Historic Walnford

We were honored to celebrate the First Official Wedding (Inside Wedding) Ever @Historic Walnford! As Ministers/ wedding Officiants at Kimberlys Blessings, we have successfully married Hundreds of Couples. We found the grounds to be beautiful, and any employees we encountered to be helpful and courteous. It was a pleasure to marry our lovely couple, and conduct the Ceremony in English and Italian. Also, the help and efforts of Sarah and all the other Team Members who made this day special, were outstanding as well! Highly recommended. Let us know if you have any questions about Your wedding and this Historic Memorable venue, or if we can be of further assistance.
5 7 years ago (30-03-2018)

Very quiet. No crowds. Just the right place to relax, walk around.
4 7 years ago (28-05-2018)

This is a small park part of the Monmouth Cnty Park System. The grounds are very well kept and the kids loved exploring the buildings. We're looking forward to the Walnford park day in May.
5 7 years ago (23-04-2018)

Amazing place to see a part of our American history. Very well preserved in its original state as it was before the American Revolution
5 7 years ago (19-03-2018)

A well-preserved site that give visitors a glimpse back in time where manual labor prevailed and horses powered snow sleds and car-like wagons. Some websites posit false narratives that this place is rich in revolutionary history or other advertised histories of great significance. The truth is, there isn't any significant history that happened here nor did it produce any famous artworks or inventions. What I do find of significant value, is that this is an entire farm with a large house and millhouse that still stands well-preserved. Once you're immersed in the farm, it brings a sense of humbleness to look back at a time when life was simpler. Although there was no electricity in its early days, all was provided. This simpler time was almost a natural 'art of living.' Whatever its occupants wanted, it would practically be created from scratch. Want to build a garden house? Go search for hearty trees and saw and hammer their woods into a work of art. Need a steel handle replacement for your sled? Search for iron ore in nature, smelt it out, raise temperatures to 2,800F, and keep pounding it into the shape you desire. Want apple pie? No problem, go harvest apples, harvest some grains to make flour from scratch, and bake everything in your own brick oven that's fired by wood you chopped a few months ago. Nowadays, many people can't even put together a 5 piece Ikea hamper. This site may not seem like much to the average visitor, but stand still in the middle, listen, observe, and think. This place was built back in the mid 1770s by a Quaker family that thrived here for over 2 centuries. From historical accounts, the Waln family were simple people. One tidbit of its history: in its later years in the late 1800s, a family member who was the heir of the house, Sarah Waln, left it to her long time African-American employee. This created outrage and many lawsuits. The employee still received the house but later sold it to another Waln family member. One can only speculate what guilt Sarah suffered that she gave the family house to her employee instead of her own daughter. One can only imagine the pressures faced by the employee at the time that they "sold" the house to another Waln family member. The farm is picturesque in late spring, summer, and early fall. All other seasons the place will appear barren. If snow blankets the area, it may create a wintry scene worthy of photographing. Personal photography is welcomed here. However, if you come here with commercial photography intentions, such as photographing a wedding couple that paid you, a permit and fee is required. The Gristmill is a creation of early human ingenuity. It is still functional, but now powered by electricity instead of a water turbine. On certain days/hours, the mill is activated for the general public. A moving spectacle of large belts and gears circle all around you while the host drop in dried corncobs to demonstrate how the system turns it into cornflour. Other events are held here on scheduled occasions, notably the event where ice cream is manufactured the old fashioned way and handed out to guests. The trip to reach this place is an adventure all on its own. You'll pass large, open lands and trees that compose the peaceful musical score of nature. Right around the corner on the way out of Historic Walnford is Cream Ridge Winery, a family business that creates wines. I recommend the 99rows wine, as it is created from a blend of grapes grown on site.
5 7 years ago (29-04-2018)