West Milford I may be old and creaky at the moment, and in need of some tender loving care, but I have stories to tell. I’ve witnessed much through my 200 years in existence. Mostly I remember the people. I was built in 1809 by Albert Terhune after he acquired a 413.85 acre tract of land in West Milford, today known as Apple Acres. Because my “family” members were dedicated record keepers, there is a treasure trove of documents deeds, wills, land transfers and photographs that attest to my memories. Albert Terhune, born in 1777, married Ann Berdan and they had ten children. Beside myself, he also built the first farm house on the property and established the family cemetery in 1845 when Ann died. Albert constructed a gristmill, sluiceway and a dam to power the mill. Many mouths were fed from that mill as the grains were ground into flour. The mill still stands as does the dam, stone walls and split rail fences. Albert’s oldest son, Albert, Jr., married and had 12 children. Happily, lots of little ones wandered the fields in those days. When Albert Sr.’s daughters married they were granted land to build farm houses, one where the Wallisch Estate now stands, one in the area of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church and one in Stowaway Park. I remember in 1861, when 16-year old James Edward, the second son of Albert, decided that farming was not for him and ran away to join the Union Forces in the Civil War. Before leaving, he planted sugar maple trees all along the drives and around the homestead. Unknown to the family he was ensuring a living legacy should he not return from war. In 1863 James Edward was injured at Antietam. His father traveled to Tennessee and brought his wounded son home in a freight car. James Edward recovered and went to a business college. He became a bookkeeper for a hat manufacturer and eventually a partner. He enjoyed a successful and lucrative career. When he sold the hat factory in 1891 he returned to West Milford and bought 125 acres from his father for $5,000. He rebuilt the small farm house into a grand Victorian home and restored every building on the homestead. He named the estate “The Maples.” I’d like to tell you now about Gilbert Terhune, James Edward’s son. He was the grandfather of the current owners, Anne Thornton, who lives in the former Victorian house, and her two sisters, Sally Malatras and Joyce Keil, who both reside on Apple Acres. Their father, Gilbert, Jr., worked hand in hand with Gilbert, Sr. Gilbert, Sr. was raised as a gentleman farmer, enjoying all the land had to offer as a young man, but not working it. He inherited the land from James Edward and in 1923 he changed the face of the homestead by planting 1,754 apple trees - 17 varieties of apples spread over 20 acres. Through some difficult times, when I felt the icy winds passing through me, when frost threatened to destroy the crops, those sturdy apple trees survived and kept my family fed and sheltered. Apples were sold from the old gristmill from the 1930s into the 1960s. So now that you know a bit about my family I’d like to tell you about myself. My hand-hewn wood beam construction houses a hay loft on the upper floor where, to my delight, the children often played. The ground floor had four horse stalls, the cow lived here as well as a slew of resident barn cats. Next door to me is the gristmill and on the other side is the chicken coop. In my hay-day, if you’ll pardon the pun, I was alive with the day-to-day functioning of family and farm, and I was happy. Over the years things have changed. Sadly there is only one of James Edwards’s sugar maples left and I look a little worse for wear. But I hear that help is on the way. My owners tell me that Sustainable West Milford is busy assembling friends and neighbors to come to our rescue, holding an old fashion barn painting on Oct. 24 and 25. According to Dave Watson-Hallowell of Sustainable West Milford, I am an important piece of the town’s history and this restoration will secure my place in the annals of time. I’ve been watching the Sustainable West Milford folks for a while now as they work in their community garden in what was the pasture, just behind me. They’ve also held their meetings in the gristmill - going back to rural roots to plan for the future. They say I’m a connection to the past and I can tell you that in the past people did come together to lend a hand. They enjoyed the community spirit and accomplished much. Will that spirit be reborn in 2009? If you’d like to assist and help out this old but proud barn, they say they need lots of manpower carpenters, painters, cooks, musicians, any and all are welcome. My family is so very thankful for this effort. And, in case you’re wondering, I will be painted a beautiful shade of barn red. I’m so excited! Old fashioned barn painting Apple Acres - 1064 Union Valley Road, West Milford Oct. 24 and 25 - dawn until dusk Free food, music, community pride To volunteer call Dave a.s.a.p. at 973-853-2139 or e-mail him at DavidH3168@aol.com