Asbury Historic District

Asbury Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Warne-Castner House
Location	County Routes 632 and 643, Maple Avenue, Kitchen Road, and School Street, Asbury, New Jersey
Coordinates	40°41′53″N 75°00′50″W
Area	288 acres (117 ha)
Built by	William M. Michler
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Georgian, Federal
NRHP reference No.	93000132
NJRHP No.	2749
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 19, 1993
Designated NJRHP	November 2, 1992

The Asbury Historic District is a 288-acre (117 ha) historic district encompassing the community of Asbury in Franklin Township of Warren County, New Jersey. It is bounded by County Route 632 (Asbury Anderson Road), County Route 643 (Old Main Street), Maple Avenue, Kitchen Road, and School Street and extends along the Musconetcong River into Bethlehem Township of Hunterdon County. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 19, 1993 for its significance in architecture, industry, religion, community development, politics/government, and commerce. The district includes 141 contributing buildings, a contributing structure, two contributing sites, and four contributing objects.

Description

The Warne-Castner House is a two story brick building with Federal and Greek Revival influences. The rear wing is dated late 18th century, with the main block built from 1815 to 1818 and extended in 1846. Elisha S. Warne bought the property in 1815 and sold it to Reverend Jacob Castner in 1818.

The Asbury United Methodist Church is a one story brick building with a two and one-half story brick tower. It was built in 1914 with Victorian Gothic style. It is the third church constructed at this site. The first was founded by William McCullough and Bishop Francis Asbury in 1796. The second was built in 1842.

The district includes the Colonial Revival-style McCullough House, whose appearance was created by a major remodeling in c. 1908 to design by Easton architect William M. Michler. The Italianate style Brown/Wyckoff House was built c. 1855–60 by Dr. Robert B. Brown. It was then owned by Martin Wyckoff. The Greek Revival style Richey/Bristol House was built c. 1840–50 and bought by Catherine Richey. It was inherited by her daughter Anna Richey Bristol.

The former Presbyterian Church, built 1868–69, and the former elementary school, built 1919, both on School Street, are now residences. The church shows Italianate and Romanesque Revival styles.

Located along the Musconetcong River, the Hoffman Grist Mill was built c. 1863 for James M. Hoffman. In 1895, Harry M. Riddle founded the Asbury Graphite Company and converted the mill to a commercial graphite mill. It remained in operation until 1970. The Asbury Graphite Laboratory, located in Bethlehem Township, was built c. 1925–40.

Gallery

• 
  Asbury United Methodist Church
• 
  Former Presbyterian Church
• 
  Former elementary school
• 
  Brown/Wyckoff and Richey/Bristol Houses
• 
  Hoffman Grist Mill
• 
  Asbury Graphite Laboratory

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Warren County, New Jersey
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hunterdon County, New Jersey

External links

• Media related to Asbury Historic District at Wikimedia Commons
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NJ-699, "Reverend Jacob R. Castner Parsonage, Main Street, Asbury, Warren County, NJ", 10 photos, 26 measured drawings, 6 data pages, supplemental material
• "Methodist Church of Asbury". Historical Marker Database.
• "McCullough House". Historical Marker Database.