Garden State Heirloom Seed Society

Garden State Heirloom Seed Society Saving heirloom seeds. The home of the Garden State Heirloom Seed Society's museum in Knowlton Township (Columbia) on Delaware Road has been there a long time.

At this time there is not much known of the history of the farm now owned by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Historically, it is not clear who first owned the property, but research does show the house on the 1871 Warren County Atlas map published by F.W. Beers. Sometime within the 1920's through the 1930's the farmhouse was owned by an engineer from New York City named Halsey. Mr. Halsey built

a dam and flooded a piece of land that became what some still call Halsey Lake. That lake, adjacent to the farmhouse, is now known officially as Delaware Lake. Unfortunately, between the 1930's and 1940's, Mr. Halsey had some financial losses. Originally, he had plans to add two more lakes or ponds further downstream, but was unable to do so. He eventually sold the farm to two friends who did much fishing at the lake. Those friends, named Hiram Buchman and Russel Thomas, were Belvidere, NJ men. Buchman was a dairy equipment dealer and Mr. Thomas was a potato grower. As it would be, Mr. Thomas grew potatoes, cabbage and other crops on this farm until his death, whereas Mr. Buchman took over sole ownership of the land. One of Mr. Buchman's daughters lived in the house for a number of years and taught in the Knowlton Township School in Delaware, New Jersey. In later years the land was rented to area farmers who grew hay, corn and other grains. The Buchman family sold the land to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. This is the known history of the Garden State Heirloom Seed Society Museum House at 82 Delaware Road in Columbia, NJ as told by Lorraine King. Please contact us with any other information or stories you may posses. Thank you and come see us.

10/30/2020

As a reminder. The G.S.H.S.S. Is open this weekend, October 31st & November 1st.
Hours are 1pm to 4pm.

Happy Halloween and stay safe.

10/24/2020

What a beautiful Fall. A perfect time of year to take a drive and enjoy the foliage. The Skylands and nearby Pocono areas have some of the best.

To that end, the Garden State Heirloom Seed Society is open the last weekend of every month between the hours of 1 and 4 o'clock.
If you mark a calendar...
this upcoming weekend of October 31/ November 1, between the hours of 1 and 4, will find us here at the G.S.H.S.S.

Be safe and enjoy.

03/23/2020

Welcome to Spring 2020, everyone!

We look forward to seeing you this season... but for now:

Due to the Caronavirus’ effect on the current climate, the
G.S.H.S.S. will be closed to tours until further notice.

“Thank you”, for your understanding, keep safe and take care of each other.

We are looking forward to seeing you in the near future.

G.S.H.S.S.

04/02/2019

Open last weekend 1-4 March- Oct

03/14/2018

Museum reopening soon

08/22/2017

We need diversity to protect our food supply

04/02/2017

Check out article in SKylands visitor about GSHSS museum Skylands Visitor.com

03/12/2017

Watch for the article in Skylands visitor

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Columbia, NJ
07832

Telephone

(973) 475-2730

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