Hill Memorial houses Sussex history

Newton - Sussex County celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1903, and in 1904 decided it was time to establish a county historical society. The Sussex County Historical Society had to wait another 11 years before it’s benefactor, Joshua Hill, would donate $15,000 - an enormous sum of money for those times - to build the Hill Memorial Historical Society Museum that still stands today at 82 Main Street. Built specifically as a museum, it is the oldest museum building in New Jersey. Hill was born and raised in Fredon as a farm boy. “He was of an intelligent farm family, though. Luther Hill, his cousin, was superintendent of the school and would ask all the boys to bring him the smallest ears of corn they could find. He would give them a nickel for each. That’s how he developed the small, sweet white corn named for him, Luther Hill Corn,” explained museum volunteer June J. Dobson of Byram. “Joshua Hill went off west to seek his fortune. Do you know where west was? Michigan! He worked his way through Michigan University and became a very successful banker, but loved his Sussex County roots,” said Dobson. “The fountain in Newton’s town square, which now has flowers in it in warmer months, was built by Hill so the horses would be able to rest and drink while their riders did business in town.” The museum itself contains a variety of items donated by families and businesses over the years. Downstairs, in the Sussex Room, are family Bibles, a spinning wheel, the desk of Judge Henry T. Kayes who served in the States Legislature, even a rare Hornbacker square piano, among other treasures. The grand fireplace in this room is uniquely designed with rocks from each municipality. There is also “a piece of Indian Clay shaped to a point to represent the Indians who played a tremendous role in Sussex County,” said Dobson, who explained this was advanced thinking as Native Americans were still not highly thought of at the time. In the foyer, the grand staircase leads to a large room upstairs where individual display cases house the rest of the museum’s artifacts. A stuffed bald eagle, antique farm tools, Victorian dresses, American Revolution, Civil War and World War I weapons and uniforms and a display of Lenape artifacts. The largest of the displays is a fellow named “Moe.” Moe was found in May 1962 at the Silesian Sister’s Camp Auxillium. Moe is a Mastodon, or at least, parts of him, sitting in a double length case. His massive skull, parts of his ankles, pieces of his tusks, and other bones were found underneath the pond at Camp Auxillium. Mastodons became extinct as recent as 5,000 to 10,000 years ago, and thanks to the generosity of the Silesian Sisters, Sussex County has its very own. With the focus of the displays Sussex County’s past, a new twist is being compiled by Dr. Richard Stephens, whom Dobson refers to as their “resident genius.” He is collecting deeds from 1700 to the present, entering them into a computer database that will someday be available online. Bringing the museum into the 21st century is Jim Wright. “We’re trying to computerize operations, using software designed for museums. For example, we put in a book and who donated it with a brief summary. Documents would be scanned to save them from further deterioration,” said Wright. The museum began the process six months ago when they received the computer equipment and took classes on the software. Now, the museum is at a stage where it needs help. “We’re applying for grants. We can no longer rely on just volunteers to get the work done- we need professionals,” said Wright. Eventually, Wright hopes to have all the information on the internet, so that anyone may access the Hill Memorial Museum’s treasures. For more information, call 973-383-6010 or visit the Web site at www.sussexcountyhistory.org