.– JF 2 0 1 3

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