by Erin Feith, Coordinator of Research & Visitor Engagement
October 7, 2025
Morris County’s 39 municipalities are home to a fascinating tapestry of historic sites recognized on the state and national level for their significance. Some famous, some little known, together they preserve the story of the people, industries, and culture that shaped our community. In this blog series, MCHS highlights the sites to be found in each town and how they contributed to the diverse and multifaceted county we live in today.
First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains: Shortly after arriving in the early 18th century, Dutch settlers in what is today Pequannock formed their own congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in 1736. While differences over church operations in this new world divided members, upon reconciliation, they decided to construct a church in Pompton Plains by 1771. As the local population grew so too did church membership, and various expansions were made to the building over the course of the 19th century. Further contributing to its community, the church also offered outreach programs and Sunday school classes at its nearby Grace Chapel, constructed in 1877, as well as burial services at its cemetery. A fire destroyed the church in 1937, but the congregation quickly made plans to rebuild, enlisting noted architect Hobart B. Upjohn to create a design with the church’s original features in mind. Completed in 1939, the church’s campus grew to include the 18th-century Giles Mandeville House, formerly home to the community’s first post office, as its manse. The First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains remains an active part of the community and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Martin Berry House: Recorded as an elder in the Reformed Dutch Church in 1738, Martin Berry was among the first settlers to the western bank of the Pompton River. His two-story, Dutch style home was likely constructed around the time of his marriage in 1720, making it one of the oldest extant homes in New Jersey. While remodeled by later generations of the Berry family in the early 19th century, the home has largely remained intact, providing a unique example of a Dutch farmer’s residence during Pequannock’s earliest days. Among its features are built-in cabinets, hand-crafted mantelpieces, wide-plank floors, and evidence of a stone wall on the exterior. Nearby, a smokehouse and brick cistern can be found on the property. The Martin Berry House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and is currently the site of the Pequannock Township Historical Society.
Pompton Plains Railroad Station: Following the arrival of the Montclair Railroad in 1872, the Pompton Plains Railroad Station was constructed to accommodate increased freight and passenger traffic. While iron ore from mines in Ringwood was initially transported more frequently than people, the population soon swelled along the train route, boosting the number of railway travelers in the area. James Robert Evans, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient who lived at the Martin Berry House, served as the station agent from 1880 to 1902. Buried in the First Reformed Church cemetery, Evans’s name lives on through the street address of the station today: Evans Place. By the late 1960s, the decline of iron mines and rise of automobiles led to the station’s closure and sale to private owners. Purchased by Pequannock Township in 2006, the Pompton Plains Railroad Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 and currently operates as the Pequannock Township Museum.
For more historic sites, check out these blogs:
Mine Hill and Wharton
Madison, Part 1
Long Hill
Boonton, Part 1
Parsippany, Part 1
Chester Township
Hanover Township, Part 1
Mendham Township
Florham Park, Part 1
Dover, Part 1
Morris Township, Part 1
Washington Township, Part 1
Did you enjoy this blog? MCHS is an independent nonprofit. Please consider supporting our mission at morriscountyhistory.org/donate or become a member at morriscountyhistory.org/get-involved/ to help us continue to preserve and promote Morris County history through programs, exhibits, and blogs like this.
