Barn Tour

Step inside one of Tewksbury's most cherished traditions. The Barn Tour offers a rare opportunity to explore historic barns and discover the architecture, craftsmanship, and rural heritage that define our community.

History of the Barn Tour

by Stephanie V.R. Koven Tewksbury Historical Society Charter Member
Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Hunterdon County lies Tewksbury Township, approximately thirty-two square miles of rich farmland and steep wooded hills woven with beautiful natural Category One trout streams winding their way between rocks and boulders, fallen trees, brush, and treasures swept away by storms and captured in the weeds as they travel downstream toward the Raritan River. Most of the roads follow these clear, lazy streams and the steep banks of the hills before suddenly opening into broad expanses of fields filled with hay, soybeans, and other crops, along with horses, cows, sheep, goats, apple and peach orchards, and several vineyards with masses of grapes planted in neat rows across hillsides and flat land alike. There seems to be a little bit of everything in this very special place called Tewksbury Township.
The idea for a barn tour in Tewksbury Township was first introduced by Mrs. Marilyn Salvetti as a joint fundraising effort between the Tewksbury Historical Society and the Tewksbury Trail Association. Inspired by a similar event in Virginia, the tour would celebrate the township’s rich agricultural heritage while sharing the histories of its historic barns through a printed brochure. What began as a simple idea eventually grew into one of the community’s most anticipated traditions, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the barns, farms, landscapes, and history that make Tewksbury Township so unique.
There were once large farming families who owned and worked acre after acre of land on either side of the roads. The Hoffman farms stretched virtually from Pottersville to Califon along County Road 512, while the Suttons farmed in Fairmount, the Melicks and Van Dorens in and around Oldwick, the Skillmans on Hill and Dale, the Craigs on Homestead Road, and the Lindaburys on Still Hollow. Many raised dairy cows, while others cultivated crops and orchards that became part of the township’s agricultural heritage.
Download the 1998 Digital First Edition
Today, Tewksbury Township is known for its spectacular scenic horse country dotted with historic structures, many of which are historic barns and outbuildings constructed and expanded during the early to mid-eighteenth century. In the beginning, subsistence farming was essential for survival. Milling followed, and as the twentieth century arrived, dairy farming became central to the local economy. Over time, as the dairy market changed and Tewksbury Township was slowly discovered by newcomers drawn to its beauty, many farms were purchased and their historic barns reinvented to house horses and other animals, as well as farm equipment.
Some of these historic farms are now world-class equestrian facilities offering boarding, training, and riding. Others remain small hobby farms or large estate properties, while some barns have found new life as settings for rustic events, weddings, music festivals, and country-style family gatherings. People travel long distances to board their horses here and to ride the township’s extensive network of trails, carefully maintained by the Tewksbury Trail Association.
Traffic on our roads remains delightfully sparse, and it is not unusual to find yourself behind a truck stacked high with hay or a towering piece of farm machinery heading toward a nearby field. It is probably Scottie Clucas or one of his drivers, and they will most likely slow down and give you room to pass unless the road is especially narrow or winding. It may feel frustrating for a moment, but then again, that is part of the charm — and a reminder of why so many people chose to make Tewksbury Township their home!

Barn Gallery

Continue exploring the craftsmanship and character of Tewksbury's historic barns through an expanded collection of photographs showcasing remarkable architecture, scenic farmland, working stables, and the rural landscapes that define our community. Enter the Barn Gallery → Click the barn entrance to begin your tour.
Tewksbury Historical Society P.O. Box 457 Oldwick, NJ 08858
PRESERVING TEWKSBURY'S PAST! The Tewksbury Historical Society is a New Jersey not-for-profit corporation organized for the purpose of furthering research into and the preservation and dissemination of the history of the Township of Tewksbury in the County of Hunterdon.
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