FOUR CENTURIES IN A WEEKEND
at the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation
1 Cataract Hollow Rd., Berkeley Heights
908-527-4900 | UCNJ.org/dv
SATURDAY, October 21, Noon to 5:00 pm
Sunday, October 22, Noon to 5:00 pm
- Guided tours of the Village (or self-guided)
- Visit the general store and museum; a wood bas-relief sculpture carved in 1927 by Nicaraguan artist Roberta de la Selva is on view
- Hayrides
- Apple cider pressing
- For kids: archaeological activity and old-fashioned children’s games
- Quill pen writing
- Roast marshmallows on a campfire at ca. 1882 carriage house
- Meet characters from the Village’s past, including Feltville founder David Felt, Revolutionary War soldier John Willcocks, resort owner Warren Ackerman, school teacher Sarah Felt Toby, and farmhand Moses Price, as well as the research team of historians and archaeologists
- History presentations in Masker’s Barn at 2:00 pm Saturday and 1:00 pm Sunday
- Most historic buildings and activities in the Deserted Village are wheelchair-accessible, but are spread out over a large, hilly area. From the main parking lot, a wheelchair-accessible hay wagon will transport visitors throughout the site, with stops at major buildings. A golf cart will be available on site to transport visitors who are ambulatory but mobility challenged. Wheelchair-accessible parking is also available near the Church/Store.
- Attendants at the entrance on Cataract Hollow Road will direct visitors to parking; please inform attendant of any accommodations needed for people with disabilities.
This 1845 town was the creation of New York businessman David Felt. Today, it contains 10 buildings and the archaeological remains of a vibrant community populated, in part, by European immigrants. At its height, Feltville included a school, church/general store and a factory on the Blue Brook while rows of cottages housed workers and their families.
“King David” sold Feltville in 1860. After several failed enterprises, it was reborn in 1882 as Glenside Park, a summer resort. Adirondack porches transformed workers’ houses into vacation cottages enjoyed by city dwellers.
Suburbanization led to the resort’s closure in 1916. Today, the Deserted Village is nestled in the Watchung Reservation, Union County’s 2,142-acre nature preserve. Download a Flyer HERE