The Enduring Legacy of 240 Hamburg Turnpike: A Tapestry of Mills, Taverns, and Tables in Riverdale, New Jersey
Nestled along the bustling corridor of Hamburg Turnpike in Riverdale, New Jersey—a borough carved from the rugged landscapes of Morris and Passaic Counties in 1923—the address 240 Hamburg Turnpike stands as a poignant emblem of American resilience and reinvention. Today, this three-acre parcel whispers of its storied past through the serene contours of Appelt Park, a verdant oasis amid the hum of Route 287 and commuter traffic. Yet, for nearly three centuries, this site has pulsed with the rhythms of commerce, industry, and community, evolving from a colonial-era sawmill that fed the fires of revolution to a genteel tea room, an antique emporium, and finally, a beloved gourmet restaurant whose candlelit dinners evoked the ghosts of bygone eras. The Powder Horne Mill Restaurant, which proudly traced its roots to the American Revolution, was not merely a dining destination but a living archive, its creaking beams and uneven floors bearing witness to the Schuyler and Van Ness families...