The Fiedler Local History Archive · Hackettstown

The history of Hackettstown, New Jersey.

A river town that became a railroad town, a college town, and — since 1958 — the town that makes M&M's. This is its story, told in photographs, clippings, and the memories of the people who lived it.

Hackettstown grew up where the Musconetcong River meets Schooley's Mountain — named for Samuel Hackett, whose land stood at its center when the town took shape in the 1700s. The Morris Canal and then the railroad made it a crossroads; Main Street made it a community.

By 1959, when Leonard M. Fiedler opened a real estate office in a living room on Main Street, the town he served already had two centuries of stories in its buildings. This archive collects them — one photograph, one clipping, one memory at a time — from the Fiedler family's own collection and from neighbors who share theirs.

This introduction will grow as the archive does. Know a story that belongs here? Tell us.

1840s

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.'

1860s

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

1900s

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

1940s

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

1950s

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

1960s

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

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