The Fiedler Local History Archive · Est. 1959

Hackettstown, remembered.

Old photographs, newspaper clippings, and the stories behind them — collected by the family that has helped this town buy and sell on the same streets for three generations.

A historic black-and-white photograph of the American Saw Mill Machinery Company works: a two-story brick factory with the company name across it, a rail spur and a 1920s car in front.
HKT-1903-001 · Story · 1903–2003
The machinery works on Main Street
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From the archive

Every photograph is an address. Every clipping is a neighbor.

A historic black-and-white photograph of the American Saw Mill Machinery Company works: a two-story brick factory with the company name across it, a rail spur and a 1920s car in front.
HKT-1903-001 · Story · 1903–2003
The machinery works on Main Street

A brick works on Main Street built circular sawmills from 1903, became Bergen Machine & Tool around 1951, and after 2003 gave way to a CVS and a redevelopment plan.

Vintage photograph, American Saw Mill Machinery Company works
A vintage postcard of the Warren House in Hackettstown, New Jersey: a large white Greek Revival building with a two-story colonnade of square columns, and a 1920s car parked in front.
HKT-1840-001 · Story · since 1840
David's Country Inn (The Warren House)

Built in 1840 at 314 Main Street, this Hackettstown inn was long known as The Warren House, named for Gen. Joseph Warren. The Falzarano family reopened it as David's Country Inn in 1978.

Vintage postcard, 'Warren House, Hackettstown, N.J.'
Centenary University's historic three-story main building with a golden dome and clock, seen in daylight from the front gate lettered 'Centenary University' under a blue sky.
HKT-1867-001 · Story · since 1867
Centenary University

Founded in Hackettstown in 1867 as the Centenary Collegiate Institute, the school passed through a century of name changes to become Centenary University — tied to the town throughout.

Photograph by January O'Neill
Black-and-white river-beach scene: a young woman in a one-piece bathing suit stands among children holding kickboards, more children lined up on a diving platform at left.
HKT-1969-001 · Photograph · mid-20th century
The Hackettstown Sand Bar

For much of the 20th century, the Sand Bar was Hackettstown's swimming hole on the Musconetcong — the Recreation Commission beach where Lenee Fiedler ran the Red Cross swim program.

From the collection of Lenee Fiedler
The lit Hackettstown Christmas Star glowing on a wooded hillside at dusk, above a silver commuter train whose lighted sign reads HACKETTSTOWN.
HKT-1945-001 · Story · since World War II
The Hackettstown Christmas Star

Since the years of World War II, the Hackettstown Christmas Star has shone over Buck Hill each December — a small, steady beacon and the way home for generations.

Photograph by January O'Neill
A blue 'Welcome to Hackettstown, Incorporated 1853' sign with a Victorian-building emblem, held up by red and yellow M&M character cutouts on a green lawn.
HKT-1958-001 · Story · 1958
M&M/Mars comes to town, 1958

In 1958, M&M/Mars opened its Hackettstown plant — and the town became the place where M&M's are made.

Photograph by January O'Neill