Historic Pohatcong NJ House Tour 2025

Our anticipated self-guided tour through historic Pohatcong is back. This will be the 28th tour! Visit select houses and have a fantastic day exploring the countryside.

Travel at your own pace on this self-guided tour. Each site will have a volunteer ready to assist you.

During this excursion you will see the beautiful Musconetcong River, Pohatcong Creek and Delaware River.

Addresses and details for each stop will be given out at Shimer Mansion when you start your tour!

#1 – Shimer Mansion

100 Sussex Street Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

Acquired by the Pohatcong History & Heritage Society (PHHS) in 2015, this historic property is a work in progress. The purpose of the visit is to show the preservation effort of PHHS and the reason for fundraising events such as the Garden Tour.

Shimer Mansion is a three-story Italianate country residence constructed by banker and gentleman farmer William B. Shimer in 1850. Shimer was the director of the First National Bank of Phillipsburg and an elder at St. James Lutheran (Straw) Church. His mansion became the focal point of a 120-acre estate. Shimer oriented his house along the New Brunswick Turnpike and the house was included as a stylized etching on a wall map in 1860 (above). The property was an area landmark then referred to as “The Pines”.

Although abandoned for nearly two decades, the bones of the rear gardens are still visible today with a weeping beech anchoring the northeast corner. The Pohatcong History & Heritage Society’s goal is to restore the mansion as a community center and gallery for local artists while redeveloping the property and gardens.

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# 2 – Stop 2

Set along the Pohatcong Creek in Pohatcong Township with beautiful gardens and landscaping. Records give a date of 1787. This home has had a wonderful renovation and has been brought back to life.

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# 3 – Laubach House

Although at this time we do not have the history on this home we do know that in1713 by the Laubach's, the land was purchased by the West Jersey Council of Proprietors from the Native Americans and opened up the northwestern portion of the colony to settlement. Set along the banks of the Musconetcong River in the Finesville section of Pohatcong Township.

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# 3a (interesting stop) – Chelsea Forge Antiques Barn

All the land from the Chelsea Forge to the Delaware River was originally owned by the Hunt Family. They were dairy and agricultural farmers. At one stage there were over 125 cows maintained here. The main floor was used to store and sell grain. The original grain scale is still outside in front of the building for close-up viewing. The barn, as many at that time, was located close to the road for convenience and accessibility by wagons. Today the building houses Chelsea Forge Antiques. Feel free to browse!

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# 4 – Jacob Carpenter Homestead

Cited to be perhaps the oldest structure in Pohatcong Township. This stone house is comprised of 2 sections, the western part being built in the turn of the 17th century. This home features a very large walking fireplace and giant mantel that provides clues to Dutch construction.

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# 5 – Benjamin Seigle Log Home

The Seigle homestead is the only surviving two story log structure in Warren County. It was built about 1793 on land owned by Benjamin Seigle. The structure has 2 rooms to each floor and a chimney provides 3 fireplaces in the floors above. Hand hewn logs of walnut, roughly one foot square are notched at the corners and filled with limestone.

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# 6a (interesting stop) – Finesville Union Cemetery

It is believed that the cemetery served the congregations of both the Christian Church and the Methodist Church in Finesville.. It is thought to date back between 1841 and 1860. Surrounded by a stone wall the cemetery is full of great history.

Host or Publisher Pohatcong History & Heritage Society