History of Millburn, New Jersey
Originally an agricultural colonial outpost, Millburn shifted to a mill/factory industry in the 19th century before settling into its current form as a Victorian residential suburb. The Hessian House, Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, Paper Mill Playhouse, and countless other historically significant buildings and dwellings in the township's Short Hills Park and Wyoming historic districts are just a few tangible reminders of the township's long and storied past.
The land that is now Millburn Township in New Jersey was originally part of the Elizabethtown and Newark settlements and was given to James, Charles II's brother, in 1664. Millburn was incorporated into Springfield Township in 1793. Springfield was annexed to the newly formed Union County, while Millburn was established as a township within Essex County.
Millburn's growth has been shaped by its unique geography. This is where the last North American glacier melted away, leaving behind a "terminal morraine." Sand, silt, clay, and boulders were deposited over the firm basalt substructure as the glacier melted and retreated, resulting in undulating surfaces. The Lenape Indians, the first inhabitants, blazed trails around these small or 'short' hills; streams cascading through them powered colonial mills and 19th century factories; the railroad was constructed at the foot of their slopes; and developers of suburban homes found knolls and uneven terrain attractive building sites.
Millburn became involved in the Revolutionary War when British forces attacked through Hobart Gap and George Washington's army camped nearby in Morristown. It is said that Washington surveyed his forces from atop what is now called Washington Rock, a prominent outcropping on the South Mountain Reservation. On June 23, 1780, local militia supported by Continental troops won their first combat since Bunker Hill, marking the end of the British push into New Jersey. Nicholas Parsil, who was slain in a fight with the British, is buried in a family cemetery on White Oak Ridge Road, which serves as a constant reminder of the conflict.
The town went through yet another transformation after the Revolution. Five dams were built on the Rahway River to create mill ponds. In 1790, Samuel Campbell established the first paper mill, which he used to produce currency. The Diamond Mill, which is now home to the Paper Mill Playhouse, was one of the earliest mills in the area, but it was the hat mills that ultimately rose to prominence. The Morris and Essex Railroad, which connected Millburn to the eastern metropolitan areas and the western coal districts, was finished in 1835.
Rum Brook, Vauxhall, Milltown, and Millville are just a few of the previous names for present-day Millburn. In 1857, the name 'Millburn' was selected in part because many of the town's residents were originally from Scotland and the mill burn (Scottish for 'river' or'stream') served as a nostalgic reminder of home. The double-L supporters eventually prevailed in later conflicts over the spelling of Millburn.
Millburn saw yet another transformation as a result of its location: the addition of two suburban residential areas. First established in 1872, Wyoming was the site of a speculative real estate development on 100 acres of land purchased by the Wyoming Land and Improvement Company. Short Hills, the first American planned commuter community, was built on 1,552 acres that Stewart Hartshorn purchased.