Why You Should Visit Hunterdon County

1. Why You Should Visit Hunterdon County By Brittany Franklin Township School Dr. Kramer Grade 5

2. Visiting Hunterdon County • Historical Places • Fun Activities • Farms

3. Historical Places • There are many reasons why you should visit Hunterdon County. Some people enjoy visiting the historical sites. This category includes places such as the Red Mill, the Hunterdon County Court House, and the Franklin Schoolhouse.

4. The Red Mill Museum • The Red Mill is an exciting place to visit for a variety of reasons. If you are interested in the history of the area, you can wander through many buildings on the property, which contain over 40,000 artifacts. • The Mill also holds many special events throughout the year like concerts, reenactments, and festivals. • They also get a huge turnout of people each October for their annual Haunted Mill.

5. Hunterdon County Court House

6. Hunterdon County Court House • I have experienced going to the Hunterdon County Court House when my brother received an award for an essay about historic sites in Franklin Township. I found the court house to be very interesting because it was constructed back in 1828. It is one of the oldest surviving county court houses in New Jersey, and it is a great example of temple-form Greek Revival architecture. • It is best known for the Lindbergh kidnapping case, often referred to as “The Trial of the Century.” Reenactments have been done there each year.

7. Franklin Township Schoolhouse

8. Franklin Township Schoolhouse • There are many beautiful places in Hunterdon County, but since I attend Franklin Township School, the history of the Little Red Schoolhouse is very interesting to me. The small structure dates back to the late 1800s and was restored about two years ago. When it was being used, there were only ten to fifteen children in each class and one teacher. It is a very interesting place. The Little Red Schoolhouse is very important because it was one of the first schools in this area.

9. Fun Holiday Activitiesin Hunterdon County • There are many other ways to spend your time besides visiting historical spots. For example, there are holiday parades in Flemington and Clinton every year. • Also there are many activities that families can do together, like apple and pumpkin picking. • In addition to traditional trick-or-treating, many families also participate in an event we call “Trunk-or-Treat.”

10. Flemington and Clinton Parades • Each year Flemington and Clinton host Memorial Day and holiday parades. Many people, including my friends and I, participate in these parades. Some march with their scout troops, and others ride on floats. Some just come to watch and cheer on their friends. It really puts you in the holiday spirit. We also love to just be with our classmates out of school. • I started doing parades in 2007 with the Star Maker School of Dance. We get to dance down the streets, and this year, I also sang in a pre-parade show and danced in a flash mob.

11. Apple and Pumpkin Picking • My family and I go apple and pumpkin picking each year as a tradition. Many farms in the area offer fun outings, which include hay rides, corn mazes, face painting, live music, and snacks, in addition to the actual fun of picking your own fruits and pumpkins.

12. Trunk-or-Treat • There are many fun things in Hunterdon County, but to me the best is probably “Trunk-or-Treat.” Many children and parents love it because most families come from the school so they feel safe letting their children run around and get candy. Children love it because they can either sit on the trunk of their car and hand out candy or run around with their friends and receive tons of candy. Also it is really child-friendly because they stop traffic so no cars are driving around when the children are running from car to car.

13. Hunterdon County Farms • There are also many important farms in Hunterdon County. There are many great farms including the Bonacorsi Family Farm, The Peterson Farm, Peaceful Valley Orchards, and Cherryville Tree Farm.

14. Bonacorsi Family Farm • The Bonacorsi Family Farm is such a beautiful farm. They grow and sell many different crops, such as pumpkins, apples, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, and grapes. • The Bonacorsi’s are such a nice family, and they run a great farm stand and pick-your-own program. They even hold story times for children. My family has purchased many tasty items from their stand. Every farm in Hunterdon County that I have visited has been great, but I have to say The Bonacorsi Family Farm is my favorite.

15. The Peterson Farm

16. The Peterson Farm can be found in the center of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It is mainly a grain and hay farm. The farm consists of 153 acres of farmland. This farm is in The Farmland Preservation Program, so it will always be used for farmland. • The Peterson Farm also sells strawberries, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. I have been to the Peterson Farm with my family to pick our own strawberries. The strawberries were delicious and definitely better than store-bought. They have a wonderful farm and a nice family.

17. Peaceful Valley Orchards • I have visited Peaceful Valley Orchards to pick apples and pumpkins. I have also shopped in their large store. • They offer many pick-your-own options and sell delicious baked goods in their store.

18. Cherryville Tree Farm • Many people from surrounding areas travel to Hunterdon County each year to cut down their Christmas tree. My family went to Cherryville Tree Farm several years ago to get a tree. Little did we know, we would soon buy a house right across the road from their farm. Now we can walk there to get our tree!

19. So Why Should You Visit Hunterdon County? • There is something for everyone! • You can learn a lot by visiting numerous historic sites. • You can spend fun times with family and friends doing a variety of activities. • You can pick up farm-fresh foods from many local farms. • Don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful scenery while you travel through our beautiful county!