Prallsville District - Stockton, NJ
Posted by: scornell1
N 40° 24.559 W 074° 59.169
18T E 501174 N 4473189
This 19th century mill complex, located along the feeder canal in the small town of Stockton, contains a sawmill, gristmill and linseed oil mill.
Waymark Code: WM7KC3
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 11/04/2009
Views: 5
The first grist mill to be built at this location is believed to have been a one-story log building that was in operation by 1720. In 1794 John Prall, Jr. bought the mill site and surrounding land. He built a stone grist mill on the site of the present mill. Prall developed a thriving little commercial community here. In addition to the grist mill, he built the linseed oil mill, maintained the then existing saw mill, operated quarries to the east of the mill site, opened a general store, built several houses, and he had permits for two fisheries in the Delaware River. Prall's mill stood until 1874 when a fire that started in the covered railroad bridge behind the mill spread to the mill and destroyed it. Within three years a new masonry mill was built, using the foundation and walls of Prall's mill. That is the building that survives today.
The Prallsville Mill Site enjoyed the benefit of virtually every kind of transportation system that was available to 19th and early 20th century industry. Until 1834 raw materials were brought to the mill site and finished products sent to market by wagon and river boat. After 1834 canal boats were also used, and after 1850 the railroad
was added as a shipping option.
Sometime in the 1950's the mill ground its last grist and the mill site became a lumber yard and feed store until the State acquired the property in 1973. Today the Prallsville millsite is part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and it is operated and managed by the Delaware River Mill Society, a non-profit community organization.
Street address: Route 29 Stockton, NJ USA 08559
County / Borough / Parish: Hunterdon County, Stockton Borough
Year listed: 1979
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event - Building of Delaware and Raritan Feeder Canal
Periods of significance: 1750-1799, 1800-1824, 1825-1849, 1850-1874, 1875-1899
Historic function: Industry/Processing/Extraction; Manufacturing Facility
Current function: Landscape; Park
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.