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.
