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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
Left on this road is CROSSWICKS, 2 miles (85 alt., 275 pop.), a rural community
where "every man joins the volunteer fire department when he reaches 21, and
every woman joins the Ladies Auxiliary." Established by Quakers early in the 1680's,
is the only community with that name in the United States. Just as important to
toe inhabitants as the Fourth of July or Armistice Day are three annual dinners and
fairs which everyone, no matter what his religious preference, attends. One is given
by the Philanthropic Society of Friends in April, another is sponsored by the Crosswicks Community Association at the time of the grammar school graduation, and
the third is given by the Methodist Congregation in October. The buildings sup-
ported by each of these organizations are grouped together in the town center. The
METHODIST CHURCH, a tall, gray-painted frame structure, is directly across from
the two-story, buff-colored frame COMMUNITY House, built in 1930. The CHESTERFIELD FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, erected in 1773 partly with bricks from an
older structure, is a two-story building of mellowed red brick set in the center of a
huge yard, enclosed by a low cement-block wall. Wagon sheds, now painted white,
and a red brick building, built in 1784 and used until recently as a school, are in
the rear. Trim little double entrances and white shutters set off the easy grace of the
building, that served as a barracks and hospital for Hessian soldiers who fought a
battle with the Colonial troops at Crosswicks June 23, 1778, During the battle three
cannonballs struck the church; one is still imbedded in the north wall. During the
Hicksite-Orthodox split in 1827, the meeting house was divided by sliding panels
to accommodate both groups. The CROSSWICKS OAK, which measures more than 17
feet in circumference, shades most of the southwest corner of the yard. A plaque
on the trunk states: "This tree was standing when William Penn arrived in America in 1682."
At 27.9 miles is the junction (R) with US 206 (see Tour 6). US 130 and
US 206 are united for 0.6 miles.
At 28.3 miles is the junction with a marked, paved road.
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