Phone 908-876-3315 Offices open 8 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday
Obadiah La Tourette
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Obadiah La Tourette
The Long Valley Mill

The building looms over the bustling Route 24, once called Chester Pike, just east of Long Valley center. At once, upon seeing it, you know that the mill holds a thousand stories and probably a thousand more secrets in its ancient timbers.

Aerial View of Long Valley
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Aerial View of
Long Valley in Fall

In the rolling hills of Morris County, Washington Twp is noted for preserved farmland and historic buildings. Washington Township was incorporated as a township on April 2, 1798, from portions of Roxbury Township.

5K Turkey Trot
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Turkey Trot 2017
in Long Valley

The WMC Memorial 5K Turkey Trot is a community event being held to continue the tradition of the WMC Memorial Race started 12 years ago in memory of Kyleigh D’Alessio and Tanner Birch.

Police Honor Guard 2018
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Police Honor Guard 2018
Washington Township Police Department

The mission of the Washington Township Police Department to protect life and property, enforce the law in a fair and impartial manner, and to preserve the peace, order, and safety of the community we serve.

Memorial Day Ceremony
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Memorial Day Ceremony
Rock Spring Park in 2016

Washington Township held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony to salute our brave servicemen and servicewomen who have given so much for our country at the Veterans Memorial Site at Rock Spring Park.

Washington Township History

Township History

Washington Township is the most westerly township in Morris County. It was one of the six townships into which the county was divided in 1798. Prior to that, Washington Township was part of Roxbury.

The first settlers of this township set foot on the shores of the New World in 1707. They were German Protestants from Saxony, Germany, who left their native land in search of a place where they could worship God in the way they thought right without fear of persecution.

They sailed to Holland and formed many acquaintances with the Dutch. When they decided to travel to America, their destination was New York, to settle among the Dutch. They traveled in the general direction of New York, until they arrived in the region now known as German Valley. According to tradition, when these early settlers saw the beautiful country spread out before them, they believed that this was the promised land which the Lord designed for them before they left their homes. They gave up their project of going to New York and agreed to settle down and make their homes in the peaceful valley.

A large portion of Washington Township is occupied by Schooley's Mountain, which was probably America's earliest summer resort. The pure mountain air, the romantic surroundings, and the mineral spring, which in 1815 was declared to be the purest and best chalybeate water known at that time in the country, attracted people to this area. The Lenape Indians had long known about the waters which drew healing powers from the iron deposits found in the nearby mountains.

Many people were drawn to the reputed beneficial effects of the springs in Schooley's Mountain. They came to drink and bathe in the waters which were known to heal all types of disorders. The old hotel register shows a large number of distinguished guests, including many frequent guests from other sections of the country.

Washington Township was incorporated on February 12, 1798.

Other Links

Historical Society

6 Fairview Avenue
Long Valley, NJ 07853

Phone: 908-876-9696

Museum Hours - Sundays , 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM or by appointment

No Admission Charge

Our collection of photographs, furniture, local artifacts, farm tools, clothes and books, in conjunction with our genealogy library, helps to support the preservation of the history of Washington Township.

Originally built in 1830, this stone building has served as the first schoolhouse, a private residence, the public library, and since 1981, the museum. The building is maintained by the Washington Township Historical Society, a membership organization, and is open to the public.

Our Location

43 Schooley's Mountain Road
Long Valley, NJ 07853
Phone: 908-876-3315
Fax: 908-876-5138

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In case of emergency, dial 911
For non-emergencies, dial
908-876-3232

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