Guide Me Home to North Jersey

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift every day!

The 12th gift is Harding’s Community Spirit. There is much to bring its residents together year round.

Many residents start their day at the New Vernon post office. Not only do you say hello to everyone getting and sending mail or packages, there is always a need to catch up with those wonderful USPS men and women behind the counter!

Then it’s off to school at Harding Township School–parents can meet at sports, the school play, or in the carpool. If you don’t have lower or middle school kids, there is always membership in one of the four houses of worship, volunteering at the library, or participation in one of the preservation or environmental groups.

The Harding Township Volunteer Fire Department hosts a myriad of events all year long. The summer kickoff steak and lobster event has been in existence since 1921. Meet your neighbors as well as the great volunteers who serve us. The annual auction of used and unwanted furniture, lawn equipment, etc. brings families together for fun and interesting purchases.

Now that you’ve received Harding’s 12 gifts, it’s easy to see why Harding is such a special place. If you are thinking of moving to Harding, give me a call and I’ll show you the rest of Harding’s gifts - beautiful homes and land waiting for new owners!

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

The 10th gift is Harding’s annual Santa visit. Each year the New Vernon Volunteer Fire Department sends out a letter to the residents notifying the date of Santa’s visit to the children of New Vernon. Parents must fill out the card requesting a visit and indicating where they live. The fire department then follows the routes indicated and hands out small gifts! All have such fun and great memories to cherish from year to year.

The 11th “gift” will be Harding’s Jockey Hollow. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift every day!

The 11th gift is Jockey Hollow. Several months ago, I wrote a short blog about the park concentrating on its history. As noted in the earlier “gift” blogs, the area of Harding Township and its surroundings are filled with history.

But the park is also a changing, current place. Some of the events taking place this December are as follows: Visitors can see the Continental Army reliving their time in the huts, courtesy of the 2nd NJ Helms’ Company. As it was one of the coldest winters on record back in 1779-1780. Mother Nature has been cooperating for the exhibit this year with cold conditions! Also in keeping with fighting the elements, visitors can see exhibits about how families kept themselves warm and clothed. And finally, listen to storytellers entertain you with stories that the soldiers and families might have listened to while enduring the brutal winter.

The 12th “gift” will be Community Spirit. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift every day!

The 9th gift is Harding’s low taxes. This is particularly important when considering the cost of the house you want to purchase (as differentiated from the price of the house). Harding rates are 1.031 per $100 valuation. Compare this to similar surrounding areas such as Mendham Borough at 1.899, Mendham Township at 1.887, Bernards Township at 1.676 (2009). This translates to $5,155 per year on a $500,000 home in Harding vs. $9,495 per year in Mendham Borough.

A large portion of a municipality’s tax burden can be found in the cost of high schools. Harding does not have its own high school and uses nearby Madison High School for its students. This relieves its residents of huge maintenance, building, and educational fees.

Tax rates for all of NJ (2009) can be found by clicking here.

The 10th “gift” will be Harding’s annual Santa visit. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift every day!

The 8th gift is Harding’s proximity to NYC. For any urban family, making the move to rural New Jersey comes with some lifestyle changes. One of the biggest is the commute to NYC. Part of Harding’s huge appeal is that it offers the closest country living to NYC without sacrificing acreage or beauty.

By train, residents can use the Morristown, Convent Station, Basking Ridge or Lyons train station, depending on which side of Harding they live. The NJ Transit Mid-town Direct goes to Penn Station and the train time ranges from 56 minutes to under 90. This, of course, depends on your departure station.

If the train is not for you, driving to the Park and Ride or non-stop through the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels is an option, as is bus service via Lakeland Bus Lines.

Happy commuting!

The 9th “gift” will be Harding’s low taxes. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

The 7th gift is Harding’s H istorical Society. It is located in the Tunis-Ellicks house on Village Road. Built in 1795, the Tunis-Ellicks house was originally owned by George Mitchell. In 1938 it was sold to Silas D. Tunis and then in 1978 the house and gardens were rejuvenated by the citizens of Harding. Today, it is the headquarters for the Historical Society and the gardens are maintained by the New Vernon Garden Club.

The house museum boasts an 18th century open-hearth kitchen. Outside is an 18th century parlor garden with 120 types of herbs, perennials, and shrubs. The second floor is a museum that showcases historical aspects of the area on a rotating basis. The home was recently the site of the 27th annual antique show preview party. 

The 8th “gift” will be Harding’s proximity to NYC. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

The 6th gift (and the first time it is on the list) is Harding’s new library which is called The Kemmerer Library Harding Township. It is a privately funded library and Harding residents have been instrumental in building and supporting it. At a cost of approximately $6 million dollars, the library is named after John L. Kemmerer 3rd whose family foundation donated close to $1 million dollars for its construction.

The library supports and caters to all age groups. Children can find activities and reading groups on the main floor, adults can borrow books, attend reading groups, or participate in Yoga classes, and teens can find a quiet place to read and write a paper. There is wireless throughout the building.

The 7th “gift” will be Harding’s Historical Society. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

Harding Township’s beautiful Bayne Park is the fifth gift. Located at the corner of Blue Mill Road and Glen Alpin in the center of New Vernon, it offers beautiful vistas every day and season to passersby, as well as great fun for park visitors.

At this time of year, residents eagerly anticipate ice skating. Harding creates two large rectangular ponds and then floods them. (No danger of thin ice here.) Spur of the moment hockey games can be seen when the temperature is low enough to freeze the water. Look for the “ice skating today” sign, lace up, and enjoy old-fashioned fun with the family.

The spring brings fishing, blankets on the grass, and beautiful scenery. Truly one of the most special gifts!

The 6th “gift” will be Harding’s new library. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Embracing the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

Harding Township’s beautiful bridle paths are the fourth gift. Look anywhere in Harding and see beautiful horses and riders in the fields and crossing or traveling down a road. Barns, paddocks, and trails all contribute to making Harding a wonderful place to ride.

The Harding Township/Green Village Bridle Path Association is active in Harding Township. The organization is committed to trail maintenance, horse safety and health, and the rural character of the area. There are family fun shows, an annual Dressage show, and picnics for all.

The 5th “gift” will be Harding’s Bayne Park. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Continuing in the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

Harding Township’s commitment to the land is the third gift. Carrying on the original vision of the Harding founders in keeping Harding Township open and bucolic, the Harding Land Trust has worked to preserve almost 303 acres of land and streams since 1990. The first project was 56 acres of open field, now known as Margett’s Field, on Blue Mill Road. The work continues preserving and saving land every year.
 

Take a ride through Harding and delight in the spectacular seasonal views and vistas. You will want to come home to this special place every night!
 

The fourth “gift” will be Harding’s bridle paths. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

Still in the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

Harding Township’s rich history is the second gift. Tens of thousands of years ago, the area was covered by a glacial lake. When it finally drained, the area now known as the Great Swamp remained. In the early 1700s, the rich soil sustained the growth of a strong agricultural community, along with fishing and hunting. Tracts of woods near Jockey Hollow were later bought by Morristown residents for wood supply, and as recently as 15 years ago still existed.

New York City residents, desirous of cooler areas in the summer, bought large expanses of land and set up farms and beautiful estates. The next step was to preserve the area’s rural feeling and character, and so in 1922 the town’s residents created Harding Township, named after President Warren G. Harding. To this day, residents still conserve the rural character of Harding’s streams and land through the Harding Land Trust.

The third “gift” will be Harding’s Glen Alpin. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto

In the spirit of the season, I want to share with you all the wonderful gifts of Harding Township, NJ. Look for one gift everyday!

The first gift is Harding’s beauty. Located between Jockey Hollow Park and the Great Swamp in Morris County, Harding boasts beautiful rolling hills, meadows, and bucolic settings that can easily out vie the most beautiful areas in New Jersey. New York City commuters come home to peace and quiet, usually in about an hour.

Below is a classic winter scene in Bayne Park, located in the center of the township and open to the public. Gorgeous!

The second “gift” will be Harding’s rich history. Open it up next!

PS- Don’t forget to read my other blogs below that may have more extensive information.

Posted by:  Mary Jane Benedetto