Chester

Formerly known as Black River, the village of Chester lies in the hills of Morris County, New Jersey. On a site where Indian trails once existed, Chester was incorporated as a township in 1799. Join local historian and photographer Joan S. Case for this unique and informative look at the history of Chester. With images donated by the local historical society as well as many Chester families, this pictorial history covers the period from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. During this period, Chester was home to one of the busiest mining districts in New Jersey and was also an important agricultural area; local distilleries turned thousands of bushels of Chester apples into the famous "Jersey Lightning." Five sites in Chester, including Zephaniah Drake's Brick Hotel, have been accepted to the State and National Registers of Historic Places, all contributing to the town's significance in the area's past.